Heading Out West

The Portland Gift & Accessories Show (PGAS) comes to the Oregon Convention Center, June 23-26. The show features some 350 exhibiting companies showcasing 3,000 lines.

The PGAS is organized in 14 product divisions: Accessories; Home, Country, Garden; Fashion Accessories; FoodFocus; Gift & Collectibles; Housewares and Gourmet; The Jewelry Vault; Stationery & Trend Merchandise; Multicultural Merchandise; Northwest Craft Gallery; Personal Accessories; Souvenir/Resort/Novelty; Tabletop; and The Vintage Collection.

A selection of educational seminars will be presented for which reservations are suggested. A buyer and exhibitor reception will take place Monday evening, June 25 with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails for $1.

SEMINARS

Friday, June 22: Make Your Store More Profitable Day

• 'Make Your Store More Profitable.' Seminar and retail tour. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., room B116. Conducted by Andrew Andoniadis. $125 for first registrant; $100 per additional.

Saturday, June 23: Take Control of Your Inventory Day

• 'Practical and Easy Inventory Management.' 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., room B116. Speaker: Merry Callahan. $15; $20 on site.

Sunday, June 24: Make More Money in Your Business Day

• 'Passive Income Generators: Learn Eight Low-Maintenance Ways to Increase Your Profitability.' 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., room A105-106. Speaker: Andrew Andoniadis. $15; $20 on site.

Monday, June 25: The Frill and Thrill of Retailing Day

• 'When Heaven and Nature Sing.' 9-10:30 a.m., room B116. Speaker: Sue Kirby. $1, reservations required.
• 'The Thrill and Frill of Retailing.' Noon-1:30 p.m., room A105-106. Speaker: Sue Kirby. $1, reservations req.

The deadline for seminar pre-registration is June 20. Reservations can be made by telephone, fax, or mail. Checks, Visa, and Mastercard are accepted; cash is accepted on site. Mail requests to: Portland Gift & Accessories Show Special Events, Western Exhibitors LLC, 2181 Greenwich St., San Francisco, 94123. Call (415) 346-6666 or fax (415) 346-4965.

BUYER AMENITIES

Travel arrangements. Call Group Travel Associates, (800) 821-0339 or (805) 496-1251, fax (805) 496-1291, or visit www.gtameetings.com.

Dollar Day - Monday, June 25. $1 seminars, parking, and the reception.

$5 parking rebates.

SHOW INFO

Hours: June 23-25 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; June 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Address: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97232

Call: (415) 346-6666

www.portlandgift.com

Phoenix

OASIS, The Organization of Associated Sales People in the Southwest Inc., will host its 25th anniversary summer gift show, August 3-5 at the Phoenix Civic Center. The OASIS Gift Show will feature an estimated 600 exhibiting companies. The Elements and Glass Creations Pavilions are new to the show and will feature personal care and glass merchandise. Elements: Keys to Conscious Living will host a Treasure Chest Hunt with prize keys coded into buyer badges. Treasure chests will be placed throughout the show floor.

Many educational seminars will be offered. With the exception of the 'How To Shop OASIS' seminar, which is free and includes a continental breakfast, all seminars are $10 per person. Pre-registration recommended.

SEMINARS

Friday, August 3

• 'How to Shop OASIS.' 8:30-9:30 a.m.
• 'Learn the Keys to Conscious Stress Relief.' 10-11 a.m. .
• 'More Dash Than Cash: Promoting Your Store on a Budget.' 1-2 p.m.

Saturday, August 4

• 'Are You Positioned to Prosper from the Internet?' 10-11 a.m. .
• 'Surviving Fads-Thriving on Trends.' 1-2:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 5

• 'Retailing from the Outside-In and the Inside-Out.' 10-11 a.m.

SHOW INFO

Hours: August 3-4, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; August 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Address: 225 E. Adams, Phoenix 85004

Call: (800) 424-9519 or (602) 952-2050

www.oasis.org

Seattle

The Seattle Gift Show gets a facelift this year, with the combined efforts of Western Exhibitors and George Little Management. The co-owners announced plans to 'reinvent' the Seattle Gift Show by utilizing the new Washington State Convention & Trade Center (WSC&TC) from August 18-22. Over 4,800 product lines will be showcased in some 950 booths filling 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, all under one roof. Product divisions at the WSC&TC will include At Home; GardenStyle; Handmade; Personal Style; Village Arts; Northwest Directions; The Northwest Craft Gallery; FoodFocus; The Vintage Collection; Jewelry Vault; Gifts & Collectibles; Stationery & Trend; Fashion Accessories; and Tabletop/Housewares/Gourmet.

