Apr 23, 2011

Denver Merchandise Mart

The Denver Merchandise Mart will hold its Gift, Home, Jewelry and Resort Show August 25—30 for permanent showrooms and August 27—29 for temporary exhibitors.  Information about the Denver Show is available at www.denvermart.com.  

The Denver Gift Show is held in conjunction with the Denver Apparel & Accessory Market August 26—29.  This unique opportunity will offer buyers a wider variety of merchandise categories with approximately 100 ladies and children’s apparel and accessory showrooms open representing 1,000 lines. 

Joining the combined Gift and Apparel Shows in August for the first time, will be the Floral Association of the Rockies (FAR) Expo on Saturday, August 27th. The one-day Expo will feature approximately 25 wholesale floral and supply exhibitors, a trend presentation by one of the floral industry’s leading design experts, a live, on stage “Iron Fist” Design Challenge, bridal bouquet design contest and an awards reception.  

The Denver Gift, Home, Jewelry and Resort Show, with over 400 exhibitors representing more than 4000 lines, is the number one destination in the country for lodge, rustic, western and Native American products.  The Denver Gift Show is also a major market for the souvenir and resort industry and offers an unsurpassed variety of products, featuring regional product lines not available at other major markets as well as gourmet, decorative accessories, collectibles, stationery, home furnishings, jewelry, resort apparel, toys and many traditional upscale gifts and handicrafts.  

Available for immediate release is a unique assortment of one-of-a-kind Native American and other handcrafted merchandise in all mediums. In addition, the Show features a cash and carry section of exhibitors representing such categories as personal care, jewelry, gifts and decorative accessories.  

The Denver Gift Show offers free educational seminars for buyers, complimentary evening entertainment and buffets, complimentary Buyer’s Lounge with refreshments, free coat check, high-speed wireless Internet, free fax and copier service, over 3,000 free parking spaces, free parking lot shuttles, discounted hotel rates from nine area properties with free shuttles to and from the Show, delicious food prepared by the Mart’s in house catering staff and the convenience of a market complex located under one roof.  Consistently on post show surveys, buyers say it’s the “variety of merchandise, easy-to-shop-facility and friendly staff” that makes the Denver Show such a great experience. Buyers can “Be a Winner in Denver” at the August 2011 Show with the Mart’s daily cash giveaways of $50 and $250 for a total of $3,000 in instant cash giveaways to buyers.

The show hours and list of seminars and activities for the upcoming August event are listed below.

Thursday, August 25

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Permanent Showrooms Open, Mart Building

Friday, August 26

9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Permanent Showrooms Open, Mart Building

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Apparel Temporary Exhibitors, Mart Building, Third Floor Exhibit Hall

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Buyer Information Session – Forum Meeting Room #2

Evonne Eiseman, Buyer Services manager, explains the Show directory, building layout, available merchandise lines, and answers questions.

Saturday, August 27

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

All Buildings Open

Mart Permanent Showrooms

Gift Temporary Exhibitors in Expo Building

Apparel Temporary Exhibitors, Mart Building, Third Floor Exhibit Hall

8:30 – 9:30 a.m., Seminar – Forum Meeting Room 1

Patricia Norins: Retail Trends 2011 Seminar & Workshop

Want to learn what’s hot and what’s not?

Join retail expert and editor of Gift Shop magazine, Patricia Norins, as she reveals this year’s top 25 macrotrends, the 2011 Color Trends, and the microtrends that will help you make better merchandising decisions. Plus you’ll discover hot websites for trend hunting. Learn how to create your own “trend board” during her 15 minute workshop.

Find Patricia at www.specialtyretail.com and www.specialtyretailexpert.com

10:00 – 10:30 a.m., Buyer Information Session – Forum Meeting Room #2 Evonne Eiseman, Buyer Services manager, explains the Show directory, building layout, available merchandise lines, and answers questions.

10 – 11:30 a.m., Floral Design Demonstration, Expo Building, H Aisle FTD Design Instructor, Toomie Farris, AAF, AIFD, CFD: Translating Trends into Everyday Designs

Simply being aware of trends is not enough to guarantee success for any florist. It takes a focused approach to analyze what designers and manufacturers are saying is the latest and greatest, and apply it to consumer trends and buying patterns. Toomie, one of the floral industry’s leading experts on the subject, will guide you through a look at the current trends in color, design and merchandising, while providing practical applications certain to improve your shop’s image and bottom line.

