THIS MONTH NYC & COMPANY WELCOMES BACK THE SUMMER 2014 EDITION OF NY NOW

THIS MONTH NYC & COMPANY WELCOMES BACK NEW YORK CITY’S LARGEST TRADE SHOW, THE SUMMER 2014 EDITION OF NY NOW®, THE MARKET FOR HOME + LIFESTYLE

— More Than 50,000 Buyers & Suppliers from All 50 States and 80+ Countries Expected to Attend, Generating a Projected 27,000 Hotel Room-Nights—

New York City (August 11, 2014) – NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, welcomes back the summer edition of NY NOW, the Market for Home + Lifestyle (formerly NYIGF®), to New York City, August 16–20, 2014. The wholesale industry event, which showcases 100,000+ products in some 400 categories, will bring an expected 53,000 participants from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal’s Pier 94. The semiannual market, which is New York City’s largest trade show, is expected to generate 27,000 hotel room-nights for the City.

NY NOW is the premier market for home, lifestyle and handcrafted merchandise. The trade-only event, which is not open to consumers, offers retailers the opportunity to place orders for the Q4 holiday selling season. The summer edition of NY NOW includes an all-time high of new and returning exhibitors—600 of the total 2,800+ exhibitors—to market, in addition to a series of educational seminars and special “only in NYC” events for participants. 

Highlights of the summer 2014 edition include the debut of a new “Maker Project” featuring exhibits, education and events connected with this growing technology-based extension of DIY culture, which stresses new and unique applications of technologies and encourages invention and artistry; two new blogger-focused initiatives produced in cooperation between NY NOW and HGTV Magazine; “People’s Choice” online voting to determine “Best of Home” and “Best of Lifestyle” Awards from a gallery of 20 top products selected by trade and consumer press in four categories; and three special trend exhibits showcasing home design, American-made and sustainable products.

“We are pleased to welcome back New York City’s largest trade show and encourage all those attending to experience the five boroughs during their stay,” said Fred Dixon, NYC & Company president and CEO. “With more than 50,000 participants and an estimated 27,000 hotel room-nights, trade shows such as NY NOW are critical contributors to New York City’s tourism industry.”

“The vitality and vibrancy of New York City is the perfect backdrop for NY NOW,” said Christian Falkenberg, NY NOW director and senior vice president. “Like the City itself, NY NOW is a one-of-a-kind marketplace that offers both leading, established brands and innovative, emerging designers a unique experience. No other city, and no other market, affords participants such opportunity and inspiration.”

“NY NOW is one of our most highly anticipated shows of the year, and we are honored to host such a dynamic event at the newly renovated Javits Center,” said Alan Steel, president and CEO of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation, which operates the Javits Center. “Trade shows like NY NOW fuel New York’s economic engines year after year, leading to the creation of new jobs, new business and new opportunities. With our top-to-bottom renovation nearly complete and a state-of-the-art WiFi system online, customers are excited to experience all that the Javits Center has to offer.”

More than 2,800 NY NOW exhibitors will display products in four market categories: NY NOW HOME, featuring innovative designs in furnishings and home textiles, tabletop and gourmet housewares; NY NOW LIFESTYLE, showcasing top trends in gift & stationery, personal accessories, wellness & personal care, and juvenile resources; NY NOW HANDMADE, highlighting artisanal cross-category resources from international and limited-production makers; and NY NOW NEW!, which includes product launches, product line extensions and new exhibitors who are making their debuts at NY NOW.

The 2014 summer edition of NY NOW will introduce a new three-pronged “Maker Project” initiative that is connected with the growing “Maker Movement” of do-it-yourself artisans and entrepreneurs. The “Maker Project” will include showcases of individual makers and their products, a seminar program addressing the movement’s evolution, impact and opportunities, as well as free access to a special “NYC Makers: The MAD Biennial” exhibition that’s on display at New York City’s Museum of Arts and Design. In addition, the “Maker Project” will debut the new Etsy Wholesale pavilion and Grommet showcase the Javits Center, featuring Etsy and Grommet wholesale sellers and their products across the spectrum of home and lifestyle merchandise.

NY NOW and HGTV Magazine have partnered to present two new blogger connected initiatives at this year’s summer market: the HGTV Magazine Blogger Block Party and NY NOW’s Best Blog Competition. HGTV Magazine’s Blogger Block Party gives bloggers the opportunity to meet and share their experiences in person, in New York City, on August 18. In addition, NY NOW is hosting its first-ever Best Blog Competition, where home, lifestyle and design bloggers can publish their experiences from the summer edition of NY NOW, with the blogger who receives the most Facebook likes and Twitter re-tweets winning a tour of the HGTV Magazine offices and a personal meeting with HGTV Magazine Editor in Chief Sara Peterson.

Since last summer, NY NOW has sponsored a “Best of HOME” and “Best of LIFESTYLE” Awards program, through which trade and consumer editors select winners in four categories: Baby + Child, Home Textiles, Personal Care + Wellness and Tabletop + Gourmet Housewares. From hundreds of first-round entries, some 20 products then vie for Best of LIFESTYLE and Best of HOME awards, which are determined by popular online voting. The slate of finalists will be announced on August 16, and “Best of” winners will be announced on August 20. 

This year, NY NOW features three special trend displays: SustainAbility: design for a better world®, recognizing socially responsible and eco-friendly products and producers; Made in USA, highlighting American-made goods that are both handmade and machine produced; Open House, showcasing four home trends for 2014–2015.

NY NOW is open to trade members only, not the general public. Press may register online at www.nynow.com/press through August 12, or by contacting Cathy Steel at cathysteel@cathysteelassociates.com. Badges will be held for pickup in the NY NOW Press Center, located on the Javits Center’s 4A Terrace. The NY NOW Press Center is open daily 8:30am–6pm, starting Saturday, August 16. 

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 NY NOW:
NY NOW, the Market for Home + Lifestyle, will run Saturday, August 16, through Wednesday, August 20, 2014, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94. NY NOW’s four comprehensive collections—HOME, LIFESTYLE, HANDMADE and NEW!—will encompass 100,000 products in 400+ product categories. Some 33,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at nynow.com.

About Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York:
Known as the “Marketplace for the World,” the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York was designed by I.M. Pei & Partners and opened in 1986. The iconic facility has since become New York City’s primary venue for large conventions, trade shows and special events and serves as home to many of the world’s top 250 trade shows, hosting millions of visitors a year. These large-scale events generate up to $1.5 billion in annual economic activity for New York City and New York State, supporting as many as 14,000 jobs in and around the facility. Located on 11th Avenue between 34th and 40th Sts., the Javits Center has 840,000 square feet of total exhibition space, 102 meeting rooms and four banquet halls, as well as a range of telecommunications services, including WiFi access. For more information, visit javitscenter.com.

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Contact: NYC & Company / Chris Heywood 212-484-1270