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Implementation of Phase Two of a three-year strategic reorganization of the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) will begin in August 2011 with integration of the Gourmet Housewares Show into NYIGF, the addition of new product-focused “neighborhoods” in several divisions and continued refinement of existing categories. A full schedule of seminars, special events, displays and promotions are among other highlights of the summer market, which will run Aug. 13-18, 2011, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94.

“Through ‘Focus Forward 2013,’ NYIGF continues to transform and strategically reorganize to become the defining marketplace for fashion-forward, design-driven home, gift and lifestyle resources,” says Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “The first time integration of The Gourmet Housewares Show will exponentially increase and complement the breadth and depth of resources for buyers, and a series of enhancements to other divisions will dramatically facilitate sourcing and shopping for buyers.”

With The Gourmet Housewares Show’s repositioning alongside NYIGF, some 150 high-end gourmet products suppliers will be showcased at the summer 2011 edition. With a full range of high-end cookware, bakeware, kitchen gadgets, kitchen textiles, bar and wine accessories, small electrics, specialty food, cookbooks, storage/containers and picnic/barbecue accessories, The Gourmet Housewares Show will complement NYIGF’s Tabletop division and its refined concentration of 200 suppliers of specialty tabletop lines.

Among enhancements planned for summer 2011 is the addition of a new “On Trend" neighborhood and expansion of the existing “Stationery & Publishing” neighborhood within NYIGF’s General Gift division, the expansion of the existing “Handmade Jewelry” neighborhood in Personal Accessories and launch of a new “Artisan Jewelry Showcase” within New York’s Newest.

Within General Gift, the new “On Trend” neighborhood will feature nearly 20 companies including Fred & Friends, Kito, Ore, Present Time and Wild & Wolf, for its August debut. Within New York’s Newest at Pier 92, the “Artisan Jewelry Showcase” debut will present some 30+ jewelry makers new to NYIGF. In Personal Accessories, the “handmade jewelry” neighborhood launched in winter 2011 with 20 companies will expand to feature 30 companies offering high-quality handmade items.

Following an extensive jury review process, NYIGF’s juried design divisions will welcome some 60 new applicants to the summer market. From 150 submissions, the Accent on Design Selection Committee accepted 19 contemporary design resources for participation; from 200+ submissions to Handmade, the juries accepted 10 companies into Handmade Global Design and 29 designers, including one promising designer/maker receiving the first annual Carol Sedestrom Ross “Maker-to-Market” Scholarship, into Handmade Designer Maker.

Throughout market week, nearly 30 educational seminars and social events will offer added value for market participants. Sessions will cover current trends in social media, sustainability and color as well as visual merchandising, fair trade, marketing and retail strategies. After-hours industry and networking functions include the 60th Annual Retailer Excellence Awards on Sunday, Aug. 14, and NYIGF’s popular “Night on Broadway” on Tuesday, Aug. 16. Information and registration will be available online at www.nyigf.com/programs after May 1.

NYIGF’s SustainAbility: design for a better world display, showcasing a curated selection of eco-friendly and socially-responsible gift and home products, will be located in the Javits Connector. NYIGF also will feature a Baby & Child “Peek-A-Boo” display, showcasing a variety of juvenile gear, apparel, décor and toys.

NYIGF will showcase product innovation and excellence through presentation of awards in several categories. Retailers will vote for their favorite “green” products in the Eco Choice Awards; trade and consumer editors will select winners of the EX•TRACTS Best New Product Awards, Home Textiles Market Week Best New Product Awards and Baby & Child Best New Product Awards; bloggers will identify their top product picks in the Accent on Design Bloggers’ Choice Awards; and the Accent on Design Selection Committee will bestow the coveted Accent on Design Awards for best product and best collection.

NYIGF is continuing to utilize technology to streamline the registration process and make it easier to get information before, during and after the Fair. For the first time this summer, online registration will be open throughout the Fair, with free “early bird” rates offered to qualified buyers through Aug 12. NYIGF also is launching a new sophisticated mobile application which allows more streamlined and intuitive access to the NYIGF.com search features.

The summer 2011 NYIGF runs Saturday, Aug. 13, through Thursday, Aug. 18, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 & 94. Pier exhibits (New York’s Newest at Pier 92 and At Home at Pier 94) as well as select divisions at the Javits Center (Baby & Child, Handmade Designer Maker and Handmade Global Design), run Saturday, Aug. 13, through Wednesday, Aug. 17. All other divisions (Accent on Design featuring A+: The Young Designers’ Platform, At Home featuring Home Textiles, EX∙TRACTS, General Gift featuring Floral & Garden Accessories and The Museum Source, Personal Accessories featuring Details and Tabletop run Sunday, Aug. 14, through Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Javits Center.

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800+ exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.

Source: NYIGF