Dec 19, 2011

The Merchandise Mart Reports Strong Start to New Year: Increased Activity With Permanent Showroom Openings, Expansions, Lease Renewals and Benchmark Anniversaries Signal Renewed Confidence in Midwest Gift Industry

As it readies for the New Year and its mammoth winter Market in January, the Chicago Merchandise Mart announces a robust leasing start to 2012 with its permanent gift industry showrooms. A combination of new showroom openings, long-term lease renewals, showroom expansions and benchmark anniversaries illustrate a renewed confidence in the region’s gift industry at one of the largest buildings in the world–the iconic Merchandise Mart.

“Providing our buyer’s year-round access to the best and largest line-up of resources is critical to their success as well as ours,” said Mark Furlet, vice president of gift + home, Chicago Merchandise Mart. “We are proud to permanently house some of the gift industry’s most respected names, Peterson Associates and Sarm & Nastovski, who are celebrating their 50th and 20th anniversaries respectively with us in 2012. We are equally as thrilled to welcome the new names to our expanding gift floors.”

Effective January 1, 2012 the total square footage to be occupied by gift industry showrooms will have increased 17% over 2011. The new and expanded permanent showrooms will offer buyers increased resources across all the most important categories including; gift, fashion accessories, home décor, seasonal, floral, tabletop, and kids to name but a few.

With the Chicago Market kicking off on Thursday, January 19 and running through Wednesday, January 25, retailers will have even more reasons to stay and shop the Merchandise Mart.

SHOWROOMS IN THE NEWS: Status/ showroom name (listed alphabetically): showroom number/ general category

NEW: Alliance Sales: 13-253 / Gift & inspirational product
EXPANSION: AND! Sales: 1420 / Seasonal, home décor & garden product
NEW: Ashton Fine Arts: 1486 / Wall décor
NEW: C & F Enterprises: 1422 / Seasonal, bedding and textile
RENEWAL: Casa Bella: 13-416 / High-end gift, home accessories and fashion accessories
EW: Charlie & Me: 1467 / Gift & stationery
EXPANSION: Designs Combined: 13-134 / Decorative accessories, seasonal product
RENEWAL: Diane Baker: 13-417 / High-end tabletop, linens and gift
RENEWAL: DNA: 1426 / Gift, seasonal and fashion accessories
NEW: Haefling Group: 13-400 / Gift, gourmet, seasonal and home decor
RENEWAL: MeraVic: 13-405 / Floral and seasonal
NEW: MiSun Fashion House: 14-100 / Fashion accessories
NEW: Pam DeLuca: 13-434 / Fashion accessories
RENEWAL: Midwest-CBK: 13-155 / Seasonal, gift and home décor 50th Anniversary: Peterson’s: 13-126 / Gift, garden, fashion accessories, baby & kids
RENEWAL & 20th Anniversary: Sarm & Nastovski: 13-203 / Tabletop, fashion accessories, gourmet
EXPANDED: Young’s, Inc.: 13-616 / Fashion accessories, gift

EDITOR’S NOTE: to access the complete list of showrooms, the lines they represent and for quotes from showroom principals, please visit our press room: http://www.shopchicagomarket.com/shopchicagomarket/index.cfm/press/

2012 CALENDAR SCHEDULE

THE CHICAGO WINTER MARKET DAYS AND HOURS
Thursday, January 19 – Friday, January 20
Showrooms: 9 am – 6 pm | Floors 13, 14
Saturday, January 21 – SHOP LATE NIGHT
Showrooms: 9 am – 8 pm | Floors 13, 14
Temporaries and Beckman’s Handcrafted Show: 9 am – 6 pm | Floor 8
Sunday, January 22 – Monday, January 23
Showrooms: 9 am – 6 pm | Floors 13, 14
Temporaries and Beckman’s Handcrafted Show: 9 am – 6 pm | Floor 8
Tuesday, January 24
Showrooms: 9 am – 6 pm | Floors 13, 14
Temporaries and Beckman’s Handcrafted Show: 9 am – 3 pm | Floor 8
Wednesday, January 25
Showrooms: 9 am – 5 pm | Floors 13, 14

THE CHICAGO SPRING MARKET
March 25-27, 2012
Running in conjunction with STYLEMAX and The National Bridal Market Chicago

THE CHICAGO SUMMER MARKET
Showrooms: July 19-25
Temporaries & Beckman’s Handcrafted Show: July 21-24

THE CHICAGO FALL MARKET
September 21-23, 2012
Running in conjunction with The International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market

Note: Dates are subject to change, please check www.shopchicagomarket.com for up to date calendars

The Chicago Market: is a trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). Beckman’s Handcrafted Show(TM) is a registered trademark of MMPI. The Chicago Market is a quarterly wholesale tradeshow designed for store owners, retail buyers and designers. The market offers a wide array of quality products ranging from home accents and furniture to handcrafted to collectible items, holiday, baby/children’s product, gourmet and more. The Chicago Merchandise Mart is located at 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654. For more information call 800.677.6278 (MART) or visit www.shopchicagomarket.com.

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year. MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart ; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center in Washington D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owners of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI), based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.