Jan 12, 2012

California Gift Show Announces Full Schedule of Showroom and Exhibitor Events at L.A. Mart and Los Angeles Convention Center

As the countdown to January’s California Gift Show begins, L.A. Mart’s permanent showrooms as well as temporary exhibitors at L.A. Mart’s Beckman’s Handcrafted Show™ L.A. and Los Angeles Convention Center’s South Hall Gift and Kentia Global Marketplace announce a full line-up of events, programs and activities. Buyers attending CGS can expect in-showroom and in-booth experiences that will educate, inform, entertain, and most importantly provide the tools retailers need to better source, select, merchandise and sell the many unique lines debuting at CGS.

“We are very excited to see so many of our showrooms and exhibitors participating with meaningful events and product demonstrations this January,” said Jeff Sampson, vice president vice president of marketing, California Gift Show/L.A. Mart/L.A. Mart Design Center. “Educating buyers on the unique selling points of a particular product is an important added value our manufacturers provide to their retail customers seeking differentiation in their merchandise mix.”

West Coast-inspired trends shaping today’s retail experience such as natural and healthy, hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind, repurposed and sustainable, in addition to trends that are fashion-focused, playful and individualized, will be addressed as the subject matter among many scheduled events spanning the Market.

A special component of CGS is a ‘Live Art Happening’ taking place at Los Angeles Convention Center presented by FIND ART magazine (www.findartmagazine.com). Two distinct installations showcasing the works of emerging and established California artists will educate and inspire show attendees. LACC’s atrium will be dedicated to the on-site execution of a dynamic art project produced by several artists while LACC’s South Hall will present a gallery-like space featuring the works of a singular artist as he creates new works on canvass.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE (partial list)

L.A. MART

JASSN Demonstration
Gus Dallas, Ltd, Suite 870
January 18 – 20 I 11 am – 3 pm
Chef John, a well known Sushi Chef with 14 years of experience creating Japanese cuisine and sushi will hold an educational, informative and entertaining demonstration on how JASSN ceramic knives can make cooking and food prep enjoyable again. Discover the amazing qualities of JASSN ceramic knives.

How to Mat, Frame and Finish Art
Collective Home, Suite 700
January 19 I 2 – 5 pm
Owner and designer of Studio Artique, Tim Spaeth will demonstrate how to mat, frame and finish art.

Wine & Cheese Celebration: Expanded and Renamed Showroom
Remembrance/GRACE by Catherine Sullivan, Suite 330
January 20 I 5 – 7 pm
A wine and cheese celebration will kick off the newly expanded and renamed showroom, GRACE by Catherine Sullivan, formerly Remembrance. Wine and cheese will be served.

Retail Smart Guys Consultations
Joanne & Company, Suite 340
January 21 I 9 am – 5 pm
Retail Smart Guys provides affordable consulting to specialty retailers. Complimentary 30 minute marketing consultations or inventory evaluations will be offered all day. Space is limited, make an appointment by contacting the showroom.

Merchandising with Park Hill Collection
My House, Suite 365, 312A
Presentation in Suite 310
January 21 I 9:30 am
Merchandising tips from Charlie Groppetti of Park Hill Collection, creators of authentic, vintage-inspired home décor and Gift products. Groppetti will share stories that inspire the Park Hill Collection.

Roost Gallery Opening
Fine Lines Company, Suite 449
Daily I 4 pm – 6 pm
Buyers are invited to visit the brand new Roost Gallery at Fine Lines Company showroom, champagne will be served.

LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER

Harvest Moon Farms Lavender, Space 1920
January 22 I 1 pm
K.C. Chamberlain, co-owner of Harvest Moon Farms Lavender will present the farm’s history and benefits of using lavender and natural body care products. See how these products are made from planting 35,000 lavender plants through gentle steal distillation and beyond.

GlamEars & GlamMat Demos
lever Girl Innovations, Space 1838
January 20 – 24 I All Day
Clever Girl Innovations simple philosophy, everyone deserves to feel beautiful and should not endure ugly burns while styling their hair. See how GlamEars protects against styling tools, dye and harsh chemicals and GlamMat, heat-resistant tool rest, protects countertops. Proudly made in the USA.

