Nov 12, 2008

San Francisco ‘Neighborhoods’ theme to February gift fair

(San Francisco, Calif.) — There’s a reason that San Francisco is America’s favorite city. Unrivaled scenery, unequaled cuisine, and unparalleled cultural offerings make the City by the Bay a uniquely important destination to be part of the newly inaugurated winter edition of the San Francisco International Gift Fair (www.sfigf.com) February 7—10, 2009. In a nod to its host City, this year’s Gift Fair launches a new concept in show design by directing buyers through “neighborhoods” of exhibitors representative of those districts.

“The exhibitors in each area reflect a buying experience one might find in that San Francisco neighborhood,” said San Francisco International Gift Fair Show Director Aubin Wilson. “The SFIGF has a well-deserved reputation as the event where buyers come to find new product lines, to ‘trendspot’ and to build and foster relationships key to their business. This year, our new look and concept literally allows exhibitors and buyers to meet as neighbors.”

Continuing the Bay Area theme, show attendees will be enriched by Bay Area expert panelists and speakers and stop at the Show’s ‘Internet Café’ for free, practical advice on all things tech — from web design to setting up one’s own Facebook and YouTube pages. The City’s most famous host, Harry Denton — “Mr. San Francisco Nightlife” of Starlight Room fame — moderates a panel on special event planning and international “Green Celebrity” Betsy Rosenberg leads a discussion on today’s hottest trend – the new normal — EcoFriendly Retail. As the sun sets between the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, show-goers will enjoy special events such as a “Sip and Shop” party at the internationally acclaimed San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA) in SOMA, and a reception at the Castro District’s “Under One Roof” for the benefit of the AIDS/HIV community.

San Francisco’s celebrated diversity, its commitment and leadership as a ‘green’ and environmentally conscious destination combine with its legendary status as a fashion-forward, design-driven and tech savvy region to make this one of the most eagerly-anticipated stops on the annual Gift Show calendar. In this newly retooled expo, San Francisco’s quaint-and-classic neighborhoods are used to showcase exhibitors’ wares. This new footprint will feature new product lines plus an increased number of “Green and Sustainable” resources. Emmy Award-winning local TV icon Jan Wahl has already dubbed the show “hip, hot and happening – and also the perfect place to find a multitude of gifts and plenty of green resources for a sustainable future.”

“As the Bay Area is the epicenter of web 2.0 and the Internet generation, we will continue to encourage exhibitors and buyers alike to grow their leads – and thereby their business – via dedicated San Francisco International Gift Fair social networking pages,” said Wilson noting that one of this year’s panels is entitled MySpace and Facebook and YouTube, Oh My! “To help our exhibitors and buyers, we will have a booth on the show floor, continuously staffed with tech-savvy help there to offer free advice, and get people linked in and online right on the spot. Again this year, there will be WiFi throughout the Moscone Center for the convenience of our attendees.”

Following is a breakdown of the neighborhoods comprising the Winter 2009 San Francisco International Gift Fair and a schedule of programs and special events.

Union Square
The bustling center of the show is Union Square, where a huge variety of gift and juvenile products are on display. Exhibitors here carry collectables, ceramic giftware, party goods, premiums, seasonal merchandise or fashion accessories. Also featured here will be a showcase of distinctive travel and tourism products that embody the San Francisco spirit.

South of Market Area (SOMA)
San Francisco’s SOMA is “the largest cultural district west of the Hudson” (Newsweek) and the center of San Francisco’s cosmopolitan museum and nightlife hub. This area opens the door to cultural commerce with hand-crafted wares and art-inspired products. Juried ‘streets’ in this neighborhood are lined with exquisite museum products and international goods, including folk art, handmade jewelry and decorative accessories, unique objects d’art, artifacts and more.

The Marina
Showcasing the latest designs in a variety of categories—from high-end home décor to personal accessories—the juried Marina neighborhood puts its emphasis on innovation, presentation, uniqueness and design. Furniture, floor coverings, lighting, juvenile products, decorative pieces, textiles, wall art, personal care products and fashion accessories are found here.

North of the Bridge
Life is good North of the Bridge. This inviting neighborhood of home and garden goods includes an array of wine-related products, stemware, garden accents, floral accessories and table décor. Also included North of the Bridge is the Vintage Collection, an impressive gathering of antique and one-of-a-kind home accents and furniture for display or resale.

Treasure Island
Aptly named, this neighborhood has thousands of treasures, ready and waiting for next savvy buyer. Fine and fashion jewelry, unique objects d’art, beads, watches and more are offered for both order taking and immediate release. Treasure Island is also home to an international array of multi-cultural merchandise from villages around the world, including products large and small, both decorative and functional.

Green by Design
Trend-forward, eco-friendly products reflect San Francisco’s commitment to sustainable living, and have an important place at the new SFIGF. They belong in every neighborhood, across every product category. Special Green by Design signage and directory designations make green products easy to find.

The semi-annual San Francisco International Gift Show is managed by GLM, a dmg world media business.

The Winter 2009 San Francisco International Gift Show will take place February 7 — 10 at San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center. Exhibitors seeking information should contact show director Aubin Wilson at (213) 430-2310; awilson@glmshows.com. Attendee information may be obtained by contacting GLM Customer Relations at (800) 272-SHOW (7469) or (603) 665-7524.