Economy Schmeconomy - 2011 NY Gift Fair is Biggest Ever

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 28 January 2011 17:57

Written by Lynne Shannon

The New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) is running January 29 - February 3, 2011, at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Piers 92 and 94 in New York City. This semi-annual event is the premier gift and decorative accessories market in the United States, and has come to be the largest trade show held in New York City, for both domestic and international events.  

In the past year, many conventions and expos have cut back -- using less space, running fewer days, and hosting less exhibitors than before (to say nothing of a sharp drop in freebies). But NYIGF must have recycled the memo unread. This year the Gift Fair uses more space, has expanded some divisions, and is welcoming attendees from 85 countries and all 50 states.

“We’ve been seeing a huge spike in pre-registration for the winter 2011 NYIGF, with retailers coming in record numbers from the tri-state area, as well as strong representation from California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan and Australia,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “Our website also has recorded record numbers of product searches and appointment setting for the coming market.”

More than 2,800 firms are back to exhibit in 10 major merchandise sections. Where you will find them:

Pier 92: New York’s Newest

Pier 94: At Home

Javits Convention Center:
Baby & Child
Handmade^® Designer Maker
Handmade^® Global Design
Accent on Design^® featuring A+™ Young Designers' Platform
At Home featuring Home Textiles
EX•TRACTS^®
General Gift featuring Floral & Garden Accessories and The Museum Source^®
Personal Accessories featuring Details^®
Studio and Tabletop & Housewares featuring Accent on Tabletop
Licensing Gallery

This year’s highlights include:

• expansion of NY’s Newest, with more than 200 first time exhibitors
• expansion of the Baby & Child division, featuring 150 suppliers of items for children from birth to age 10
• refinement of two Handmade categories:
• – Designer Maker, which highlights the individual artist
• – Global Designs, which showcases worldwide crafts with emphasis on Fair Trade
• A+ The Young Designers’ Showcase at Accent on Design, introducing emerging designers to the wholesale market

In addition to the exhibits, Gift Fair attendees can enjoy several industry functions, including:

• Home Trends 2011-2012 seminar
• Accent on Design Bloggers’ Choice Awards
• 8th Annual Housewares Design Awards, recognizing product excellence in 13 categories
• a performance by Ryan O’Meara, US Olympic Ice Dancer turned home retailer
• SustainAbility: design for a better world^® Display with more than 200 “green” gift, home and lifestyle products. Visitors to the display can vote for their favorite products as part of the Eco Choice Awards.
• SustainAbility seminar, “It’s Easy Being Green – Just Ask the Experts!” moderated by Susan Szenasy, editor of Metropolis
• NYIGF’s Night on Broadway for the Tony Award winning Best Musical, Memphis

The annual charity fundraiser, Party For Life by Gift For Life, is being held at the Boathouse in Central Park. All proceeds benefit DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S.

Some of the more than 20 seminars include:

• a color trend forecast by The NY Chapter of the International Furnishings & Design Association (IFDA)
• a three-part session on spa retailing by the Day Spa Association
• individual and group consultations regarding best gift and home business practices, by the Gift & Home Trade Association (GHTA)
• a two-day series of “CRAFT Power Hour Table Topics” addressing key business issues for craft retailers, by CRAFT (Craft Retailers & Artists for Tomorrow)
• open discussions about home retailing issues with ART (Accessories Resource Team) and RetailForum.biz
• an overview of evaluation criteria and business opportunities by the Fair Trade Federation

There also will be exhibitor-focused sessions, networking coffee and breakfast get-togethers, as well as several other awards presentations.

It almost sounds exhausting, doesn’t it? But a very rewarding time is sure to be had by all.

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

New York International Gift Fair
January 29 - February 3, 2011

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
655 W.34th Street
New York City
(212) 216-2000

Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94
711 12th Ave  (55th Street and 12th Avenue)
New York City
(212) 246-5450

Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 20 January 2011 10:00

Written by Lynne Shannon

The 42nd edition of HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter is being held January 17-21, 2011 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Asia's largest and the world's second largest fashion event.

