The July 2010 California Gift Show^® is Marked By Significant Growth And Strong Sales

The July California Gift Show^® saw significant growth with 250 new exhibitors and 12 new showrooms opening in time for the summer market. Showrooms and exhibitors alike reported brisk sales and high traffic. The show was reorganized to combine all of the temporary traditional and contemporary gift exhibitors at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with all of Beckman’s West moving to the second floor of the L.A. Mart to be alongside the DesignStudio exhibitors. The move was made as show management continues to create a seamless shopping experience for retailers. Additionally, Kentia Hall was rebranded to Kentia – The Global Marketplace with new décor, signage, demonstrations and events to reflect the international aspect of the hall.

Highlights from the July Market included a keynote presentation by Gordon Segal, chairman and co-founder of Crate and Barrel, merchandising workshops hosted on the Los Angeles Convention Center show floor, the launch of Kentia – The Global Marketplace highlighting the World Style Stories and the late night “Summer of Love” shopping party that kicked off extended shopping hours at the L.A. Mart. Buyers were greeted with a newly designed show – in look and feel – at both locations, in addition to finding the hottest trends and incredible merchandise selections.

“The California Gift Show offers buyers a unique experience, and buying options they won’t find anywhere else,” said Peggy Coleman, vice president, marketing, L.A. Mart and California Gift Show. “From all accounts, the show was very successful. Exhibitors were writing orders, buyers were finding the merchandise they need – it was very positive and everyone was so excited about all of the resources available at both venues.”

Kentia – The Global Marketplace

A whole new look and feel was introduced within Kentia – The Global Marketplace at the California Gift Show. This unique resource includes one of the largest collections of Fair Trade Federation exhibitors in the United States and also provides buyers with an extensive offering of Vintage and Jewelry Cash & Carry exhibitors. The newly rebranded and redesigned hall kicked off the show by recognizing five World Style Stories – compelling exhibitor stories of products, artisans and community giving.

Gordon Segal – It All Begins with the Merchandise

Gordon Segal spoke to an audience of 300 about his experience in launching and running Crate and Barrel with his wife Carol. He covered the importance of differentiating a retail store, educating employees and customers about what the store offers, and creating an effective merchandise mix. Afterwards, he and his team shopped the show – quite a treat for exhibitors!

Beckman’s West

Beckman’s West, which saw significant growth between the January and July markets, was relocated to the second floor of the L.A. Mart and featured 80 new artisans.

DesignStudio

DesignStudio at the L.A. Mart expanded this Market and continued to remain a trend-forward resource, targeted at the interior design professional community.

Heard At Market

“I found 24 new vendors at this show; normally finding 2 is good. Everyone is so amazing and so attentive. I have been to the show 5 times and this has been my best visit. It was amazing.” -Armando Vargas, UCSD Bookstore, Buyer

“We are having an amazing show! ” -Davida Lampkin Tydings, Davida, Los Angeles Convention Center

“Sosie Designs Jewelry LOVES California Gift Show! We had a great time and buyers were ready to buy!!!!” –Sosie Designs Jewelry

“The California Gift Show in conjunction with the Los Angeles Mart is once again establishing itself as the place to go to see new product and look at the latest trends in design. The presentation of the temporaries at the Los Angeles Convention Center has a fresh new look, with new signage, sunshine yellow carpet in the lobby and finally an attention to detail and color the this show has long deserved.” –Studio Daedre, Los Angeles Convention Center

“By the second day we had made our investment back and now the rest is gravy. We are thrilled.” -Pat Gough, co-owner, Lua, Los Angeles Convention Center

“Love, Love the energy and branding color for the California Gift Show as I walked into the lobby this morning… Very cheerful, very hip, very cool and very updated!”-Dino Hillas, Moda Dora, L.A. Mart

“This was our best show ever; we wrote more yesterday than the whole show in January! Great to have so many San Francisco buyers here… They were spending lots” - Yasuko Kimono

“Best opening day in 10 years” -Gift Bliss

“90% new customers on Saturday”-Teknipak

“The traffic was brisk at both the Mart and the Convention center and our business increased double digits this July. This year MMPI has really outdone themselves in branding the California Gift show and bringing the 2 locations close together.” –Joanne Rackow, Joanne & Company

“I exhibited in Design Studio on the 2nd floor of the LA Mart during the California Gift Show and made some good contacts. As a matter of fact, 2 different buyers that I met during the show have come to my warehouse to see my full line. At the show, I did write some orders too. The Design Studio section seems very promising.” -Wally Stryk, Asian Art Imports

“LA is the place to be. It’s where furniture and fashion come together to create high design. This show is where innovations begin and we saw that all over Design Studio at the California Gift Show. We met great people and are very pleased with our business. In fact, we are returning next show and tripling the size of our booth.” -Peter Oropeza, Lumidora

“Our average order was up.” -May Arts

“We are very excited to be at the show – this was our first time exhibiting. We had a good show and learned a lot! We are very happy with all the help we got from show management in participating.” - Hot Guys and Baby Animals, Los Angeles Convention Center, Booth 2313

“Everyone at the LA Mart was so hospitable and really helped make us, as “Temporaries” feel very welcomed and at home”. -Kathryn Stanko

“It was a perfect success just being there… It was a fabulous learning experience. Contacts were made. Things were ordered.” Barbara Giuliano, Giuliano Fine Jewelry

ABOUT L.A. MART and CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOW

L.A. Mart^® is a registered trademark of MMPI. The California Gift Show^® is a registered trademark of MMPI. Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show is a registered trademark of MMPI. L.A. Mart is home to nearly 200 permanent year-round, residential, decorative accessory and gift showrooms serving the retail and interior design industries. The California Gift Show Temporaries feature over 800 temporary exhibitors of lifestyle merchandise, home décor and furnishings, in the newly enhanced and expanded Temporaries at L.A. Mart and Los Angeles Convention Center making the California Gift Show the preeminent market for gift and home furnishings products on the West Coast. L.A. Mart is located at 1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007. For more information call 213-763-5800 or visit www.californiagiftshow.com or www.lamart.com.

MMPI is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 W. Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.