JULY
Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market
Atlanta International Area Rug Market
The area rug, housewares and tabletop and gift industries will kick off the back half of the year at AmericasMart at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, July 11-18, and the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, July 12-15.

Attendees driving in for market will be able to take advantage of ParkSmart, which is reserved parking at AmericasMarket. Wi-Fi coverage at AmericasMart also continues to grow, and attendees will be able to access the network on certain tradeshow floors; service can be purchased per day or market by connecting to AmericasMart’s wireless network on site.

AmericasMart’s ICON Honor Awards for the gift and home industries will take place Saturday, July 14, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. Kenny Loggins and Jeff Foxworthy are scheduled to perform during the event.

In Building 2 and Building 2 WestWing, the 7th Floor corridor will debut at market, allowing for direct access between the general gift and gift/resort/souvenir product centers. A ribbon cutting and grand opening will be held there on Thursday, July 12, at 4 p.m.

During the market, AmericasMart will hold a number of industry seminars and events. Here is a sampling:
In Building 1’s The Education Center, on Floor 10, seminars include: “Survive and Thrive: Creating Your Store’s ‘Life Preparedness Plan,’” in #1004, and “How to Think like a Retailer,” #1001, both on Thursday, July 12, from 3-4 p.m.; “How to Effectively Shop AmericasMart,” in #1001 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., and “Shoplifting: Because LOSS is a Four Letter Word,” in #1004 from 1-2 p.m., both on Friday, July 13; and “The Art of Shopping—While Building Good Customer Service,” in #1001 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and “So, Where’s My Profit?” in #1002 from 10-11 a.m., both on Saturday, July 14.

In Building 2 WestWing’s Demonstration Kitchen, Floor 8, celebrity chefs scheduled to perform include Daphne Oz from “The Chew” on Friday, July 13, from  noon-1 p.m. and celebrity chef Curtis Stone on Saturday, July 14, from 2-3 p.m. Other events for the kitchen include “Le Creuset, Marseille and Virginia Willis Together in the Kitchen,” sponsored by Le Creuset and AmericasMart Atlanta, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and  “Tapas: The Little Spanish Secret,” sponsored by The Connection and Castey Cookware, from 3-4 p.m., both on Friday; and “Gluten Free with Swiss D—A New Approach to a Gluten-Free Lifestyle,” sponsored by Swiss Diamond and Ben Tally & Assoc. from 4-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 14.

For the area rug industry, seminars held in Building 1, Floor 4, include “In the Dragons’ Shadow: Dragon Rugs and the Legacy of their Patterns,” from 10-11 a.m. in Room 4-B-1; “Knot To Be Missed IV,” for ORRA members looking to pass the CRA exam, at 1 p.m. in Room 4-B-1 (to register send contact information to orraarnold@verizon.net ); and Walk the Market with Phil Menendian, sponsored by ORRA, Room 4-B-1 beginning at 3 p.m. — all on Friday, July 13. On Saturday, July 14, at 12:30 p.m., the ORRA Certified Rug Appraiser’s Exam takes place, for ORRA members only, in Room 4-B-1. And then Saturday at 4 p.m., the Oriental Rug Review—CRA Re-Certification will take place in Room 4-B-1.

In Building 3, the seminar “Buying American and Why It Matters” takes place on Friday, July 13, 11 a.m.-noon, on Floor 2, SW Quadrant.

Then on Sunday, July 14, there will be a “Summer in the States” patriotic party in the Made in America temporaries starting at 3 p.m., Building 3, Floor 2, SW Quadrant.

Other events include an HD Home Preview party from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, in Building 1, Floor 1, Center Hall. On Sunday, July 15, AmericasMart Atlanta is teaming up with ASID, IFDA, IDS and Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles to host the Annual Designers Luncheon with the topic, “Making Money in Today’s Design Market.” It will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Building 1, Floor 14, Seminar Room.

Home Textiles Sourcing Expo
The textiles portion of the trade-show calendar in the second half of the year begins with the Home Textiles Sourcing Expo, which takes place along with Texworld USA at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The Expo is produced in a partnership between Messe Frankfurt and The Sub-Council of Textile Industry of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. It presents itself as the only sourcing event in North America that focuses solely on fabrics and finished textiles. A full spectrum of textiles offerings will be on display for the bath, bedding, floor-coverings, kitchen, outdoor, decorative-pillows, table-linens, upholstery, wall-coverings and window-coverings categories.

Last year’s Home Textiles Sourcing Expo featured 674 attendees, who saw products from 132 exhibitors from nine countries. An additional 843 Texworld USA attendees said during registration that they planned to visit the expo as well.

