Feb 11, 2013

CMC Starts The New Year With a Successful Gift & Home Market and Expanded Resources

The California Market Center (CMC)’s Gift & Home Market, held January 22-29, 2013 at the CMC, got the new year off to a successful start, with a steady flow of enthusiastic buyers, and an abundance of resources. In addition to offering the West Coast’s most extensive collection of holiday and seasonal products, buyers enjoyed discovering new fashion accessories and baby products from the CMC’s expansive fashion, children’s, and design showrooms. Buyers also took advantage of an assortment of amenities and special events, including free retailer seminars, complimentary breakfast in the Buyer’s Lounge, and various hospitality receptions on show floors, in addition to the numerous restaurants in the building, free shuttle service and covered parking, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and much more.

“Our retailer attendance and our orders were both noticeably increased this show,” said Mickey Lang, founder of California Marketing Associates (CMA), Suite C1300. “We are celebrating our 11th anniversary at the California Market Center… The CMC will always be our home.”

Dale Zizi, sales representative for Melrose International, Katherine’s Collection, Bethany Lowe, and other leading seasonal resources agreed with Lang, saying “We are delighted with the results of our show, and truly believe that the CMC is where the gift, home, and seasonal industries’ future resides. All of our manufacturers concur, and are committed to the CMC as their West Coast headquarters.”

Key stores seen this Market included JW Marriott, Kaiser Permanente Gift Shops, San Antonio Winery, Los Angeles Arboretum Gift Shop, Knott’s Berry Farm, The UPS Store, Aahs!, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Pechanga Resort and Casino, UCLA, Pacific Car Wash, Huntington Memorial Hospital, California Center for the Arts, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Voila! Charming Home Accents, Scripps Memorial Hospital, Claremont Heights Postal Center, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Lorimar Vineyards & Winery, KMS Media Group, Magnolia Fresh Flower Market, Lechman Testa & Associates Interior Design, Green Street Interiors, PS Interiors, K&K Creative Designs, Reflections Art Gallery, St. Joseph Hospital Gift Shop, and multiple Hallmark Stores, to name a few.

“I was very glad to see more showrooms have opened, said attending retailer Robert Berens, of Robert Lawrence Home. “Melrose International and Katherine’s Collection were fine additions, and we look forward to discovering more new resources at the CMC.”

Adding to the enjoyment of this Market’s experience was a packed schedule of special buyer perks including meet-and-greets with various designers, such as nationally known Christmas artist Lynn Haney of Lynn Haney Collections, free and convenient underground parking, giveaways, and much more.

Dates for the next seasonal CMC Gift & Home Market coincide with LA Fashion Market, and will be held Sunday – Thursday, March 10-14, 2013. The dates for the summer 2013 CMC Gift & Home Market are Tuesday – Tuesday, July 16 – 23, 2013.