Jan 28, 2012

California Gift Show Reports Increased Attendance, High Energy and Healthy Order Writing: Permanent Showrooms and Exhibitors Experienced Best Show in Many Years

The January 2012 California Gift Show (CGS) welcomed the local, regional, national and international buying community this January with a powerful line-up of new showrooms, new lines, new products, new exhibitors and new buyers during the West Coast’s largest Gift + Home Market. A new, mid-week Wednesday kicked-off the show that continued to emphasize the region’s distinction for both product innovation and its influence on consumer purchasing habits.

A robust product presentation from 1,200 temporary and permanent purveyors wowed buyers at CGS’s two show locations, L.A. Mart and Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). From artisanal regional offerings, to made-in-the-USA staples, to internationally produced products, retailers found an astounding wealth of 10,000-plus local to global sources offered by L.A. Mart’s permanent showrooms and temporary exhibitors at Beckman’s Handcrafted Show L.A.™, as well as LACC’s South Hall Gift and Kentia Global Marketplace.

“California Gift Show was off the hook this January,” said Mark Furlet, vice president, gift + home, California Gift Show/L.A. Mart. “Showrooms and exhibitors witnessed a phenomenal and sustained attendance of new and returning buyers from across the country and around the globe, proving Los Angeles rules as a must-shop destination for innovative, in-demand California-made products and resources both nationally and internationally revered.” Furlet continued. “Many of our permanent showrooms reported exceeding order writing expectations comparing this Market to the healthier times of nearly a decade ago. New line representations were up significantly while buyer excitement was evidenced by the amount of time devoted to reviewing these new resources and then placing orders. At Beckman’s as well as Kentia and South Hall, the positive energy was contagious; we had new and returning exhibitors writing orders in the first three hours of the show.”

The addition of approximately 50,000 square-feet of new, expanded and recommitted permanent year-round showroom space at L.A. Mart added to the excitement and abundance of product resources. Veteran showrooms reinvesting in their business and the Los Angeles marketplace at large included; GRACE/ by Catherine Sullivan (formerly Remembrance), Fine Lines Company, Stephen Young, FEM Sales and Joanne & Company. New resources such as Dosvella and Home & Beyond join a list of ten others who debuted their new look at CGS.

A myriad of special events that educated, informed and entertained provided the tools needed to better source, select, merchandise and sell the many unique lines debuting at CGS. Late night shopping on Friday, January 21 offered buyers welcomed sustenance of food, drink and entertainment to shop until 8:00 p.m. A special component of CGS was a ‘Live Art Happening’ taking place in the Los Angeles Convention Center’s South Hall Atrium. Two distinct events, the on-site completion of a dynamic art installation by artist Warren Heard and the creation of four large-scale paintings created on FIND Art Street by four Los Angeles artists.

HEARD AT MARKET:

I. L.A. MART AND BECKMAN’S HANDCRAFTED SHOW L.A.

Matt Katzenson, Owner, Fine Lines Company, Suite 449
“This was solid show. Buyers were in good moods, they were spending and happy to be spending. They seemed to be enjoying my newly remodeled showroom; all of my vendors had something new to offer, the buyers liked that.”

Tom Zimmerman, SVP Marketing, Two’s Company, Suite 2 Lobby
“We had a significant double digit increase. Buyers were enthusiastic after a better than anticipated holiday selling season, putting them in a light inventory position. We had two very strong introductions: Watercolors, a trend coastline collection and Happi by Dena, a new baby and toddler collection.”

Bonnie Glushon, Owner, Sales Producers, Suite 451
“This was our best show since the economy began to falter in 2006. Everyone was happy, attendance was really good, but most importantly the quality of the attendee was extremely high. We had buyers from all over the country, from Minnesota, New Hampshire, Washington, Oregon, Utah and elsewhere. All my vendors introduced new products and the buyers REALLY responded to this.”

Stephen Young, Owner, Stephen Young Showroom, Suite 830
“This was a very strong show. The average order was larger, the order counts were higher. Buyers seemed to have had a good holiday season and were ready to buy. And they did. Our expanded book showroom resulted in buyers seeing more and buying more. They all seemed to be optimistic about 2012; they didn’t want to dwell on the difficult year before. The recession has resulted in creating better business people; they are better prepared to tackle what comes next.”

Joanne Rackow, Owner, Joanne & Company, Suite 340
“We had a great show. Traffic was up; buyers were open to buying new lines. They were serious and came to find new products and place orders. We had buyers from as far away as Alaska, Boston and Philadelphia in addition to the local market. The showrooms that expanded (like us) had great shows and everyone commented about the ease of doing this show. It is so much easier than Atlanta.”

