NYC & COMPANY WELCOMES THE WINTER 2013 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL GIFT FAIR TO NEW YORK CITY
—New York City’s Largest Trade Show Expects More than 35,000 Market-Goers from 80 Countries and all 50 States—
—Gift Fair Generates More Than 21,000 Room-Nights and Delivers
$20.2 Million in Economic Impact to the City—
—‘Driven by Design’ Emphasizes Design-Driven Resources throughout the Market, Including New York–Based Artisans—
New York City (January 23, 2013) — NYC & Company, the City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today welcomes back the Winter 2013 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) to New York City, a wholesale industry event with more than 2,800 exhibitors from around the world and 35,000 attendees from more than 80 countries and all 50 states. The semiannual market, which is the City’s largest trade show, is expected to generate more than 21,000 room-nights and $20.2 million in economic impact for New York. The NYIGF begins on Saturday, January 26, and runs through Wednesday, January 30, filling New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Piers 92/94.
“New York City recently announced it reached 52 million visitors last year, thanks in part to important trade shows like the NYIGF,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. “New York City not only offers the inspiration for NYIGF’s artisans and designers, but the space to host a semiannual event of this size. With more than 35,000 market-goers, the economic growth from this show is crucial to New York’s convention and trade show industry.”
The NYIGF is the premier market for home, lifestyle and handmade merchandise, with more than 100,000 products in 400 categories, offering retailers the ability to replenish products after a bountiful holiday season. NYIGF’s 10 divisions are segmented in product categories, such as tabletop and housewares, home décor and textiles, and personal care and general gift; or categorized by aesthetic, such as contemporary design and handcraft. This winter, the NYIGF, which boasts 400-plus first-time exhibitors, distinguishes itself from other markets with its focus on variety, innovation and its common thread, design.
“New York City is the perfect backdrop for the NYIGF, and is one of this market’s differentiators,” said Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president. “New York City’s energy and inspiration are unparalleled in the United States, and this is reflected in our exhibit floor and after-hours activities.”
The NYIGF comprises thousands of small- to mid-size businesses, artisans and designers, attracting startups as well as leading brands such as Michael Aram, Juliska, Umbra, Sferra, Julien Chichester, Thymes, Oka b., Knock Knock, Ty, Lazy Susan and Two’s Company, to name a few. Up-and-coming New York designers, including Vanessa Chew Designs, from Brooklyn; Nicole Porter, from Astoria; and Sound, are featured throughout the show.
The NYIGF features an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Highlights of the Winter 2013 NYIGF include: Accent on Design, the gift and home industry’s leading resource for design-led merchandise, which presents 200 established and emerging design brands across all categories; Artisan Resource, a first-of-its-kind artisan production-sourcing event for U.S.–based volume importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers, is expected to showcase a curated collection of overseas artisan enterprises offering handmade production resources and products, at export terms from country of origin, from more than 20 countries; and New York’s Newest, a cross-category collection of companies new to the market and is one of the most popular categories, with a 10 percent expansion in this showcase from last year. At Home displays a comprehensive collection of home furnishings and home textiles, from traditional to contemporary and indoor to outdoor; Baby & Child presents a comprehensive collection of well-designed, innovative, sophisticated, functional and fun products for babies, toddlers, kids and their families; Personal Accessories featuring Details is where design meets accessories—a trend-forward, boutique collection of wearables, jewelry, handbags, men’s accessories and travel goods; and EXTRACTS, everything on-trend in cosmetics, perfumes, skin care, bath and body care, beauty accessories, hair care, natural/organic products, apothecary gifts, and well-being lines. General Gift is the largest division, featuring stationery, collectibles, ceramic giftware, toys, pet items, party lines, trend merchandise, premiums, trim-a-tree, souvenirs and novelties, specialty foods, home office, floral & garden accessories, Judaica and general items; Tabletop & Housewares offers a comprehensive collection of 200 kitchenware and specialty tabletop resources and Handmade® Designer Maker will showcase 360 designer maker resources from across the US and around the world, with a focus on limited-production makers across all categories and includes Handmade® Global Design, which will increase its exhibit space by 5 percent for the winter 2013 edition and will showcase 150 handcrafted global import resources with a focus on good design, traditional craftsmanship, and community building through global artisan workshops.
The NYIGF also fosters design through programs like A+: The Young Designers’ Platform at Accent on Design® and Emerging Designer Maker Platform in Handmade® Designer Maker. This year, the show has partnered with Red Clay and its online design community to create commemorative NYIGF tote bags for the summer 2013 market, and finalist concepts will be displayed at the winter market. All market-goers are encouraged to vote while at the show.
This year, the show will welcome HGTV stars Robert and Cortney Novogratz, authors of their new book, Home by Novogratz, and creators of their new home goods collection at CB2. They appear at the NYIGF bookstore (concourse level of Javits Center) on Tuesday, January 29, at 10am.
The winter market takes place Saturday, January 26, through Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Piers 92/94. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. For information and registration, go to nyigf.com, become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/nyigf, follow on Twitter @nyigf, and use the hashtag #nyigf.
The NYIGF is open only to members of the trade, not to the general public. Press may register by contacting Cathy Steel at 203-340-9251, or cathysteel@cathysteelassociates.com. Badges will be held for pick-up in the NYIGF Press Center, located on the Javits Center’s 4A Terrace (4th Floor at the 38th Street entrance to the building).
About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com.
About NYIGF:
NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with more than 2,800 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at nyigf.com.
About the Javits Center:
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York is New York City’s primary venue for large conventions, exhibitions and major trade shows. Home to many of the top 200 trade shows, Javits hosts nearly 150 events with an average attendance of 2.5 million per year These events are key contributors to the city and state economies, stimulating direct and indirect employment, economic activity, tax revenues and strongly supporting the city’s hotel, restaurant, tourism and entertainment industries. For more information log onto javitscenter.com.
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NYC & Company: Kimberly Spell 212-484-1270
Chris Heywood 212-484-1270
NYIGF: Cathy Steel 203-340-9251