News

GHTA confirms 2017-18 board at Gift & Home Bridgeway Collaborative Conference

The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), whose mission is to create a national forum connecting industry leaders in their pursuit of ideas, innovations and best practices to advance business programs, confirmed its 2017-2018 Board... more »

Fifteenth annual Chicago Toy and Game Week

The winners of the 10th annual TAGIE Awards honoring innovation and excellence in the toy and game industry were announced at a gala on Navy Pier in Chicago on Saturday night. Attended by industry luminaries and sponsored by... more »

National Retail Federation president and CEO to host media briefing on 2017 Thanksgiving Weekend, Cyber Monday results

To more accurately capture the entirety of spending on Thanksgiving weekend, NRF this year will release spending data on November 28, the day after Cyber Monday. Doing so will allow NRF to provide a more colorful picture... more »

Quality buyers, new resources, networking events headline 2017 Smoky Mountain Gift Show

The November 1-4, 2017 Smoky Mountain Gift Show generated reports of quality buyer traffic, a record number of first-time exhibitors along with fun networking events for show attendees and exhibitors. Featuring more than 800 booths... more »

Grace Management Group announces strategic partnership with OneCoast

Grace Management Group, parent company of Votivo, Greenleaf, Bridgewater Candle Company and The WillowBrook Company, announces that it will join forces with OneCoast. Beginning December 1, 2017, OneCoast will provide sales and supplemental marketing services... more »

Sold-out 2017 Ocean City Resort Gift Expo attracts retailers from Maine to Virginia Beach

Tracking slightly ahead of the 2016 edition, the November 12-14, 2017 Ocean City Resort Gift Expo attracted coastal retailers from Maine to Virginia Beach who came to restock for the coming spring/summer tourist season. Featuring... more »

Almost half of younger consumers plan to spend more during the holidays

With the holiday shopping season about to hit the home stretch, most consumers say they will spend about the same as last year. But a new survey released today by the National Retail Federation and... more »

Why you can’t afford to miss Niche Fair

Coming to Cleveland on February 23-24, Niche Fair is a game-changer. It’s a new frontier in the world of maker-focused wholesale gift shows. But since we don’t expect you to just take our word for it, here... more »

The Halloween & Party Expo announces expanded product categories for 2018 show

As the Halloween season wraps up, planning for the Halloween & Party Expo has kicked into high-gear. The event, known for being the most comprehensive resource in North America for Halloween & Party, is pleased... more »

October retail sales up 4.3 percent over past year

Retail sales in October increased 0.1 percent over September on a seasonally adjusted basis and were up 4.3 percent year-over-year unadjusted, according to calculations released today by the National Retail Federation. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline... more »