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LARGEST & GREATEST GIFT SHOW EVER
TAKES MANHATTAN BY STORM!
New York International Gift Fair
February 1-6, 2003,
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers
Over 60,000 retailers, sales representatives and manufacturers from
more than 60 countries came together, from February 1st through 6th,
2003, at the 144th semi-annual New York International Gift Fair at the
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. There were plenty of new, exciting
products, quite a number of them launching new trends in the gift industry.
New York’s Newest has introduced over 300 of the newest items to the
gift industry. In addition, there were nineteen international pavilions,
representing close to two hundred different independent international
companies, which gave unique flair to the event. The highlight of the
market consisted of business-building seminars, as well as unique events
that one only finds in New York. There were eleven divisions present
at the show, which representing over 7,500 different product lines.
These events consisted of “Accent on Design”, “At Home, Floral & Garden
Accessories”, “General Gift, Handmade”, “Just Kidstuff”, “New & Distinctive
Resources”, “New York’s Newest”, “Personal Accessories”, “Tabletop &
Homewares”, and “The Museum Source”. The gift show occupied an incredible
650,000+ square feet of space, consisting of the entire Javits Convention
Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 88, 90, 92 and 94.
The First-Timers The “New York’s Newest” market division
gave special recognition to the first-time players of the gift industry,
with over 400 total exhibitors, eighty-five percent having participated
for the very first time. Together, they represented an array of gifts
and decorative accessories of every conceivable kind. From Around
the World There are a number of words I can use to describe
the selection of international gifts, but if I had to chose only one,
it would probably be “comprehensive.”. There were quite a number of
international groups at the show, including the Austrian Trade Commission;
Government of Quebec C.M.A.C.; Canadian Figt & Tableware Association,
Consulate of Denmark; Created in France-E.S.P., Ateliers d’Art de France;
DURME Messe Stuttgart International GmbH (Germany), Guatemala Trade
Office; Jute Manufacturers Trade Council (India); Israel Export Institute;
Italian Trade Commission; Korea Trade Promotion Center; Banco Nacional
de Comercio Exterior (Mexico); Polish Trade Group; International Trade
Projects (South Africa); Thai Trade Center; London Chamber of Commerce;
and British Crafts Council. In addition to these groups, some 180 companies
from outside the United States will participate independently.
From Russia, With Love
 Having
been to just about every part of the New York International Gift Show,
I can honestly say that I probably haven’t seen a show this massive
ever, and I have been to quite a number of shows in my lifetime. In
my quest to find exhibitors who deal with unique, yet beautiful conversational
starters, I encountered two fellows, Rett Erti and John Hausman, whose
growing, ten-year-old, Colorado-based company is called “Tol’s Toys”.
They feature a variety of Russian-made gifts and toys--all hand made
from wood--such as small, medium and large lacquered boxes that are
beautifully painted in delicate, intricate detail, that can be used
to hold jewelry, coins and other small items. They also deal with toys.
An interesting toy, which John so perseveringly demonstrated, is the
“Hungry Chicks.”, a toy with a 300-year history, which is a little smaller
than a ping-pong paddle in size. On the underside of the paddle is a
wooden ball that is suspended by five strings. Each string passes through
its own hole in the paddle, and is attached to one of the chicks on
the topside. As you swing the paddle in a circular motion, it causes
the ball underneath to swing, thus releasing/pulling at each of the
strings and causing each of the chicks, one by one, to “peck” at the
food. I call it “Good Old Fashion Entertainment—Straight from the farm!”
The fifteen dollar price tag, in my opinion is not even “eggspensive”,
for such a unique gift. Their specialty, however, is “ornamental/nesting
dolls”, which demonstrate an almost staggering level of skill in painting
and precision. Each doll fits so perfectly inside the next. Their highest
priced one, priced at $150, is a 30-piece nesting doll which fit so
perfectly inside each other that there is barely 1 millimeter of space
gap between each level.
Most of their business comes from the wholesale arena (about 80%). About
a tenth of their business is from the Gift Show at the Javits Center,
where they were exhibiting for the past two to three years. Their annual
revenue last year was approximately $250,000, and they have a projected
annual revenue for this year of approximately $350,000. They sell to
toy stores, gift shops, and book stores. Rett and John can be reached
by logging on to their website (where, by the way, you can also purchase
their beautiful gift items), at www.tolstoys.com .Rett and John, we
wish you all the best for success!
Spice Up Your Life Another very interesting
exhibitor was “Oxford Falls”, which is a home-based business run by
a husband and wife team, Jim & Kathy Mosier. These down-home folks come
straight out of Mississippi with what has to be the finest in ”creative
cooking” anywhere, and a vision for unique, enjoyable gifts which are
ideal for giving to “The one who has everything.”. They make a wide
variety of products everything from home-made “Bootleg” Bloody Mary
mix (which happens to be their top seller) to Raspberry-Chipotle (pepper)
sauce (not exactly their bottom seller), right out of their home! I
really enjoyed the samples these folks offered me, as, I would imagine,
all the otherl of the passer bys did as well. While Jim and Kathy’s
business may be home-based, it is, nonetheless, quite profitable, with
the majority of their business stemming from reorders. Their business
has grown to the point where they are now offering these delectable
goodies in over thirty-seven states across the country, and raking in
close to a quarter of a million dollars a year, having only three to
four employees! If you would like more information, please feel free
to email them at oxfordfalls@earthlink.net.
The New York International Gift Fair is managed by
GLM (George Little Management, LLC.) for more details and information
regarding future events and shows, feel free to visit their website,
at www.glmshows.com”
For our Atlanta based-readers and subscribers of the Liberty News Online
Magazine, the next greatest show will be in your city. Atlanta, you
are invited to the Gift Fair in Atlanta, all on one floor, all under
one roof. It will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center. Friday,
July 11th, through Monday, July 14th, 2003. Please note that entry
into this and all trade shows is limited to retailers and those involved
in the respective industries. This is not for the general public.
For more information regarding the exhibiting at, sponsoring, or attending
the show, contact urban/GLM,LLC at their website website
www.thegiftfairinatlanta.com.
Lidia Vita and Betty Coker are known as "The Dynamic Duo". The reason or this is they both work well hand-in-hand. They will cover trade shows, e.g. World Famous ENK shows, Fame shows, computer technology expos, gift shows and other trade shows and expos to educate you folks on how you can attend them, and give you exclusive, in-depth interviews with the vendors and the people behind these trade shows and the new products on the market. They will also educate you about different cultures and festivities. If you are interested in having the dynamic duo write about your festival or trade show, or have any comments or suggestions for them, please feel free to email them at
dynamicduo@hadofnyc.org, or telephone them at our hotline, at (718) 507-7616 between the hours 8:00am and 8:00pm Monday through Friday. |
