Oct 26, 2012
Winter 2013 NYIGF Offers 40+ Seminars & Special Activities

More than 40 educational seminars, special events, displays and product awards will be offered for attendees and exhibitors during the winter 2013 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), Saturday January 26, through Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94.

Four full days of seminars, covering topics such as design and color trends, social media, sustainability, and retail strategies such as merchandising, marketing and in-store events, will be presented during NYIGF. Industry and social events will include on-site receptions, off-site award ceremonies and a “Night on Broadway.” Other special features include the return of the NYIGF Bookstore (sponsored by Artisan, a division of Workman Publishing), the SustainAbility: design for a better world display and introduction of a new NYIGF Design Project showcase. (NOTE: A full seminar and event schedule is available online at www.nyigf.com/programs.)

“NYIGF offers a full calendar of opportunities for buyers and suppliers to learn, network and ultimately grow their businesses,” said Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president. “We’re offering new trend information, introducing new business tools and presenting new features to inspire, educate and entertain.”

NYIGF’s educational programs are sponsored by industry trade publications and associations. Publication partners include Baby & Kids, Earnshaw’s, GIFT SHOP, Giftware News, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Home Accents Today and Home Fashion Forecast; and association partners include ART (Accessories Resource Team); ASID (American Society of Interior Designers); CRAFT (Craft Retailers & Artists for Tomorrow); Day Spa Association; and the New York Chapter of IFDA (International Furnishings & Design Association).

Education begins in advance of the market, with a free “NYIGF Orientation” webinar on Thursday, January 10, at 2pm ET. The session will offer an online tutorial of NYIGF’s layout and set-up, as well as general tips for first-time visitors. Newcomer education continues at the show with free, daily “New Buyer Orientations” hosted by Baby & Kids and Giftware News.

Other sessions will explore color, design and directional trends, with confirmed seminars including: “Fashion Forward – How Apparel Trends Impact Home Design” (January 26), “Color Pulse 2014: From Theory to Selection,” sponsored by IFDA (January 28); “Made in America – A Catalyst for Innovation in Sustainability” (January 28), “Visual Merchandising – In-Store and Online” (January 28) and “Design Concept to Market: A Holistic Approach for Success” (January 29).

Reflecting a growth in the business use of technology and social media, several sessions will address ways to incorporate and utilize these digital tools. In a first-of-its-kind social media session, Lindsay Anvik of SparkRebel will present “Social Media Tune-Up: An Interactive Assessment of Your Strategy” (January 27) followed by individual consultations with seminar participants. Other tech-focused sessions include “Get In with the ‘Pin-Crowd!’: Using Pinterest to Grow Your Business & Connect With Your Customers,” (January 28) presented by Patti Biro of Patti Biro Associates, and two seminars, hosted by CRAFT, addressing Constant Contact and its application for retail marketing: “Social Media Marketing Made Simple” (January 26) and “Using Digital Marketing Tools to Promote In-Store Events” (January 26).

CRAFT also will continue its popular series of “Power Hours,” with two sessions addressing digital technologies: “Using Image-Based Social Media to Drive Web Traffic,” (January 27) and “Turn your Connections into Opportunities with LinkedIn (January 28)”; as well as two marketing-focused sessions: “Guerrilla Publicity: Savvy Tactics for Getting Published” (January 27) and “‘Storyselling’ & Its Power in Today’s Marketplace” (January 28)

In connection with the return of the NYIGF Bookstore, Workman Publishing will host a special breakfast session addressing “Book Selling – What’s Hot with Today’s Consumers?” (January 27). Additionally, Home Fashion Forecast will host a special appearance and book signing by HGTV stars Robert and Cortney Novogratz (January 29). The NYIGF Bookstore will offer unique selection of new launches, best-sellers and top authors – at up to 30% off retail or up to 57% off wholesale – and award one lucky bookstore visitor with a library of design titles, including Safari, Word, Home by Novogratz, Dancer’s Among Us and, The Unexpected Houseplant. 

A special seminar track complements the return of the Artisan Resource™, a new semi-annual tradeshow running concurrently with NYIGF, which offers U.S.-based volume importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to meet with international artisanal producers. An “Importing 101” seminar will be offered on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (January 27-29) at Pier 92; and Keith Recker of Hand/Eye will moderate a panel on “Opportunities in the Global Handmade Marketplace” at Javits (January 29). In addition, retailers are to an Artisan Resource opening day welcome reception (January 26) at Pier 92.

Other special events scheduled during the winter market include Gift For Life’s 21st Anniversary “Party for Life” Fundraiser at the Central Park Boathouse (January 27), and the 2013 Housewares Design Awards Gala & Ceremony at the Marriott Marquis (January 29). NYIGF’s “Night on Broadway” features specially-priced tickets for Disney’s NEWSIES, winner of two 2012 Tony® Awards (January 28).

Additionally, NYIGF will sponsor an opening day At Home welcome reception on Pier 94 (January 26); and Earnshaw’s will host an opening day Baby & Child hot cocoa break (January 27). Details about all winter NYIGF seminars and special events are available online at www.nyigf.com/programs.

NYIGF’s SustainAbility: design for a better world display will return to feature hundreds of eco-friendly and socially-responsible gift and home products. The exhibit also will showcase Eco Choice Awards winners in three categories: most innovative, most sellable, and best use of materials. The Eco Choice Awards are co-sponsored by NYIGF and GREENRetailer magazine.

A new initiative, the NYIGF Design Project / Red Clay Concept Showcase also will debut at the winter market, with a display of innovative NYIGF branded totes created by Red Clay’s designer community. At the exhibit, NYIGF participants can vote for their favorite design, and the winning concept will be produced for distribution at the summer 2013 market.

Superlative product design and innovation, will be recognized throughout NYIGF with a series of product awards. These include the Baby & Child Best New Product Awards, EX·TRACTS® Best New Product Awards, Home Textiles Market Week® Best New Product Awards, Accent on Design® Awards and the Accent on Design Bloggers’ Choice Awards. In addition, ASID’s NY Metro Chapter will bestow its “Best of the Best NYIGF Winter 2013 Awards.”

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.




Social Connections


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