Nov 13, 2007

Seminars, Events & Promotions Offer Added Value at Winter 2008 NYIGF

White Plains, NY – A full slate of educational programming, after-hours networking events and exciting promotions will be offered at the 154th semi-annual edition of the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), February 1-6, 2008, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Metropolitan Pavilion and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94.

“NYIGF educational offerings cover a wide variety of retail issues and opportunities for the industry as a whole, as well as several niche market segments, which nicely complements the breadth and depth of products available at the Fair,” said Dorothy Belshaw, GLM senior vice president and NYIGF director. “And our after-hours events allow exhibitors and buyers to take full advantage of entertainment and attractions that can only be found in New York City.” (NOTE: A full seminar and event schedule follows.)

Educational Seminars

Some dozen educational sessions, addressing a wide variety of retail issues and opportunities will be presented before and during the market. Topics include color and design trends, visual merchandising, Internet strategies, “green guides” for manufacturers and retailers, consumer preferences in several niche markets, as well as sessions targeted to the personal care industry. All seminars require payment, with discounts for advance registration. Complete details and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com/programs.

Environmental issues will be addressed in two separate sessions: “SustainAbility: design for a better worldtm – A Manufacturer’s Guide to Going Green” moderated by Metropolis magazine, and “SustainAbility: design for a better worldtm – A Retailer’s Guide to Going Green” moderated by GOOD Magazine. Visual merchandising will be addressed in two separate sessions: “Selling Christmas Decorations Store Design Showcase” moderated by Selling Christmas Decorations and “Retail Theater: Improving Sales Velocity through Better Merchandising” moderated by Gourmet Insider. Other retail issues, opportunities, solutions and strategies will be addressed by Cookie magazine in “Family Style,” American Craft magazine with “Made in the USA: Sourcing and Selling American-Made Products, Home Accents Today in “The Internet Evolution from Statistics to Strategies, ” and “Retailer to Retailer, sponsored by Gift & Home Trade Association.”

In connection with Home Textiles Market Week, two home fashion-focused seminars – “Trend Eye NY,” presented by The Trend Curve’s Michelle Lamb and sponsored by Accessory Merchandising,” “Color Pulse 2009” sponsored by IFDA (International Furnishings & Design Association)- will be presented. And, two personal-care focused sessions – “Spa Retailing: Massaging your Retail Sales for Greater Profits” and “Organic Skincare Profit from Going Green” – will be presented by beauty and spa industry authority Bryan Durocher, in connection with the integration of EX∑TRACTS: New discoveries in beauty and wellness into NYIGF.

To help orient newcomers to the Fair, GLM also has partnered with Giftware News magazine to offer a “Pre-Show New Buyer Orientation webinar.” This on-line session, to be presented on January 10, in advance of the NYIGF, will offer new retailers ideas to help them shop the Fair most efficiently and effectively.

Special Events

A series of onsite events and after-hours activities are planned for exhibitors and buyers, enabling them to enjoy some of New York City’s best entertainment and attractions during market. All events require advance registration. Complete programs details, schedules, pricing and registration information is available online at www.nyigf.com/programs.

Craft retailers and Handmade exhibitors are invited to enjoy complimentary coffee and bagels and pre-show networking on Friday, February 1, from 8:30am – 10:00am, at the Javits Center, compliments of The Crafts Report magazine. Museum store retailers are invited to enjoy complimentary continental breakfast and pre-show networking, compliments of ArtObjects, on Sunday, February 3, from 8:30am – 10:00am, at the Javits Center. GLM will host complimentary beverages and culinary treats at the Metropolitan Pavilion – home to NYIGF’s New York’s Newest division – from 9:00am – 10:00am, from Saturday, February 2, through Tuesday, February 5.

On Friday, February 1, at 7:00pm, GLM, 7 West 34th Street, 230 Fifth Avenue and House Beautiful will celebrate Home Textiles Market Week with an “Ankasa Open House;” on Saturday, February 1, at 6:30pm, GLM, 41 Madison Avenue, 7 West 34th Street and 230 Fifth Avenue will host On the Town: Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center, on Sunday, February 2, at 6:00pm, members of the gift and home industry will gather for Gift For Life – The Party benefiting amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research; and on Monday, February 4, at 8:00pm, GLM will offer specially-priced tickets for “A Night on Broadway featuring LEGALLY BLONDE The Musical.”

At the conclusion of NYIGF, the 5th Annual Housewares Design Award, presented by HomeWorld Business, with educational support provided by the International Housewares Association (IHA) and sponsorship by GLM and DuPont’s Teflon Housewares Group, will honor the best products in 13 categories from tabletop, cookware and bakeware to lighting, home decor and outdoor living. Winners will be announced and over 60 finalist products will be on display, on Wednesday, February 6, from 11:30am – 1:45pm, at the Marriott Marquis.

Display

After a successful debut at the August 2007 NYIGF, the SustainAbility: design for a better world will return. A special display, showcasing environmentally-conscious and socially-responsible products crafted from sustainable, recycled or renewable resources, at the Javits Center throughout the NYIGF. The display will be curated by Ilene Shaw of Shaw and Co! Productions.

Promotions On Friday, February 1, GLM will offer two special promotions for buyers at the Javits Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 & 94. A special transportation rebate will be offered at both Piers, and a New York Restaurant Week dining sweepstakes will be offered at the Javits and Piers. Complete details, and rules, will be available online at nyigf.com after November 30, 2007.

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift and home accessory marketplace, with 2,700 exhibitors featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. NYIGF is held concurrently with EX*TRACTS at the Javits Center and Home Textiles Market Week at the Javits Center and Pier 94, 230 Fifth Avenue and 7 West 34th Street. More than 40,000 buyers from around the world are expected to attend. Additional information and registration is available online at nyigf.com, or by contacting GLM at 1-800-272-SHOW (7469), or (603) 665-7524.