Jul 24, 2009

NYIGF Forges Partnership with Regional ASID Chapters

White Plains, NY — The New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) has forged a new partnership with the New Jersey and New York Metro chapters of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) through which ASID will exhibit at the summer 2009 market and NYIGF will offer regional chapter members a number of benefits in connection with the Fair.

ASID is a community of interior design professionals who must pass rigorous acceptance standards: a combination of accredited design education and/or full-time work experience. Professional members must also pass a two-day accreditation exam administered by NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification).

“Professional interior designers represent an active, growing segment of the NYIGF attendee profile,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF Director and GLM Senior Vice President. “We’re delighted to partner with ASID to develop a mutually-beneficial business opportunity for designers and suppliers in connection with NYIGF.”

“The NYIGF offers a wide variety of resources for our designers as they work on both residential and commercial design projects,” said Karen Topjiam, president of ASID’s New Jersey chapter. “This is a great new opportunity for ASID designers and NYIGF to work more closely together – now and in future.”

As part of the agreement, ASID’s New Jersey and New York Metro chapters will exhibit at Pier 94 during the summer 2009 market. ASID members will style the exhibit space, using furnishings provided by At Home exhibitors, and chapter representatives will distribute information about ASID to NY market participants. In return, NYIGF exhibitors are being encouraged to offer “ASID show specials” and group purchase discounts to chapter members during the Fair.

Founded in 1975, ASID is a professional organization with more than 40,000 members in the U.S. and Canada and comprised of practicing interior designers, design students and industry representatives. For more information, visit ASID’s New Jersey chapter (www.njasid.org) and New York Metro chapter (www.asidnymetro.org) in booth 41041 at Pier 94 during the summer market, or visit their websites in advance of the Fair.

NYIGF features eight divisions showcasing 2,900 exhibitors, 100,000 lines and 400 product categories. Interior design resources are concentrated within At Home’s two locations – Pier 94, with nearly 250 home furnishings suppliers at Pier 94, and Level One of the Javits Center, with some 200 mid-to-high-end bed, bath and linen suppliers. In addition to these targeted resources, hundreds of complementary gift, home and lifestyle resources are available across all NYIGF divisions.

The summer edition of NYIGF takes place Saturday, August 15, through Thursday, August 20, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94. NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,900 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 30,000 attendees from all 50 states and around the world are expected. For information and registration, visit www.nyigf.com.