Fashion Week runs concurrently with the 9th edition of HKTDC World Boutique, which displays clothing, accessories and lifestyle products from around the globe and hosts the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza. The exclusive event welcomes four internationally celebrated fashion designers: Japan's Keita Maruyama, Korea's Doii Lee, China's Alex Wang and Hong Kong's Barney Cheng. (Wang and Cheng have been worn celebrities including Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Michelle Williams.)

Read more: Hong Kong Fashion Week for...

NAIAS 2011 - Motor City's Auto Show

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 20 January 2011 05:00

Written by Lynne Shannon

The North American International Auto Show 2011 (NAIAS) is being held at Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan from January 10-23, 2011.

Now in its 23rd year, this event is North America’s largest and most prestigious automotive showcase. NAIAS is the only auto show in the United States to earn an annual distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, the Paris-based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world. Put simply, this is the “grand slam” of American auto shows.

With more than 500 vehicles on display, NAIAS is virtually four shows in one: a media preview, an industry preview, a charity preview and a public show with a 9-day run.

Last year, NAIAS featured 37 vehicle debuts with 27 of those being worldwide introductions, and more than 700,000 visitors attended during the public show -- a record already shattered the first three days of this year's Show.

Says Barron Meade, chairman, 2011 NAIAS:  "We're again bringing a wide array of exhibitors featuring the latest in environmental technologies for automotive and lifestyle into Michigan Hall with Smarter Living in Michigan sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and DTE Energy, which will once again include the popular ride and drive element."

The annual Charity Preview gala event, scheduled for January 14 will feature a concert by The Rockets, a legendary Detroit rock band. Since 1989, the Charity Preview has raised more than $79 million for southeastern Michigan children's charities - over $35 million of which was raised in the last six years alone. Proceeds directly benefit a wide range of children's charities that support services for children of all ages from birth to 18.

Keynote speakers:

Dan Akerson, CEO, General Motors
Mark Fields, Executive VP, Ford Motor Company
Ralph Gilles, President & CEO Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC

Exhibits and features of emerging technology:

The Ride and Drive is back with an indoor test track featuring electric-drive and hybrid vehicles from leading domestic and import manufacturers. Featured technologies include solar cars, charging stations, batteries, transit connect, rolling chassis, and alternative energies.

Among the First Look vehicles this year:

The 2013 Ford Focus Electric, scheduled for arrival at the end of this year, is being touted by the company as the first "fuel-free, rechargeable passenger car from Ford." The all-electric powertrain has a single-speed transmission, using an advanced lithium-ion battery system Ford developed with LG Chem that uses heated and cooled liquid to maximize battery life. The driving range is 100 miles and fully recharges in three to four hours at 240 volts.

The 2012 BMW 650i Convertible is full of electronics like Driving Dynamic Control, which allows the driver to dial in how the car responds with throttle mapping, steering assist, damping, stability, and traction control. It also is equipped with BMW's new ConnectedDrive, which includes Auto High Beam control, lane departure warning system, auto blindspot detection, rear and top view cameras for parking assistance, proximity sensors, night vision, 3-D heads-up display and even active cruise control with start/stop capability.

Toyota’s exhibit blends environmental and technological imagery in support of its new and existing vehicles, and especially features the “Prius Zone,” including the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV). Toyota is also bringing the ultimate “Swagger Wagon,” the 2011 Sienna, which has been stretched an additional four feet in length.

The exhibit also includes a “Safety Zone,” which features elements of Toyota’s Star Safety System. Toyota’s standard safety equipment can be experienced interactively with a driving Safety Simulator and a contestant-focused Safety Game Show.

Further highlights:

North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year Awards – The 18th annual awards program recognizes vehicles that have become benchmarks in their respective segments. This year’s finalists: Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Leaf as the three finalists for the 2011 North American Car of the Year. The finalists for the 2011 North American Truck of the Year are the Dodge Durango, the Ford Explorer and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.  The winners:  the Chevrolet Volt and the Ford Explorer, respectively.

15th Annual Urban Wheels Awards – the Urban Car, Truck and Green Vehicles selected by a panel of independent auto journalists. Recognizing a commitment to minority supplier contracts in the auto industry stimulus, lifetime achievement and pioneer awards will be presented.

For more information, visit www.naias.com.

North American International Auto Show 2010
January 10-23, 2011

Cobo Center
One Washington Boulevard
Detroit, Michigan
313.877.8777