The Shows

NY NOW, the Market for Home & Lifestyle (formerly the NY International Gift Fair), ran from August 17 to August 21 in typical grand style at the Javits Center. New companies as well as seasoned veterans basked in the updated venue. The LIFESTYLE Collection featured the Baby + Child category, where over 100 companies congregated to show the freshest ideas in the market. The Wind & the Sail, Hickies, PishPosh Mommy, and Fluf were just a few of the in-demand product providers that exhibited at the show.

The 7th edition of Playtime New York took place August 3-5, 2013 with ninety-plus international brands proudly showcasing their Spring-Summer 2014 collections. This was the first appearance at Playtime for more than one-third of the exhibitors. 51% of the exhibitors were U.S. companies; the other 49% were from other countries. Buyers were aided by three trend spaces: Supergraphic, with hypnotic geometry and flashy colors that included work by artist Melissa Godoy Nieto; Starfish with sailor motifs and work by Dana Haim; and Green Carpet featuring natural tones and materials with art by Ritsuko Hirai. 1,412 visitors attended. Liberty London, Dizzy Dress, Little Italy and Merino Kids were brands that captured our attention.

The Atlanta Fall Gift and Home Furnishings Market, which ran from July 10 to 17, was tuned toward exhibitor and attendee success. “The July market boasted nearly 70 new and expanded permanent showrooms,” says Chelsea Peabody, Strategic Relations and Media Relations Manager at AmericasMart Atlanta. What can show attendees and exhibitors expect from the “largest permanent wholesale marketplace”? They can expect to find interesting companies like Opal & Twig, Wristy Buddy, Butt-Ons, and What a Dish!, all of which made a splash at the July show.

“This year’s educational sessions were sponsored by Brixy^® and were the best ever,” explains Larry Schur, president of All Baby & Child. The 5th Annual ABC Spring Educational Conference, held in Las Vegas from May 7-9, attracted the largest number of exhibiters and attendees to date for the spring event. “The three networking events were the main attractions, and we received an overwhelming number of positive comments about the quality of the events.” Over 160 retailers attended the conference, representing 301 buyers. Some companies that got in on the action were Kore Design, Ragtales, Béaba and Rubens Barn.