Jan 24, 2014

Windy City Gift Show Debut Attracts Region’s Retailers, Sales Agencies, National Manufacturers; Lays Solid Foundation For Future Growth

Positive feedback from attendees and exhibitors alike participating in the debut edition of the January 2014 Windy City Gift Show point to the new event’s potential to reestablish the Chicagoland area as a viable trade center for the region. Held January 18-21, 2014 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, the show’s substantial exhibitor base — including destination manufacturers and leading regional sales agencies, many who no longer had a physical presence in Chicago – attracted retailers from throughout the Midwest region who came to explore their offerings and the show’s cost-effective location and services.

“The January edition has laid a strong foundation – giving the industry a glimpse into the tremendous promise the Rosemont location offers as a cost-effective, convenient trade show location for the region’s retailers,” explains Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. “Our goal is to fill a void in the marketplace – bringing a strong product selection together with a full range of buyer services — in a location that offers convenient access, quality hotels, affordable prices, and an excellent convention facility. I think we’re off to a strong start.”

Attending retailers agreed. “Travel to the show is inexpensive with hotels, restaurants, and entertainment all in walking distance from the convention center. We’re already making our plans to come back in July! It’s exciting to be part of a fresh, new show that will continue to grow,” said Kimberly Ann Horgan, Pharmacy Care, Middleville, MI.

Deloris Rogers, Wooden Gate Antiques and Gifts, Illiopolis, IL, added, “After shopping the debut edition, we are here to stay!”

Urban Expositions kicked off the show on Saturday morning, January 18, with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and complimentary breakfast for attending retailers. From there, retailers had the chance to explore the latest designs and best-sellers on a show floor categorized into four sectors – Gifts, Handcrafted, Live In Style and Treasures To Go.

“It was delightful shopping a show where the vendors were personable and eager to speak with me about their product,” said Robyn Kettler, Checkered Cottage, Kirkwood, MO. “The aisles were easy to maneuver through which made for a wonderful shopping experience.”

Many exhibitors were also pleased with the results and new business they received from the debut edition. “We could not have been more excited for a fresh, new start in the Midwest marketplace,” said Angela Parro, Select Marketing.

“The debut edition has been quite successful for us,” said Carol Davis, CEO, Fireside Coffee Co. “We saw top-quality buyers and secured some large accounts. We also plan on following up with a number of leads we received at the show.”

In addition to shopping the show floor, attendees had the opportunity to take advantage of a full roster of buyer services and programs. Among them, money-saving hotel rates starting as low as $79/night, afternoon refreshments served daily, parking rebates, and a special “show your badge” promotion offering discounts at many restaurants in the popular Rosemont entertainment district and more.

The January show featured a full educational line-up with presentations covering a wide range of topics, including social media marketing tactics, branding strategies, visual merchandising techniques and other business growth strategies.

The next edition of the Windy City Gift Show is scheduled for July 26-29, 2014.

EXHIBITOR/ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Visit www.windycitygiftshow.com for the latest show news. For more information on exhibiting, contact Stacy Barrett at 678.831.4579 or sbarrett@urban-expo.com. For information on attending, contact John Motondo at 312.470.1167 or jmotondo@urban-expo.com

ABOUT URBAN EXPOSITIONS

Urban Expositions is the largest gift, airport and souvenir trade show organizer in the U.S., hosting a total of 32 shows each year. In January of 1996, Urban Expositions launched the semi-annual Philadelphia Gift Show, which has become one of the largest and most successful regional gift events in the nation. Since then, the company has continued to grow through acquisitions and new show development. Based in Kennesaw, GA, Urban Expositions offers a complete roster of trade show management services, including exhibit sales and marketing, operations, exhibitor/ attendee promotions and services, media relations, seminar and event coordination, database development and management. For more information, visit www.urban-expo.com or call 800.318.2238.