California Gift Show
California-centric is the buzz word for the California Gift Show, which takes place in permanent showrooms at the L.A. Mart July 25-31 and in the temporaries at the Los Angeles Convention Center July 27-30.

“Many permanent showroom and temporary exhibitor resources are unique to the region, offering retailers selections unavailable elsewhere across the U.S. We remain confident in our Los Angeles venues as the must-shop destinations to source both innovative California-designed and made products, as well as those produced internationally,” said Jeff Sampson, vice president of marketing, L.A. Mart/L.A. Mart Design Center/California Gift Show.

Chicago Market
The Chicago Market will take place July 19-25 in the permanent showrooms of the Chicago Merchandise Mart, on the temporaries floor and at Beckman’s Handcrafted Show. The Merchandise Mart was reconfigured this spring, relocating all essential gift, home and seasonal showrooms to the 13th floor to create a more comprehensive marketplace.

“These changes position us to grow Chicago’s gift industry,” said Toni McIntosh, vice president of Chicago Gift. “It makes sense to locate like-focused businesses together. It streamlines the buying process, which will only enhance showroom sales.”

Las Vegas Market
Las Vegas Market is known for a full slate of educational and socializing opportunities, and the summer show (July 30-Aug. 3) will be no exception.

The Monday night Grand Opening reception will include several performances by Absinthe Las Vegas. Absinthe
is the critically acclaimed acro-cabaret variety show that performs nightly under the Tent at Caesars Palace. The artists will dazzle market-goers by performing amazing feats of strength, balance, danger and unfathomable flexibility.

Show attendees are invited to start each day with a Complimentary Grab ’N Go Breakfast, from 7:30-10:30 a.m. in the Grand Plaza. Food + Wine Tastings in the Gourmet section are scheduled for July 30-Aug. 2, 2-3 p.m., with food samplings and wine tastings.

The second annual Gift for Life Reception “Up on the Roof” will take place July 31 in SkyView Terrace at 6 p.m. Enjoy cocktails, appetizers, live music, and a breathtaking view of the glittering Las Vegas skyline in support of a tremendous cause as Gift for Life is the gift and home industries’ national charity funding the fight against HIV/AIDS. All monies raised benefit DIFFA.

GIFT + HOME buyers are welcome to enjoy a dedicated buyers’ lounge featuring product displays, a business center, coffee and water, as well as a quiet place to relax and network with colleagues. Additionally, a dedicated concierge will be onsite to help buyers with all their market needs. It will be open daily in C9.

AUGUST
Las Vegas Asia Expo
 Over 500 Asian suppliers from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, Bangladesh and the Philippines will be featured at the Las Vegas Asia Expo scheduled for Aug. 13-15 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. Exhibitors will be showing gifts, gadgets, premiums, housewares, stationery, toys and games, and more.

“Las Vegas Asia Expo will provide a new trade marketplace for buyers and sellers in the business of sourcing Asian competitively priced and export-ready products, by bringing Asian suppliers direct to the U.S.A.,” said show organizer Kenfair. “Over the past three years, these Asian suppliers have made significant investment in their products, improving the quality, introducing more innovation, expanding design capability and manufacturing eco-friendly ranges and products.”

New York International Gift Fair
Following a shift in traffic patterns and an exhibitor survey about market timing, the New York International Gift Fair will adopt a new five-day format—opening Saturday and closing Wednesday (rather than Thursday)—beginning with the summer 2012 edition, Aug. 18 - 22, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal’s Piers 92 and 94.

Meanwhile, the third phase of a multiyear strategic reorganization of The Fair will begin at the summer 2012 market, with repositioning of three product divisions—Baby & Child, Handmade Global Design and New York’s Newest—to new locations within the Javits Center, the second annual presentation of the Gourmet Housewares Show, and the introduction of Artisan Resource, a new complementary trade show which will run concurrently with NYIGF.

“This series of divisional relocations is strategic and purposeful and will strengthen category adjacencies across NYIGF,” said Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF manager and vice president at show owner and organizer GLM. “The ultimate goal is creation of four distinct market collections which offer buyers a navigable and efficient shopping experience.”

Handmade Global Design, a collection of 135 import resources, moves to the Javits Center’s Level 4 Galleria and River Pavilion from Hall 1D. Baby & Child will move from the Javits Center’s Hall 1E into Hall 1D, which is adjacent to General Gift. New York’s Newest, a showcase of companies new to NYIGF and the New York market, will relocate into the Javits Center from its former location at the Passenger Ship Terminal’s Pier 92.

