NY International Gift Fair

Details

Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 28 January 2010 05:00

Written by L E Shannon

The New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) is running from January 30 through February 4, 2010, at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and the Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94 in New York City. This semi-annual event is the premier gift and decorative accessories market in the United States.

The 45,000 national and international attendees are drawn from major retail outlets, specialty retailers, distributors, catalog companies and others. There are more than 2,800 firms exhibiting in eleven major merchandise sections of the Fair, including international sponsored groups representing Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Peru and the United Kingdom.

The Gift Fair will feature the latest trends, with a focus on the newest items in the gift, home and lifestyle categories, including a bamboo booster seat, an evening bag knitted from neoprene yarn, a portable USB hub that looks like an '80s cassette tape, and organic dog biscuits, with proceeds benefitting therapy-dog programs.

NYIGF's international exhibitors will showcase globally inspired items, such as cotton kimono robes, stainless-steel babushka-doll necklaces and ceramic yerba maté vessels.

Also to be featured are classic concepts with a contemporary twist, such as hand-crocheted pearl solitaire rings, children's block sets made from sustainable solid maple and vibrantly colored bone china teacup sets. And with the growing worldwide demand for green products, NYIGF again will feature the most current eco-driven products, including paper made at biofuel-powered mills and stylish rugs composed of recycled plastics.

The exhibitors are showcased in eight divisions:

Accent on Design® featuring A+: The Young Designers’ Platform
At Home featuring Home Textiles
EX•TRACTS®
General Gift, featuring Floral & Garden Accessories, Just Kidstuff® and The Museum Source®
Handmade® featuring Handmade in the USA®
Personal Accessories featuring Details®
STUDIO
Tabletop & Housewares featuring Accent on Tabletop

The SustainAbility: design for a better world® display is a curated exhibit of global gift and home industry suppliers whose products or production processes are eco-friendly, or companies whose business practices are socially responsible, philanthropic or fair-trade oriented.  Participation is free to all NYIGF exhibitors, but companies must apply and be accepted.  Ilene Shaw of Shaw of Shaw + Co! Productions curates the exhibit for NYIGF, considering newness and inventiveness, as well as adherence to the following criteria:

    *  “Green” Products: products that are manufactured or constructed with only recycled, recyclable and/or sustainable materials.
      
    *  Environmentally-friendly Production Processes: manufacturers who are using renewable or alternative sources of energy in production, including wind, sun, and alternative fuels.
      
    *  Socially-responsible business practices:  products produced by indigenous peoples, creating viable, sustainable trades and markets in poverty-stricken and needy communities worldwide; and manufacturers who donate percentages of their sales to not-for-profit organizations.
      
    *  Beginning in 2010, NYIGF introduced a “Zero Tolerance” for products with: VOC; Lead (for baby, children and food-related products); PVC, without recommendation for use and disposal, and unless repurposed; and Aniline dyes, formaldehyde, chlorine (for textiles)

In addition to the exhibits, gift fair participants can enjoy several industry functions, including:

the Gift for Life Kings & Queens Casino Night, a fund-raiser that benefits DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS

A Night on Broadway, featuring the musical Hair

the 2010 Housewares Design Awards Gala & Ceremony

All badge-holders can gain free admission to the New Museum of Contemporary Art, compliments of NYIGF and its market partners, during the exhibition.

Additionally, attendees will have access to an extensive educational seminar program addressing color and design trends, social media, sustainability and retail strategies.

There also will be exhibitor-focused sessions regarding post-show follow-up, global sourcing and licensing.

For more information, go to www.nyigf.com.  

New York International Gift Fair
January 30-February 4, 2010

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
655 W.34th Street, New York City

Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94
55th Street and 12th Avenue
New York City

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