The Seattle Gift Center (SGC) will open its doors for its August Gifts & Home Accessories Show, August 16-22, with early buying days on August 16-17. The SGC is home to over 150 permanent showrooms offering more than 4,000 permanent product lines. Early buying days, new seminars, and expanded one-on-one consulting sessions will be offered.

SEMINARS

Friday, August 17: Make Your Store More Profitable Day

• 'Make Your Store More Profitable.' Seminar and retail tour. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., room B116. Seminar by Andrew Andoniadis and tour by Joanne Stone Geier. $125 for first registrant, $100 for each additional.

Saturday, August 18: Trends Day

• 'Some Like it Hot: New Trends for Fall, Winter, and Spring.' 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Speaker: Tony DeMasi. $15; $20 on site.
• 'The Trendmeister's Trend Analysis.' 2:30-4 p.m. $15; $20 on site.

Sunday, August 19: Visual Impact Day

• 'Color Psychology.' 11:30 a.m-1 p.m. Speaker Linda Cahan. $15; $20 on site.
• 'Visual Presentation Workshop: High Impact Displays for the Holidays Under $100.' 2:30-4:30 p.m. Moderator: Linda Cahan. $30; $35 on site.

Monday, August 20: Technology Day

• 'Branding Your Business and Your Web Site.' 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Speaker: Joanne Stone Geier. $15; $20 on site.
• 'Finding Your Niche on the Net.' 2:30-4 p.m. Speaker: Joanne Stone Geier. $15; $20 on site.

Tuesday, August 21: Two for Tuesday

$25; $30 on site, for any two seminars, Tuesday only.

• 'Passive Income Generators: Eight Low-Maintenance Ways to Increase Profitablity'. 9-10:30 a.m. Speaker: Andrew Andoniadis.
• 'Make More Money in Your Retail Business.' Noon-1:30 p.m. Speaker: Rick Segel.

EVENTS AND AMENITIES

Opening Night Reception. Saturday, August 18, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, fourth floor expansion.

Consultations with retail experts are $85 per session, Andrew Andoniadis: Saturday, August 18, 10 and 11 a.m.; Monday, August 20, 10 and 11 a.m.; 1 and 2 p.m.; Joanne Stone Geier: Saturday, August 18, 10 and 11 a.m.; 1, 2, and 3 p.m.; Sunday, August 19, 10 and 11 a.m.; 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

SHOW INFO

Hours: SGC Pre-show: August 16-17, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. All sites: August 18-21, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; August 22, 9 a.m.-noon

Address: WSC&TC, 800 Convention Pl., Seattle 98101; Seattle Gift Center, 6100 4th Ave. S., Seattle 98108

Call: (800) 346-1212 or (415) 346-0168; SGC, (800) 433-1014 or (206) 767-6800

www.seattlegift.com

Denver

The Denver Merchandise Mart (DMM) will hold its Gift, Jewelry & Resort Show August 25-28, with Pre-Show of permanent tenants on August 23-24. Over 650 exhibitors will exhibit product representing lodge, Southwestern, Native American, and souvenir/resort, in addition to decorative accessories, collectibles, stationery, and other traditional gifts and handicrafts. Buyers may park for free in front of the Mart and partake of complimentary buffets and live music. Orientation sessions are offered for new buyers. All seminars and events are free except for the Rocky Mountain Casino Trip, which is $7.

EVENTS AND AMENITIES

Buyer Appreciation Reception. Friday, August 24, 6:30-8 p.m. Plaza at the Mart. A reception with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and music.

Rocky Mountain Casino Trip. Saturday, August 25, 6:15 p.m. Low-stakes gaming in the historic Black Hawk and Central City. $7 per person, includes transportation and a box meal.

Non-denominational Church Service. 8-8:30 a.m., forum meeting room 2.

Sunday Night Extravaganza. 6-8 p.m. Music, dancing, complimentary bar