At press time, the second annual Gourmet Housewares Show was nearly sold out. “The Gourmet Housewares Show’s positioning—as a ‘show-within-as-show’ at NYIGF—gives exhibitors access to a core group of leading housewares retailers, as well as thousands of specialty stores seeking add-on sales with upscale products for cooking, dining and kitchen preparation,” said Marc Delman, national sales manager of the Gourmet Housewares Show.

GLM will also launch Artisan Resource, a new semi-annual trade show, offering U.S.-based volume importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to meet with international artisanal producers. It will run Aug. 19-21 at Pier 92, offering a production-sourcing venue for overseas artisan enterprises to showcase their products and production capabilities at export terms from their country of origin. Both participating suppliers and attendees will be carefully vetted to support viable export relationships and maintain appropriate channels of distribution.

Tabletop showroom building Forty One Madison will be open and welcoming gift buyers and retail executives who are attending the Gift Fair. The building will offer complimentary luxury bus service between Forty One Madison and the Javits Center, Aug. 20-22 during show hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“Forty One Madison is the address for many of the top-tier brands that are on buyers’ must-see lists, and these showrooms will be open for business, many with the type of product assortments and opening minimums that the buyers are looking for,” said Laurie Burns, senior vice president director.

Showroom building 7 W New York will also welcome all domestic and international buyers to its showrooms on 34th Street. Local buyers will have the chance to participate in a raffle while enjoying other building amenities. The building will provide a list of showrooms whose product is made in the U.S.A. On Monday night of the show, from 5—8 p.m., 7 W will offer late-night shopping with a little bubbly. The first 100 buyers will also receive a 7 W leather journal. Buyers will also have the chance to weigh in on the building’s Facebook-themed lobby display by “liking” 7 W New York for a chance to win a prize.

New York market participants will also be able to visit the New-York Historical Society for free during market week by presenting their showroom badge.

New York Gift & Home Textiles Market Week
Aug. 17-23 will bring the New York Gift & Home Textiles Market Week, which runs concurrently with the New York International Gift Fair. As usual, vendors in the showroom buildings at 7 W New York and 230 Fifth Ave. will have new products on display during the show.

At 7 W, the week will include late-night shopping from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday night, the 20th, which will include prizes, discounts, appetizers, drinks and more. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the building will also provide each buyer with a lunch voucher.

230 Fifth Ave. will offer free shuttle-bus transportation to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centers for buyers and guests who are also attending the Gift Fair. The building will also offer complimentary breakfast and lunch for registered attendees, and promotional giveaways of folders, directory books, mini-chocolates, cookies and signature water bottles.
 
Intertextile Shanghai
From Aug. 28-30, Intertextile Shanghai is scheduled to take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

The home textiles side of the show will feature vendors of bedding, bath products, pillows, mattresses and mattress covers, decorative fabrics, textile and non-textile window products, wall coverings and outdoor textiles. Contract textiles and products for textiles design will also be on display.

This year’s Intertextile will offer two special exhibit areas. The Brand Bedding and Towelling Area, located in hall W2, will showcase luxury bedding and towels. The European Zone, an exclusive area for European exhibitors and products, will be in the International Hall.

Tendence
The Tendence show will take place in Frankfurt, Germany, Aug. 24 - 28. For the second time, the Home &Trend Award will be presented. Consumers and a jury of experts will give awards to the best innovative products in the home furnishings sector under the following categories: garden and leisure, furniture and room fitments, bathrooms and wellness and home textiles and decoration.

New additions here are large and small electronic goods as well as household items and cleaning. “Quality indicators like the Home & Trend Award help both consumers and retailers to take important decisions. And Tendence, as the traditionally most important order platform for the Christmas trade creates the ideal framework,” said Nicolette Naumann, vice president of Ambiente/Tendence.

SEPTEMBER
Maison et Objet
Maison et Objet will take place in Paris Sept. 7-11 at Paris Nord Villepinte, Friday to Monday from 9:30 a.m. -7 p.m. and on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

New York Home Fashions Market
The second edition of the New York Home Fashions Market is scheduled for Sept. 10-13. Vendors will have new products to display at the market’s traditional locations: the showroom buildings at 295 Fifth Ave., 261 Fifth Ave., 230 Fifth Ave. and 7 W New York; and at other locations throughout New York City.

The 7 W New York building will have a lobby display consisting of all types of fabrics, yarns and the finished products that emerge from these materials. On Monday, the 10th, from 3-5 p.m., hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be offered. Daily amenities will include complimentary coffee and an open space with Internet access and industry periodicals. Buyers will also be able to get a complimentary lunch at the building’s Antique Café.