Cocktails and Giveaways
Screw the Skinny Bitches, Space 1328
Daily I 3 pm
Sample delicious cocktails from Sonya Zepeda’s new cookbook, Screw the Skinny Bitches… I Want to Eat. A drawing for a gift basket will be held in the booth.

FIND Art Magazine Presents…
Live Art Happening, South Hall Lobby Atrium
Friday, January 20-Sunday, January 22
Inside the Mind of An Artist
Los Angeles native Warren Heard presents: A Conversation without Words. Autobiographical Moments Reworked. Heard chronicles Southern California culture in a truly uniqueway. Come, step inside the mind of artist Warren Heard and experience his expressionistic glimpses of pivotalmoments never forgotten.

FIND ART Street
Four California artists complement and complete a dynamic installation on FIND ART Street. Located in the South Hall Atrium of the LACC, large scale walls are being painted to reflect our culture as attendees make their arrival into the California Gift Show and the Kentia Global Marketplace. Featured artists; Michael “Tewsr” Duncan, Randy Naborikawa, Michael Pukac, and Van Saro.www.findartmagaizne.com

BUYER AMENITIES

Buyers Lounge at L.A. Mart Offering complimentary coffee and computer stations with internet access and seating to relax and refresh during Market.

Late Night Shopping at L.A. Mart Extended shopping hours on Friday, January 20, from 6 pm. – 8 pm, including food, drinks and entertainment throughout L.A. Mart’s permanent Gift + Home and Design Center showrooms.

Free Inter-venue Transportation Complimentary shuttle service between select host hotels, L.A. Mart and Los Angeles Convention center.

Free ParkingPresent your badge and photo I.D. at L.A. Mart registration for free parking at L.A. Mart’s South and East lots (while space permits).

Dining At the L.A. Mart@Market Café, the new California mainstay with salads and sandwiches, as well as from a collection of Southern California’s finest food trucks. Explore additional dining options at the Convention Center in both South Hall and Kentia Hall.

Concierge ServiceAvailable to make your visit as productive as possible, the concierge service is your personal guide to assist with any questions regarding showroom and exhibitor locations, product lines and show events.

CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOW DATES/HOURS
Wednesday, January 18 – Tuesday, January 24

L.A. Mart
1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Gift + Home and Design Center Showrooms: January 18 – 24
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday and Saturday – Tuesday: 9 am – 6 pm
Friday, Late Night Shopping: 9 am – 8 pm

Beckman’s Handcrafted Show L.A.: January 20 – 23
Hours: Friday – Monday: 9 am – 6 pm

Los Angeles Convention Center:
1201 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015
outh Hall Gift & Kentia Global Marketplace Temporaries: January 20 – 23
Hours: Friday – Sunday: 9 am – 6 pm
Monday: 9 am – 4 pm

For a complete listing of CGS events and show information, please visit: www.californiagiftshow.com.

For information on L.A. Mart Gift + Home, visit www.lamart/gift.com. Image downloads are available at:www.pressroom.mmart.com/cgs/image-gallery/ and at www.facebook.com/californiagiftshow

ABOUT L.A. MART and CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOW
L.A. Mart® is a registered trademark of MMPI. The California Gift Show® is a registered trademark of MMPI. Beckman’s Handcrafted Show™ L.A. is a registered trademark of MMPI. L.A. Mart is home to nearly 200 permanent year-round, residential, decorative accessory and gift showrooms serving the retail and interior design industries. The California Gift Show Temporaries feature over 800 temporary exhibitors of lifestyle merchandise, home décor and furnishings, in the newly enhanced and expanded Temporaries at L.A. Mart and Los Angeles Convention Center, making the California Gift Show the preeminent market for gift and home furnishings products on the West Coast. L.A. Mart is located at 1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007. For more information call 800.LAMART.4 or visitwww.californiagiftshow.com or www.lamart.com.

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 and 350 W. Mart Center in Chicago; Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; Boston Design Center in Boston; L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.