NEW YORK-The positive mood that lifted gift and other trade shows last month continues here, where vendors have been pleased with business at the New York International Gift Fair and a spate of new and innovative designs has helped fuel enthusiasm for the year ahead.

Vendors at the Javits Center reported crowded aisles since the show opened at that venue on Sunday. The show continues there through tomorrow.

“Traffic seems to be up big time from last year,” said Michael Jeansson, vice president of sales for NGL Associates. The Scandinavian-based companies he distributes here in the United States – Design House Stockholm, Serene House, Cult, ASA and Stelton – now occupy roughly 1,900 square feet on the convention center floor. Together they offer an array of design-led merchandise, including ASA’s new colored porcelain dinnerware and tea pots that have the look of cast iron but are made from porcelain; a new herb pot from Cult; and modern furniture pieces from  Design House Stockholm. The expanded real estate is a worthwhile investment for the company, Jeansson said. “If you don’t attend a show, you disappear. This is important for us.”

Sagaform’s Ingerid Mohn, vice president of sales and marketing, was equally pleased. The show has been good, she said. “People are looking for new things, for fun things. We see a lot of customers drawn to colors this year.” Sagaform offered a colorful display of domed acrylic cookie platters, dessert bowls, pitchers and punch bowls in the bright shades of pink, green and blue.

Sagaform’s booth stood adjacent to the housewares division of the Fair, a category focus that began at the summer edition of the show last year. Vendors in this division carry a variety of housewares goods, from small electrics to bamboo serveware to wine accessories, and most seemed pleased with business. Some of them, including Aladdin and Core Home, previewed products that they plan to bring to the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago next month.

Beverageware continues to be a key category in both housewares and tabletop, and at this show there were plenty of new water bottles, insulated drink containers and double-walled pitchers to choose from. Water bottles, in particular, continue to offer innovation in the filtering process.

Tea is another popular beverage category. In housewares there were a lot of new tea strainers and other accessories, while in tabletop there continue to be new designs in both tea cups and tea pots.

Another ongoing trend is owls. The feathered creatures alighted on all product categories and in many design variations.