Jan 18, 2011

MMPI Offers Handmade Products With a Purpose at its Fair Trade Pavilions in Los Angeles and Chicago

Chicago, IL – MMPI leads the way in providing the best in qualified Fair Trade resources with its thriving Fair Trade pavilions in Los Angeles and Chicago. Each show offers buyers and retailers a broad spectrum of quality products ranging from clothing, coffee, food, furniture, home décor, and house wares, to jewelry, tea, toys, and personal accessories.

Consumers are looking for high-end, quality handmade products with a story and MMPI is meeting that demand with growing Fair Trade pavilions at the California Gift Show and The Chicago Market. Both markets will provide Fair Trade Federation exhibitors in a centralized pavilion for ease of shopping and product offerings not found at other markets.

“The Fair Trade Federation has become an important part of the California Gift Show and The Chicago Market, as well as the gift industry as a whole,” said Joan Ulrich, senior vice president, MMPI. “Both shows celebrate work from the around the world, reflecting the global marketplace in which we operate, at the same time supporting those artists and their communities.”

“The partnership between the Fair Trade Federation and MMPI continues to expand opportunities for artisans around the world while delivering high quality products to stores across North America,” said Carmen K. Iezzi, Executive Director of the Fair Trade Federation. “We are delighted that the Fair Trade Pavilions continue to grow and expand these vibrant connections.”

The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is a trade association that strengthens and promotes organizations fully committed to Fair Trade. The Federation is a part of the global Fair Trade movement, building equitable and sustainable trading partnerships and creating opportunities to alleviate poverty. Fair Trade products offer more choices for retailers to help differentiate their business in order to meet consumer demand for artisan products.

The California Gift Show and The Chicago Market are excited to welcome new and returning Fair Trade exhibitors to the January 2011 Markets.

For more information on The California Gift Show, please visit www.californiagiftshow.com.

For more information on The Chicago Market: Living and Giving, please visit www.shopchicagomarket.com or call 800.677.6278 (MART).

L.A. Mart® is a registered trademark of MMPI. The California Gift Show® is a registered trademark of MMPI. Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show 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 213-763-5800 or visit www.californiagiftshow.com or www.lamart.com.

The Chicago Market: Living and Giving is a trademark of MMPI. Beckman’s is a registered trademark of MMPI. The Chicago Market: Living and Giving is a quarterly wholesale tradeshow designed for store owners, retail buyers and designers to shop a wide array of quality products ranging from home accents and furniture to handcrafted or eco-friendly product to collectible items, holiday, baby/children’s product, gourmet and more. The Chicago Merchandise Mart is located at 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654. For more information call 800.677.6278 (MART) or visit www.shopchicagomarket.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 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center in Washington D.C.

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