Nellie Sarkissian, Owner, J. Johnson, Suite 342
“Opening day Wednesday was a VERY good day and surprisingly so! It was our busiest first day in a very long time. We are VERY happy!”

Lynn Mitchell, Owner, Lynn Mitchell Group, Suite 856
“We have some great new lines this show. The buyers are responding favorably, it’s very exciting.”

Dino Hillas, Owner, Moda Dora Gift and Home, Suite 842
“The energy and traffic at this show has been so amazing. I heard many compliments about our building, everyone was upbeat and this really has been the first time in more than 3 years that we have had such upbeat energy and traffic at Moda Dora. We are all very happy!”

Catherine Sullivan, Owner, GRACE/ by Catherine Sullivan, Suite 330
“We have been receiving an overwhelming response to our newly expanded and rebranded showroom. The buyers were excited, our manufacturers made the show experience more intoxicating with great new products and displays. Our traffic was so nice and steady and the buyers truly bought with enthusiasm. They liked the larger, more comfortable environment.”

Jennifer Flatow, Joolz Hayworth, Beckman’s Handcrafted Show L.A. ™
“This was our first show. The reception has been great and buyers really like what they see.”

II. LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER SOUTH HALL GIFT AND KENTIA GLOBAL MARKETPLACE

Hendrick Blok, Owner, Bio Blaze
“We got some great interior designers interested in picking up our line of modern fireplaces fueled by bio-ethanol.”

Eric Rubin, Owner, Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag
“We decided to exhibit here at CGS because we want to find the specialty store customer. This is definitely a great place to do that. We did a much better job of succeeding here than in Atlanta where we didn’t even get noticed.”

Scott Jesse, Owner, Cardboard Safari.com
“We have never shown west of Dallas before. This is our first time in California and our first CGS. Vince the Skullis our new show launch and buyers love it. We signed up eight new shops before noon on the first day the show opened. So far this is a fabulous show!”

Leah Schwochert, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Clever Girl Innovations
“This is our debut, we are LA based and have never done a show before. People really love our products.”

David Atlas, Owner, Marquet
“This is our first time and show in California. As a manufacturer of scarves made by artisans in a third world country, we are Fair Trade Federation members. We chose this show because we were able to exhibit in a Fair Trade Pavilion. In other markets that option does not exist. We have had a very good amount of traffic and are very glad to be here.”

SEEN AT MARKET: Available for download at www.pressroom.mmart.com/cgs/image-gallery/ and at www.facebook.com/californiagiftshow

CGS at LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER

South Hall
Presenting an extensive collection of contemporary and traditional gift resources including fashion accessories, gourmet, seasonal, garden & home, kids, spa, gift, resort and stationery, special focus is given to emerging products unique to California that inspire consumer trends worldwide.

Kentia Global Marketplace
An international exhibitor mix featuring original artifacts, ethnographic art, home décor, accessories and fair trade merchandise among a collective of world style, jewelry (cash+carry) and vintage offerings.

Fair Trade
As consumers gravitate towards global product and embrace social responsibility, it has become an imperative for retailers to include ethically produced merchandise in their store’s offerings. In economic partnership with the Fair Trade Federation (www.fairtradefederation.org), CGS will present exhibitors who promote Fair Trade in a dedicated pavilion area.

CGS at L.A. MART

Gift + Home Showrooms
Permanent showrooms featuring premium product lines, from boutique to internationally branded gift, home and lifestyle merchandise. Showroom events include new product demonstrations, special appearances, open houses and more.

Beckman’s Handcrafted Show™ L.A.
Fresh and functional artisanal, handmade products offering contemporary apparel and jewelry to classic home accents

2012 GIFT + HOME MARKET SCHEDULE

MARCH
L.A. Mart Spring Gift + Home Market
Sunday, March 18 – Tuesday, March 20

JUNE
L.A. Mart Spring Gift + Home Sample Sale
Thursday, June 7 – Friday, June 8

JULY
California Gift Show
Wednesday, July 25 – Tuesday, July 31
L.A. Mart Showrooms: 25 – 31
L.A. Mart/Beckman’s Handcrafted Show L.A.: 27 – 30
L.A. Mart/Los Angeles Convention Center Temporaries: 27 – 30

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
L.A. Mart Fall Gift + Home Market
Sunday, September 30 – Tuesday, October 2

NOVEMBER
L.A. Mart Fall Gift + Home Sample Sale
Thursday, November 8 – Friday, November 9

MARKET TUESDAYS
Each Tuesday of every month, L.A. Mart permanent showrooms will be opened and offer seasonal specials, sneak peeks at new products, meet & greet’s with manufacturers and reps, and much more.

For a complete listing of CGS 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
.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.comor 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.