Jan 18, 2017

January 2017 Philadelphia Gift Show attracts region’s retailers

The Jan. 6-9, 2017 edition of the Philadelphia Gift Show reports quality buyer traffic, a record number of first time exhibitors and a successful co-location with the Philadelphia National Candy Gift & Gourmet Show. Featuring more than 1,000 booths at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, the show once again attracted the attendance of Mid-Atlantic and northeastern retailers who were eager to explore the new introductions, place orders and get first delivery in 2017.

Best New Product, which was awarded to Jumping Cracker Beans’ playfully humorous, 3-dimensional award-winning greeting cards and Instant Snow to Go gifts from San Jose, Calif.

“It’s thrilling to be here for the first time at the Philadelphia Gift Show and win the new product award at the show,” said Judy Dugan, owner, Jumping Cracker Beans. “We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to share some of the playful humor from our greeting cards, which are made by hand by Goodwill artists and artists with special needs.”

In addition, Pittsburgh-based artist Diana Kauffman of Diana Kauffman Designs received the Best Made in America product award at the winter edition.

“As a designer who creates statement pieces for men and women for every day wear, I couldn’t be more pleased to receive this award from buyers here at the show. When I’m creating new pieces, I’m in this vacuum consumed by decisions to pair colors and materials, so when I get to a show and see this response from potential customers and retail buyers – there’s no bigger reward,” says Diana Kauffman, founder and designer, Diana Kauffman Designs. “It’s next level.”

The winter 2017 edition once again co-located with the Retail Confectioners Association of Philadelphia’s (RCAP) 135th Philadelphia National Candy Gift & Gourmet Show giving retailers throughout the northeast region the opportunity to take advance of cross-over buying opportunities afforded by the show’s selection of candy, chocolate, gourmet specialties and other ideal impulse items.

In addition to the show co-location, the Philadelphia Gift Show welcomed 50 first-time exhibitors who joined hundreds of other manufacturers and lines in every product category ranging from giftware, souvenir and artisan designs to floral resources, home accents, seasonal items and more.

“The Philadelphia Gift Show continues to be the market for northeastern retailers to shop a well-defined selection of top lines, best-selling brands and meet with their regional reps,” said Christina Bell Davis, vice president of Gift & Souvenir, Urban Expositions. “Having all of these resources under one roof is a tremendous benefit for our buyers as it gives the opportunity to spend time building relationships with vendors, scouting new products and completing their buying needs just in time for spring.”

The Philadelphia Gift Show continued many of its convenient onsite buyer services, including daily retailer prize giveaways from exhibitors; complimentary breakfast and lunch on Friday and Saturday; as well as the popular “stay for the last day” promotion inviting buyers to shop the last day of the show and enjoy discounted hotel rates, free lunch and show specials offered by exhibitors on Monday, January 9 only.

The show also offered a comprehensive educational series, including a new  Made in America Seminar and Buying Tour. Led by Eric Flanigan, vice president of retail & leisure, Aramark this curated tour of the show floor gave participating retailers a first -hand look at many of the resources the show offers, along with tips to selling, merchandising and selecting the right made in America products for their stores.

“For 2017, I want to get back to carrying products in our store that are made in the USA, so I came to the Philadelphia Gift Show specifically for the Made in America seminar and the tour,” said John Magnani, owner of This & That 4 You, Miller Place, New York. “The tour was a success for me, and I got to meet with artists and manufacturers that I had not seen before.”

The Philadelphia Gift Show will return July 23-26, 2017 to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.