7W Gift & Home Textiles Market Week Delivers On All Fronts
7 W New York’s most recent Gift & Home Textiles Market Week® was upbeat, as the building was bustling with a steady flow of high-caliber buyers. 7 W suites were widely optimistic about the market, reporting healthy sales and happy clients. Attendees took advantage of many of the destination marketplace’s amenities such as showroom specials, a cruise-themed late night shopping party, in-suite events, prizes and a wealth of new and unique products.
Chris Collins, VP & President, 7 W New York, remarked, “It was great to see such enthusiasm and such robust buying activity here at 7 W. The trend of more serious buying that was so prevalent at the other markets throughout the country continued here in NYC. This is of course more productive for the entire industry and made for a very successful market week.” Buyers from around the world made the trip to 7 W. According to 7 W Showroom Specialist, Tania Perez, “We are seeing an increase in international buyers, including buyers from Central and South America.” One of her international clients, Ana Sandoval, a buyer from Almacenes Siman, commented, “I was searching all over NYC for the right vendor and was so pleased to find SARO at 7 W. I am buying for 12 stores across Central America. I look forward to an ongoing business relationship with them.” Another international buyer, Karyn McCombe from Bellisimo Living in Halifax Nova Scotia, commented, “I’ve been coming to the building for six years and I always get a lot of ideas and see the newest trends. It’s well worth the trip down from Canada!”
National and local attendees had similar experiences. Betty Newton of A Bientôt in Houston, TX, remarked, “I love that 7 W is open ’til late on Monday night. It allows me to maximize my shopping time and it’s quite enjoyable with a nice, festive atmosphere. I’ve been able to find mostly everything I need for the boutique. I am excited to add new products to the mix.” Closer to home, Lori Feiss of Project Management & Design in New Jersey, observed, “So far, shopping this building using the shopper promotion has been terrific. We’ve hit something special on every floor. We are designers and need accessories for our projects as well as client gifts. We found 7 W to be bright, friendly and full of amazing products.”
7 W showrooms were pleased with the latest market—even early on. John C. Brooks, VP of Sales, K & K Interiors, commented, “This market has exceeded our expectations in terms of sales. We have already beaten last year and the market isn’t even over yet. We appreciate how 7 W has worked with us to grow our business over the years and have seen a lot of existing customers come back. They make going to 7 W a regular buying trip. One of the things we like about the building is the quality of buyers it attracts. We don’t get the tire kickers that you often get at a lot of other venues.”
Scott Harper of the Mary Harper Group, had a similar sentiment, “We have looked at our business over the past few years and have noticed some positive shifts. We are finding more serious qualified buyers coming throughout the show – and placing more significant orders. This is exciting to see.”
Peter Trovato from Kurt S. Adler, Inc. also sees market shifts that are positive, “We are increasingly seeing the next generation of store owners making a significant impact on the family business through online sales and promotions. As owners’ kids get involved, sales have multiplied at an unbelievable rate because of savvy social media outreach and internet marketing.”
Megan Wolfe, founder of the Kita line of home and fashion accessories at Gallery On Six, observed, “I’ve been getting a great reception from my products this market. Everything in the line is highly customizable. My new leather clutches have interchangeable fractal and star designs in a multitude of colors, which can be affixed to the bag. Customers are really liking that and so far I’ve been able to get a lot of orders in.”
Diane Adams of Adams & Hartford also found that customizable items were a big seller for her company. “We have been doing really well this market with our customizable Made-in-NY line of coasters, frames and tableware. 7 W has supported me the whole way. Two of the biggest banks in NYC have placed orders for my items and I was able to get my products specified in prominent commercial projects across the country,” said Adams.
Floyd Sullivan, Marketing Manager for tag, furnishings group, llc. added, “We are very happy with the experience at this market. We have been inundated by buyers looking for innovative products.”
For complete and continually updated information about 7 W New York, keep visiting www.7wnewyork.com. You can also find 7 W on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
7 W NEW YORK® is a wholesale mart building, catering to the buyers of Home Décor, Table Top, Giftware, Textiles, Decorative Accessories, Fine Arts and related industries. Located at 7 W 34th Street, its daily hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm with extended hours during special market weeks. 7 W New York is a trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI).
MMPI is the world’s leading owner and operator of showroom buildings and trade show facilities, bringing buyers and sellers together in more than 300 market events, trade and consumer shows and conferences each year. MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; 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 and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C. VORNADO REALTY TRUST, owners of 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.
