General Gift “Neighborhoods” Expand for Easy Shopping at NYIGF
General Gift, the largest division of the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) continues to be refined to make product sourcing and shopping simpler for buyers.
The winter market takes place Saturday, January 28, through Thursday, February 2 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94.
It features three “neighborhoods” grouped by like product category: “On Trend,” “Stationery & Publishing,” and “The Museum Source.” “On Trend,” which debuted in summer 2011, will expand to feature 20 suppliers of trend-driven, fashion-forward personal and home accessories, tableware, toys, apparel and more. “Stationery & Publishing” will return with 40 exhibitors showcasing specialty paper, note cards, journals, writing instruments and book publishing. “The Museum Source” will feature 40 companies showcasing quality resources across multiple categories: books, calendars, folk art, historical products, posters, jewelry, art pieces, Judaica, educational merchandise and more.
Beyond these three neighborhoods, General Gift presents a full spectrum of giftware merchandising including collectibles, ceramic giftware, toys, pet items, party lines, trend merchandise, premiums, trim-a-tree, souvenirs and novelties, specialty foods, home office, floral and garden accessories, Judaica and general items.
NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800-plus exhibiting companies. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.
New Name and Game Plan for WTHRA
ToyFest West: The Buyers’ Playground, formerly known as the Western States Toy & Hobby Show, brings a new, festive game plan to the Long Beach Convention Center in California, Saturday, March 24 through Tuesday, March 27.
The country’s largest regional toy trade show boasts 650 exhibitors.
ToyFest West is easy to experience, thanks to beautiful Southern California weather, and easy arrival and departure on the convention center site. Now in its 50th year, a casual reunion-style atmosphere prevails.
The show kicks off with a gala reception on Saturday with food, entertainment and a brief ceremony to induct outstanding industry peers into the WTHRA Hall of Fame. Alan Rickert of Top Ten Toys in Seattle, Washington, will be honored as the retailer of the year.
Game Night, the show’s signature event, will be held Sunday; and “Best of the Fest” will be held early Monday morning. Presented by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, the free seminar for retailers will discuss what will keep play hot in 2012.
For more information, visit www.toyfestwest.com.
Juvenile Products Conference Scheduled for Spring
The All Baby & Child Spring Educational Conference and Trade Show, now in its fourth year, will be held April 25 through 27 in Las Vegas. With an emphasis on education and networking for an industry specializing in infant products, baby gear, baby safety, toys, games, books and more, the event also offers a small exhibit area for midyear product launches.
The conference is a companion event to the product-focused ABC Kids Expo held in the fall. “The expo remains a buying event,” said Eric Seemann, the organization’s production and promotion manager. “We make a consistent effort to eliminate distractions of any sort during that show’s hours to maximize the time for retailers to be on the show floor shopping and making other inventory and purchasing decisions.”
So the education comes in the spring, in the form of sessions presented by top industry speakers who discuss the latest topics and trends. They provide how-tos and best practices for succeeding in the marketplace.
For more information, visit http://allbabyandchildsec.com.
Visit Paperworld for Trends
Paperworld, the world’s leading trade show for paper, office supplies and stationery products, promises to be a great trend-spotting opportunity for retailers shopping for 2012.
Scheduled for January 28 to January 31 in Frankfurt, the show provides a comprehensive program of events that includes special exhibits, award ceremonies and category-specific programs offering insights into the newest trends. This year at Paperworld’s Trend Show, stylists bora.herke.palmisano have selected three themes and developed them into “trend worlds.”
1. Bright
Bright signifies optimism and a self-assured approach to life. Everything seems possible. Brilliant colors meet in reduced, minimalist, ultramodern designs. Monochromatic areas bring out the best in fresh tones such as mandarin orange and wasabi green. Although new technologies and materials are used, they do not dominate. The most important aspects are the vitality, energy and brilliance of an intense series of colors.
2. Dark
It’s effortless – sporty and bold, young and rebellious. Dark resists strict role assignments. Nothing superfluous is allowed in this raw, relaxed look. Wear and tear and distressed looks are deliberately presented, combined with smart and high-class elements. By using modern materials and technologies, Dark meets the demand for high-end design and sustainability.
3. Soft
The focus on fine materials and tactile surfaces presents something stylish, sensual and relaxed. Purity and calm characterizes this gentle and reduced style. Simplicity is the determining principle. The need for clarity and concentration manifests itself in playfully intelligent and timeless design.
For more information visit http://paperworld.messefrankfurt.com.
Playing and Learning at Ed Expo
Toys go hand in hand with learning, making the Ed Expo & Dealer Conference hosted by the National School Supply and Equipment Association a valuable resource for specialty toy retailers. Showcasing instructional materials, technology products, educational supplies and teaching aids, Ed Expo can help you discover thousands of innovative educational products, develop a resource network, invest in the growth of your business and your professional development, and save money.
This year, to help specialty toy retailers attend Ed Expo scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 through Friday, March 23 in Baltimore, NSSEA is offering a $50 gas card to specialty toy retailers in the surrounding states. For more information, see the letter on page 9 from Jim McGarry, NSSEA CEO.
Teens Are the Center of Attention at the Nürnberg Toy Fair 2012
To provide the facts on the buying patterns and playing behavior of teenagers, Spielwarenmesse eG has commissioned a study, and made the 13- to 17-year-old age group the key focus of its International Toy Fair in Nürnberg. Results of the study will be released at the fair scheduled for February 1 through 6.
Exhibitors from all over the world will present their products for this specific target group in the special Toys4Teens exhibit area spanning more than 3,000 square feet.
“It is no secret that adolescents earn little money of their own, but still generously spend their family’s money,” noted a Spielwarenmesse eG press release in November 2011. “This makes teens an extremely high-spending target group, one the toy trade would be only too happy to access.”
The study, conducted by research company iconkids & youth based Munich, includes first-hand information from teenagers and the results of retailer interviews describing best practices for meeting the needs of this group.
Each year, Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair Nürnberg provides a platform for 2,700 manufacturers from 63 countries to present their new toy, hobby and leisure products. Attending are some 80,000 buyers and toy traders who travel from more than 100 nations. Nearly 90 percent of them have a license to place orders.
For more information, visit www.toyfair.de. |
