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The January 2012 California Gift Show welcomed the local, regional, national and international buying community Jan. 18-24 with new showrooms, new lines, new products, new exhibitors and new buyers during the West Coast’s largest Gift + Home Market.

A new, mid-week Wednesday kicked-off the show that continued to emphasize the region’s distinction for both product innovation and its influence on consumer purchasing habits.

Approximately 1,200 temporary and permanent purveyors wowed buyers at CGS’s two show locations, L.A. Mart and Los Angeles Convention Center.

“California Gift Show was off the hook this January,” said Mark Furlet, vice president, gift + home, California Gift Show/L.A. Mart. “Showrooms and exhibitors witnessed a phenomenal and sustained attendance of new and returning buyers from across the country and around the globe…Many of our permanent showrooms reported exceeding order writing expectations, comparing this market to the healthier times of nearly a decade ago.”

Tom Zimmerman, SVP marketing for Two’s Company, agreed that the show exceeded his expectations. “We had a significant double-digit increase,” Zimmerman said. “Buyers were enthusiastic after a better-than-anticipated holiday selling season, putting them in a light inventory position. We had two very strong introductions: Watercolors, a trend coastline collection and Happi by Dena, a new baby and toddler collection.”

The L.A. Mart featured approximately 50,000 square-feet of new, expanded and recommitted permanent year-round showroom space.

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