1:00 – 2:00 p.m., Floral Design Contest, Expo Building, H Aisle Live, on-stage “Iron Fist” Design Challenge

Two of FAR’s best award-winning designers will each have 30 minutes to create an exciting design, 6 feet tall for a surprise event, using surprise flowers and containers. The Challenge will be commentated by Brian Wheat, AAF, PFCI, and should be a fun, fast paced, frenzy of design energy. Judging will be by audience acclaim.

3:00 – 4:15 p.m., Seminar – Forum Meeting Room 1 Patricia Norins: Guerilla Marketing

Looking for ideas that you can put to use immediately to sell more products?

Join Patricia as she reveals inexpensive and grass roots marketing strategies to grow traffic and sales. In this fast-paced session you will learn how to build stronger customer relationships, increase store traffic, and discover over 70 ideas for online, event, direct mail, and networking marketing.

Find Patricia at www.specialtyretail.com and www.specialtyretailexpert.com

5:00 – 6:00 p.m., Floral Association of the Rockies Awards Reception, Expo Building, H Aisle

A fun-filled hour of relaxing, celebrating and camaraderie. Awards and prizes will be announced for the FAR Annual Bridal Bouquet Contest with credentialed judges in both the Professional and Master divisions, as well as for the Iron Fist Design Challenge.

6:00 – 8:00 0 p.m., Fashion Show and Buyer Appreciation Party, Plaza at the Mart

Buyers join us for an overview of the resources available at the Apparel & Accessory Market See new trends and latest fashions for ladies and children’s apparel; and relax and network with other buyers. Winners of the Floral Association of the Rockies Bridal Bouquet Design Contest will be announced. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres beginning at 6:00 p.m. Sure to be an enjoyable evening!

Sunday, August 28

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

All buildings open

Mart permanent showrooms

Gift Temporary Exhibitors in Expo Building

Apparel Temporary Exhibitors, Mart Building, Third Floor Exhibit Hall

8:00 – 8:30 a.m., Forum Meeting Room 2

Non-Denominational Church Service

8:30 – 9:30a.m., Seminar – Mart Building, Third Floor Exhibit Hall

Lynn Switanowski: Running a Social Media Strategy for Your Business in an Hour a Day!

You know that your business needs to participate in social media to engage customers and showcase your business, but where do you find the time? We’ve got the answer.

Join Lynn Switanowski for this a hour-long seminar to learn how to create a social media strategy for your retail business. Learn how to connect customers with your business through effective social media campaigns, how to create repeat visits to your social media, how to set up a weekly social media plan, and the time-saving tools and applications to help you. It’s an hour you’ll use again and again for your business! Find Lynn at www.cbc-group.net and www.facebook.com/cbcgroup

2:30 – 3:30p.m. Seminar – Forum Meeting Room 1

Lynn Switanowski: Managing Your Business in the Google Cloud

Do you want to run your business more effectively and save time while doing it? Google can help.

Join Lynn in an hour-long seminar as she reveals the 7 Google tools that will help your retail business flourish. Here is a glimpse of some of the tools she will be sharing with you. The balance will be revealed at the seminar!

Manage projects among multiple users with Google Docs Review your website performance with Google Analytics Gather information and educational tools with Google Reader Use Google Applications for email marketing, inventory management and much more.

Find Lynn at www.cbc-group.net and www.facebook.com/cbcgroup

3:30 – 4:30 p.m., Margaritaville, Expo Building

6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Sunday Night Extravaganza, Plaza at the Mart A fun evening for buyers and exhibitors. Enjoy a scrumptious complimentary buffet dinner, free beer and soft drinks and cash bar, along with an evening of entertainment you won’t want to miss.

Monday, August 29

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Mart Building Permanent Showrooms

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Apparel Temporary Exhibitors, Mart Building, Third Floor Exhibit Hall

Gift Temporary Exhibitors in Expo Building

Tuesday, August 30

:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Gift Permanent Showrooms Open

Apparel Showrooms Open by Appointment