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May 3, 2012 •
Fall & Winter Show Wrap-Up: Positive reports from around the globe

Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market
The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market at AmericasMart Jan. 11-18 experienced soaring registrations, nonstop order writing and exclusive product introductions, setting the pace for projected double-digit growth, according to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., president and chief operating officer.

Packed hallways, showrooms, booths and elevators, and standing-room-only seminars, events and demonstrations across AmericasMart’s more than seven million square feet of space characterized the market. “This market will go on record as defining the renewal and recovery of global retailing as buyers and sellers vote with their feet, and their order writing, in an event destined to help restore hope and promise to retailers and manufacturers everywhere,”said Portman.

A renewed confidence and optimism among retailers and a marketplace full of new lines, designs and introductions fueled robust buying at levels not seen in five years. Showrooms and temporary exhibitors alike reported record sales.

For more information, visit americasmart.com.

Craft & Hobby Association Winter Conference & Trade Show
At the 71st Annual Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Winter Conference & Trade Show held Jan. 29 – Feb. 1 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., CHA announced a four percent increase in overall attendees; an eight percent increase in total buyers; a 23 percent increase in individual buying companies; and an 129 percent increase of international attendees.

While CHA hosted a slightly smaller show consisting of some 444 exhibiting companies including 62 new exhibitors, filling 158,356-square-feet of exhibit space, the real success was felt with increased attendees. CHA attracted about 300 additional buying companies.

The big story, however, surrounds the 1,660 international buyers from 53 different countries. This represents the highest internationally attended Winter Show since 2008. “A combination of CHA’s eConnect exhibitor buyer invitation program; the new lower cost of admission for non-members; a recovering economy coupled with international initiatives in Canada and the United Kingdom have all resulted in stronger buyer participation,” explained Tony Lee, vice president of Meetings & Exhibitions at CHA.

For more information, visit www.craftandhobby.org.

Messe Frankfurt Consumer Goods Fairs
The trio of consumer-goods fairs in Frankfurt, Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld 2012, enjoyed a run distinguished by a large number of international orders. Around 87,000 trade visitors from 155 countries contributed to the high level of satisfaction among exhibitors.

“Our trio of fairs is a genuine magnet for international buyers. This is shown by the stable number of visitors. Even more encouraging is the large number of orders placed by buyers and reported by exhibitors,” added Detlef Braun, member of the executive board member of Messe Frankfurt.

Both indicators contributed to an optimistic mood in the fields of festive decorations, paper, stationery and office supplies and hobby, handicrafts and artists’ materials. Approximately 3,000 exhibitors from 72 countries have were able to expand their international business, and the synergetic effects of the trio of fairs had a great impact on the level of satisfaction expressed by both visitors and exhibitors.

Christmasworld ran from Jan. 25-29; Paperworld and Creativeworld, from Jan. 26-29. For more information, visit www.messefrankfurt.com.

New York International Gift Fair
With the introduction of 500 new companies within 2,800 total exhibitors the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) offered a wealth of new resources for buyers and attracted an increased number of individual retailers, as well as a robust gain in the number of stores attending market. The winter 2012 NYIGF edition ran Jan. 28-Feb. 2, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94.

The winter 2012 NYIGF total attendance of 35,000 represented retailers from all 50 states and 74 countries. Overall, individual buyer attendance grew almost 5 percent over winter 2011, with total company attendance increasing more significantly, by 7 percent over last year.

“Growth in both individual and company attendance reflects an increasingly healthy economy and amplified the positive mood of the market,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “Anecdotally, exhibitors reported a week of strong order writing, especially within home product categories, including textiles, tabletop, home furnishings and gourmet housewares.”

For more information, visit www.nyigf.com.

Paperworld China
Paperworld China proved once again that it’s the leading trade fair in Asia for stationery and office supply products, taking place Sept. 21-23 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre with 516 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions.

The show attracted 19,162 visitors from 85 countries and regions to source, a four percent increase in attendance compared to the 2010 show. The top visiting countries were Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the U.S.

U.S.-based Acme United’s CEO, Mr Walter C Johnsen was pleased with the level of business achieved, saying, “We signed contracts with two major superstores and a huge mass market retailer. This has been our best show yet.”
The new area for Extraordinary Stationery was also positively rated by exhibitors. Hero Pen Factory of China was showcased their handcrafted gold and jewel enamel pens there. Dong Wen Bin, Hero’s vice general manager, said, “This has been a good platform to promote our new line to China’s luxury market.”

For more details about these upcoming Paperworld China fairs as well as the Hong Kong International Stationery Market, Paperworld Middle East and Paperworld Russia, visit www.paperworld.messefrankfurt.com.




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