230 Fifth Ave. will offer a massage service provided by a local spa, complimentary breakfast and lunch for registered buyers and guests, mini-desserts and promotional giveaways. As in the case of the August New York Gift & Home Textiles Market, the latter will include folders, directory books, mini-chocolates, cookies and signature water bottles.

International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market
The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, held on Sept. 20-23, provides retailers with a destination to find all things related to outdoor and casual living. Attendees will see the newest, most innovative products from leading manufacturers around the world and discover the latest trends in color, product design, fabric patterns and more all under one roof.

The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is the only show in North America dedicated to the casual and outdoor furnishings industry that is exclusively endorsed by the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA). The Casual Market averages approximately 250 manufacturers filling more than 350,000 square feet of exhibit space at The Merchandise Mart with permanent casual showrooms on Floors 15, 16 and 17 as well as exhibitors in the temporary exhibit space.

Macef
Featuring Italian-made and Italian-designed items in home decor, tableware/kitchenware, accessories and gifts, this fall marks the 93rd edition of Macef, the International Home Show in Milan, Italy.

The FieraMilano-based show, scheduled for Sept. 6-9, features AbitaMi labs, designed to showcase examples of product innovation, use of materials, the manufacturing process and new sales modes. One AbitaMi lab will be present in each pavilion and will offer dedicated islands for every Macef sector. Each lab will be devoted to a specific topic which will underline the characteristics of the products and the topics of the specific sector.

Macef will also present Opera Italiana, a section devoted to Italian creations.

OCTOBER
New York Tabletop Market
The October 9-12 New York Tabletop Market at Forty One Madison will feature lobby tables designed by New York Cottages & Gardens. The magazine also will team with Forty One to host what has now become a tradition for the Thursday of each Market—Interior Designer Day. This program has helped bring more interior design professionals into the showrooms and built growing relationships with those who specify tableware for their client’s projects, the building said.

Buyers will also find 7 W New York and 230 Fifth Ave. filled with ideas and looks on the latest trends in tableware from elegant to backyard, along with finishing accents and accessories.

High Point Market
The home furnishings world travels to North Carolina for High Point Market on Oct. 13-18. For this fall’s show, the High Point Market Authority will repeat its Design Viewpoints Series with speakers on topics such as fashion trends, along with business tips. All seminars in the Design Viewpoints Series are free to interior designers and retailers attending High Point Market. No RSVP is required, and a boxed lunch will be first-come-first-served.

“The Design Viewpoints Series has been hugely popular for the High Point Market and ASID by offering a series of topics critical to the success of designers and retailers,” said Cheminne Taylor-Smith, vice president of marketing for the High Point Market Authority. “The design community is important to the High Point Market and this series is just one of the many ways that we work to support and promote interior designers.”

The fall show will also include Style Spotters to highlight top market fashions through Pinterest. The High Point Market has recruited home fashion trendsetters to showcase their favorite products and top trends at the show. The Style Spotters will post and curate their favorite looks on Pinterest, a website that lets users organize and share photos on virtual pinboards.

International Market Centers will host the Official High Point Market Kick-off Party once again. It’s scheduled for Friday, Oct. 12, 5:30-7 p.m. in the Showplace parking lot. The Made in America Pavilion will once again take up the top floor of the Suites at Market Square. After doubling in size last market, the Pavilion is still expanding. It is too early to tell how large it will be, organizers said, but it could double again.

India Carpet Expo
From October 12-15, the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) under the aegis of Government of India, will hold its 24th annual India Carpet Expo, which will be held at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Ground, Varanasi. Buyers from 50 countries across all continents for sourcing are expected to attend, and manufacturers and exporters from key carpet producing areas like Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur, Panipat and Srinagar will be exhibiting.

Manila FAME
October’s Manila Fame, scheduled for Oct. 17-20 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Philippines, marks the 56th edition of the show.

Manila FAME is one of Asia’s longest-running trade shows and the country’s main trade show for home furnishings, gifts, holiday items and fashion.

The show nurtures Philippine creative manufacturers and producers, and continues to promote them in the global market. Last year, Manila FAME and three other major sourcing events in the Philippines—manila now, CEBUNEXT and Bijoux Cebu—merged into a single event in order to bring more products to more buyers, serve more markets and showcase Philippine design and artistry.

The show features skilled artisans demonstrating their craft in creating products with the use of indigenous materials such as capiz, buri and rattan.