Oct 6, 2008

2009 Philadelphia show retuns home

ATLANTA – The Philadelphia Gift Show returns to the suburban Philadelphia metro area this January with a full roster of buyer services, show highlights and new product resources. Moving to its new home at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, the January 17-20, 2009 edition will bring retailers throughout the mid-Atlantic and Tri-state regions an unrivaled selection of new product resources and buyer services in a convenient, cost-effective, casual and relaxed show setting.

“The feedback we’ve received from our buyers and exhibitors about the show’s return to the suburban Philadelphia marketplace has been tremendous,” explains Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. “This location appeals to retailers who are increasingly looking to regional markets, which offer the chance to save on travel and stay closer to home. By bringing the region’s top sales agencies, established national manufacturers and new companies together under one roof, we’re able to offer retailers the chance to attend the largest gift show between New York and Atlanta – at a fraction of the cost.”

Conveniently located in the King of Prussia area, the new Greater Philadelphia Expo Center offers a cost-effective drive or fly-in destination for buyers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Delaware, Virginia, Washington, DC and other parts of the mid-Atlantic region. What’s more, the new center provides the ideal replacement and is even more accessible to get to than the former Fort Washington Expo Center where the Philadelphia Gift Show had a successful 10-year run before that facility closed in 2006. The show had been held at the Greater Reading Expo Center in Reading, PA for the past two years.

Retailers attending the January 2009 Philadelphia Gift Show will be able to explore a tremendous selection and take advantage of a host of special buyer incentives, including:

Free Business Building Seminars:
Saturday, January 17, 2009 – 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Is Retailing Success Really Possible Today? Let’s Count the Ways!

Speaker: Marilyn Nason, owner, Nason & Associates. This seminar will explore proven key business basics critical for today’s retailers to consider to remain competitive, garner their share of discretionary dollars available to the gift and accessories industry, and profitably reach their retailing goals.

Gift Baskets: Spring into Sales Now

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Speaker, Shirley Frazier, author, The Gift Basket Design Book. Learn quick and easy ways to make gift baskets with in-store merchandise that delights customers and your profit margin. Shirley Frazier, gift basket expert and author of The Gift Basket Design Book, will show designs and share tips that increase your sales all season long.

Sunday, January 18, 2009:
Strategies and Tactics for Business Success

9:30-10:30 a.m.
Speaker, Margie Johnson, owner, ShopTalk. Today’s highly competitive marketplace requires some rethinking and retooling for all retail merchants. Join Margie Johnson, owner of ShopTalk, as she lays out initiatives and tips that will help retailers revitalize their business and attract repeat customers.
Windows That Work

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Speaker, Margie Johnson, owner, ShopTalk. Learn the “nuts and bolts” of visual merchandising and how creating windows that work can increase your business. This seminar focuses on the effectiveness of visual merchandising and the tricks to create that shopper- stopper window every store needs.
Increasing Revenue With a New Location. An Online Location

2:30-3:30 p.m.
Spaker, Derek Griffin, owner, Speartek. Businesses of all sizes can grow their sales without the additional expenses of adding a new physical location. By taking advantage of the online marketplace and a variety of sales channels, you can grow sales revenue without incurring significant ongoing operating expenses and therefore grow your bottom line. Join Derek Griffin, owner of Speartek, a full service web design firm, as he discusses the options for using small budgets to build a large online presence.
Show Party 6:15-7:45 p.m.
Buyers and exhibitors are invited to join in the celebration of the show’s return home at the Philadelphia Gift Show party. The festivities will be held on Sunday, January 18 after the show closes. Attendees can mix, mingle, enjoy music, free drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Look for complete details coming soon.
Goody Bag Giveaway
The first 150 buyers to arrive on Sunday, January 18 and Monday, January 19 will receive a special tote bag and a list of participating exhibitors. Buyers can then walk the show and pick up free product samples from the booths of participating exhibitors.
Discounted Travel

Buyers can take advantage of significant hotel savings, with rooms starting as low as $68.99. For a full roster of hotels and rates, visit www.giftshowhotels.com. Many of these hotels will offer complimentary shuttle services to and from the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
Extensive Product Selection

In addition to these buyer amenities, retailers will be able to explore hundreds of booths showcasing product in every category, including general giftware, greeting cards, paper goods and social stationery, tabletop, decorative accessories, toys and games, gourmet products, resort/souvenir, home décor, floral and garden gifts, country crafts, seasonal items, designer/artisan and others.

Urban Expositions is a leading producer of trade events for the gift, souvenir, resort merchandise, fabric, sourcing, textiles, and sewn products technology industries. Urban Expositions owns and manages gift shows in Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia Beach, VA, Las Vegas, NV, Myrtle Beach, SC, Ocean City, MD and Galveston, TX. Urban also produces Material World, the premier global sourcing, fabric, trim and technology event for the sewn products industry. For more information, visit www.urban-expo.com