New York International Gift Fair’s Recent Show Grows Past Recession
August 29, 2012
George Little Management’s New York International Gift Fair has beat the recessionary retail blues and posted strong numbers for not only the size of its showfloor, but also saw a boost in the pace of its sales activity.
The show, held Aug. 18-22 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York and Passenger Ship Terminal’s Piers 92 & 94, was the largest one since 2009, according to show officials, with 545,000 net square feet of exhibit space across the three venues.
Total overall NYIGF attendance of 33,000 represented retailers from all 50 states and 85 countries, with the largest numbers of international visitors hailing from Canada, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Columbia, Australia and the United Kingdom.
“Expectations for the summer market not only have been met, but also have been exceeded,” said Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president.
He added, “Exhibitors are reporting solid and consistent order writing through the entire show.”
Exhibitors’ concerns about slow sales during the summer season were assuaged once the show opened.
“This was a great show for us on many levels. Traffic was up, and it’s apparent the market is coming back,” said exhibitor Sion Benchimol of Prestige Identity.
Benchimol added, “The quality of buyers was also great. They come, they look, they order ... they know what they’re doing.”
The recent NYIGF also featured the second annual return of the Gourmet Housewares Show, which was sold out with 175 companies.
Another NYIGF highlight was the launch of the new Emerging Designer Maker Platform in NYIGF’s Handmade Designer Maker division.
This “incubator” showcase introduced four new American artisans, presenting a range of multimedia products, including home décor accessories, kitchen tools and personal accessories, to the New York market.
GLM also launched the Artisan Resource, a trade show for connecting U.S.-based volume importers with overseas artisanal producers and production resources.
The event, which was held concurrently with NYIGF at Passenger Ship Terminal’s Pier 92, featured some 40 exhibitors and attracted more than 4,300 attendees during its three-day run.
Besides the showfloor, there also were more than 50 other activities for attendees and exhibitors to take part in, including educational sessions, industry social events, product awards and feature displays.
Educational seminars, sponsored by industry publications and associations, addressed design and color trends, importing and fair trade, sustainability, social media, digital marketing and retail strategies.
Industry events included the 61st Annual Retailer Excellence Awards and the NYIGF’s sold-out “Night on Broadway” featuring EVITA.
The biannual NYIGF will return Jan. 26-30 in New York.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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