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Dubai, United Arab Emirates

By Tina Benitez -- Gifts and Dec, 7/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

At this year's Toy Fair Middle East, which took place May 13–15 in Dubai, more than 150 exhibitors from the gift and toy markets displayed their wares in the hope of expanding into the Middle East, the U.S. and worldwide. Gifts & Decorative Accessories spoke to vendors about what's selling at wholesale in the region, as well as scouting Dubai's flourishing retail scene for what's selling to consumers.

Handmade camel-shaped boxes and gift baskets are some of the items that Mousa Zatara manufactures and distributes through his Dubai-based company, Art Plaza. Zatara's company has offices in all the Gulf Corporation Council countries (such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), as well as Iran, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti and several Central African states.

But Zatara says entering the U.S. market has been a challenge. Though he's attended the Boston and New York gift shows, he found that Americans are reluctant to buy his product because of the high price point. “Here, they care more about quality than quantity,” he said. “In America, they are just not spending the money. ”

Beirut, Lebanon-based Theirry's Friends offers quirky bovine characters such as Pablo El Caliente, a red-hot cow; Valentino the cow, featured on mugs, candles and bath products; and Dookie, a Rastafarian cow. Dalida Sniefer Rahal, general manager for Theirry's, says the company (which currently has 10 boutique retail stores in Lebanon and six in Dubai) is ready to branch out into the U.S. and elsewhere as a franchise and a wholesaler.

“It's not about one item in particular,” says Rahal. “It's about staying young at heart. We are looking to go abroad and have been getting good feedback here. It's not just for gift stores but any retailer that has a close relationship with customers. It can be a gift in a hairdresser's or school — you can see a little of Theirry's everywhere.”

Titan Souvenir Shop, Dubai

Camel plush dolls , Bambino, Australia, 30 AED
M.I.L.K. magnets , M.I.L.K., Auckland, New Zealand, 10 AED
Mugs and shot glasses , Luke-A-Tuke, San Francisco, 20-50 AED
Wooden crafts and magnets and calendars , Susan Walpole, Dubai, 20 AED
Desert Caravan Quality series , Smarter Group, Dubai, 30 AED
Kids' Gift Sets — frame and watch , Jacques Farel, Hong Kong, 125 AED
Computer mouse rugs , Mouse Rugs, Fort Collins, CO, 10 AED

Cottage Chic, Dubai

Plush dolls , Settler Bears, Benson, AZ, 100–135 AED
Welcome tin signs , Regal Arts and Gifts, Pacheco, CA, 80 AED
Glass plates , Fringe Studio, Culver City, CA, 55 AED
Satchel pillows , Les Authen tiques de Combrichon, Combrichon SAS, Trevoux, France, 40 AED
Tutti Frutti three-piece napkin, salt and pepper set , Casa Vero by ACK, Los Angeles, 175 AED
Garland Butterfly , Arteflorum, San Francisco, 40 AED
Tin candle holder , Regal Arts and Gifts, Pacheco, CA, 50 AED

Gulf Greetings/Hallmark, Mall of the Emirates, New Dubai

Á la Mode greeting cards , Hallmark, Kansas City, MO. $2.99–3.99
Mouse pad , Fay Lawson, Dubai, 45 AED
Coffee Cosy , Fay Lawson, 49 AED
Sandy the Camel plush dolls , Russ Berrie, Oakland, NJ, 99 AED; keychain , 29 AED
Giraffe soft doll and ball rattle gift set , Tolo Toys, Culver City, CA, 79 AED
Plajtolon beaded pants in plastic cylinder , Tbox, Istanbul, 9 AED
Trendy Me Totium craft sets , TM Essentials BV, Andelst, The Netherlands, 39 AED
Plush wallets , Sugar, Cairo, Eygpt

*Unless otherwise noted, prices are listed in dirhams. As of press time, $1=3.67 United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED).

Source: XE.com, Universal Currency Converter, Ontario

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