Dec 11, 2007

Seattle Market Week offers competitive strategies for 2008 with expert-led educational seminars and trend-setting product lines

Seattle – Pacific Market Center, the leading destination market on the west coast, will host the Winter Gift & Home Accessories Show, the Pacific Northwest’s premier seven-day market event, on January 30-February 5, 2008. Known as a leading and innovative resource for home, lifestyle and giftware, Pacific Market Center will offer buyers a multitude of business building opportunities including inspiring educational seminars and social networking functions in a one-of-a-kind marketplace experience. Several new showrooms will be opening and expanding in time for the Winter Show including Russ Berrie, The Quinton Group, Northwest Reps, Boma and The Bianci Group.

“Pacific Market Center is buzzing with the latest in product trends, resources, and connections all accessible in one location,” said Lisa Goodman, marketing director of Pacific Market Center. “Buyers will leave this show feeling inspired with ideas on everything cool, hip, hot, and new in the industry, giving them the competitive edge needed to make their business thrive throughout the year.”

The Winter Gift & Home Accessories Show offers buyers a sophisticated boutique style environment, featuring thousands of original products infused with cutting-edge technology, superior buyer services, and industry experts. The ideal market event for buyers looking to expand their product offerings, show visitors can talk with retail experts, team up with suppliers and visit Pacific Market Center’s new and expanded showrooms.

In light of the increasing awareness and popularity of tea, the consumer purchases of tea have increased for 15 straight years and there are more than 2,000 specialty tea rooms and retail shops in the country according to the Tea Association of the USA, Pacific Market Center is adding educational seminars and manufacturers demonstrations on the topic to its popular complimentary International Tea Room. The seminars, titled Tea 101 and Tea & Health, will help retailers better promote their tea offerings and better meet the demand of the people who are turning to tea as their primary hot beverage. The new buyers’ tea event is offered every afternoon between 2:00 and 3:00 pm

Throughout the week, Pacific Market Center will offer complimentary seminars conducted by nationally-recognized professionals from the retail, marketing, and merchandising industries including Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and Kristina Stewart, editor of NICHE magazine, just to name a few. Designed to sharpen buyers’ competitive edge, this year’s expert-led seminars include lessons on how to build attractive displays, increase foot traffic and customer loyalty, develop profitable customer relationships, and utilize e-mail marketing as a successful business building tool. Committed to making buyers’ experience as productive and memorable as possible, Pacific Market Center will be making some of the videos available via pod cast following the event.

Adding to the excitement surrounding this year’s show is the grand opening of Scotty’s NW Bistro, a newly renovated cafe at Pacific Market Center providing a venue for visitors to enjoy food and refreshments, serving everything from espresso to cocktails, wine and beer, breakfast, lunch, appetizers, and dinner. Scotty’s NW Bistro offers a warm, friendly and professional atmosphere while providing guests with a fresh, healthy and innovative menu. A grand opening will be held on January 30 and the new cafe will be open daily between 8:00 and 5:00 pm.

Pacific Market Center continues to collaborate with the Seattle Gift Show to present Seattle Market Week, giving buyers access to 10,000 innovative national and international product lines. Free parking and shuttle service to and from downtown hotels and the Washington State Convention & Trade Center where the Seattle Gift Show is being held will be offered throughout the show. In addition to all the fun, culture, shopping, and dining that makes Seattle a vibrantly unique city, buyers can enjoy the following amenities at Pacific Market Center during Seattle Market Week:

• Martini Tasting & Jazz on Thursday, January 31 between 6 – 7 p.m.
• Late night buying on Friday, February 1 until 8 p.m.
• Casino Night on Monday, February 4th between 6 – 8 p.m.
• Complimentary continental breakfast daily and an on-site espresso bar
• Buyers’ lounges throughout the building and game room
• Complimentary Buyer Socials every afternoon featuring Northwest wines and microbrews
• On-site market concierge assisting with preferential dining reservations at some of Seattle’s top restaurants.
• Free Wi-Fi and internet hook-up
• Touch-screen directories on each floor for easy showroom and product searches
• Free Parking all day for all seven days

The Winter Gift & Home Accessories Show will take place at Pacific Market Center from January 30 to February 5, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Tuesday with late night buying available on Friday until 8:00 p.m. The show closes at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5th. For more information about the show please visit pacificmarketcenter.com or call (800) 433-1014.

About Pacific Market Center

Pacific Market Center is the leading permanent wholesale market on the west coast, featuring the latest in home furnishings, accessories and gift products. The industry destination for buyers in the Western United States, Canada and beyond, Pacific Market Center offers permanent showrooms on five floors featuring thousands of product lines for a wide selection of merchandise to help buyers keep up with every trend affecting their consumers. Pacific Market Center draws thousands of buyers from more than 30 channels of distribution including high-end department stores, corporate, specialty retailers, home furnishings, kitchenware, events, gourmet food, hospitality, garden/outdoor living, salons & spas, wineries, Internet, and regional chain outlets. Located in Seattle’s Design District, Pacific Market Center is open to the trade only. For more information, visit pacificmarketcenter.com. Pacific Market Center is owned and managed by The Benaroya Companies.