Big Changes, Big Gala in Big Apple

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL GIFT FAIR (NYIGF)

January 28–February 1

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

655 W. 34th St.

Passenger Ship Terminals 92, 94

55th St. and 12th Avenue

Metropolitan Pavilion

128 W. 18th St.

(800) 272-SHOW

www.nyigf.com

EXTRACTS NEW YORK HOME TEXTILES SHOW

Metropolitan Pavilion

128 W. 18th St.

(800) 272-SHOW

www.extractsny.com

www.nyhometextiles.com

Show Producer: George Little Management LLC (GLM)

Show Hours: All locations: Sunday–Wednesday, January 28–31, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Javits and the Piers, Thursday, February 1, 9 a.m.–noon. Metropolitan Pavilion closes Wednesday.

Travel Arrangements: Travel Planners, (800) 221-3531 or (212) 532-1660

Show Highlights: Four show divisions are repositioned: New York's Newest moves to the Metropolitan Pavilion; Just Kidstuff becomes a focused area within General Gift with children's hardlines moving to Javits Hall 3E and children's softgoods moving to Hall 1A; Museum Source becomes a focused area in Hall 3C. An expanded Handmade moves to the Galleria on Level 4 (formerly the home of Just Kidstuff and the Museum Source). It also adds two new focused areas: Handmade Jewelry will be in the Galleria River Pavilion, and Global Handmade will take up residence on Javits' South Concourse.

Special Events:

• Gift for Life's 15th Anniversary Gala. Sunday, January 28. 6–10 p.m. Strata, 915 Broadway at 21st St. This annual industry event is held during the New York International Gift Fair for the first time. Honorees are Peer Baekgaard of Baekgaard Ltd., Rick Ruffner of Avanti Press and Jeff Sampson of LA Mart. Includes a buffet, cocktails, presentation, live music, and live and silent auctions — plus a special appearance by Grey Gardens star Christine Ebersol. Tickets start at $125/person. Contact Erica Topple, (212) 806-1636 or Erica.topple@amfar.org.
• Museum Buyer Networking Breakfast. Monday, January 29. 9–10 a.m. Museum Source lounge, exhibit floor.
• Just Kidstuff Afternoon Snack. Monday, January 29. 3–4 p.m. Just Kidstuff aisles of Level 1 and Level 3.
• On the Town: Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center. Monday, January 29. 6:30 –8:30 p.m. $20 advance/$25 onsite.
• 4th Annual Housewares Design Awards. Monday, January 29. 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Marriott Marquis. Presented by HomeWorld Business in association with the International Housewares Assn. (IHA). Sponsored by GLM. $75/person, includes lunch. Contact Judy Colitz (847) 692-0126, or jcolitz@housewares.org.
• A Night on Broadway. Tuesday, January 30. 8 p.m. curtain. The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marquis Theatre. $80. Winner of two 2006 Tony Awards.

Museum Buyer Conference

Saturday, January 27

• Museum Buyers Exchange. 2–6 p.m. Includes roundtable discussions; Linda Cahan, a contributor to Gifts & Decorative Accessories, discusses fixturing and display ideas, and a cocktail reception. Planet Hollywood, 1540 Broadway. $139. Call (800) 825-0900 or visit mbe.museumsandmore.com.

Javits Seminars

All seminars are $20 in advance, $25 on site, and are held in room 1A02-03 unless otherwise noted.

Sunday, January 28

• Show & Sell: Fixtures and Displays That Move Merchandise. 8:30–9:30 a.m. Speaker: Greg Gorman.
• Everybody Loves a Winner: Lessons Learned from HFN's "America's Retail Idols." 2–3 p.m. Speaker: Warren Shoulberg.

Monday, January 29

• Selling into Spring! 8:30–9:30 a.m. Speaker: Tony DeMasi.
• It's In The Cards … Building Your Business with Credit, Gift & Loyalty Card Programs. Noon–1 p.m. Brown Bag Lunch Seminar. Presenters: RBS Lynk and Gift Assn. of America.
• Form + Function = Profits. 2–3 p.m. Panel discussion led by Bill McLoughlin, HomeWorld Business.

Tuesday, January 30

• Selling Christmas — Everyday! 8:30–9:30 a.m. Leader: Mary Ford.
• Achieving Retail Excellence: Profiles of Gifts & Decorative Accessories' Retail Excellence Award winners. 2–3 p.m. Speakers: Maria Weiskott, G&DA's editor-in-chief, leads a panel of former winners. Find out what makes these stores special! Tutorial for retailers interested in submitting their stores for 2007 awards consideration or just interested good ideas.

Met Pavilion Seminars

All seminars are $20 in advance or $25 on site.

Sunday, January 28

• 10 Best Specialty Retailing Trends in the U.S. 10–11 a.m. Speaker: Warren Shoulberg, HFN.

Monday, January 29

• The Luxe Life — Targeting Today's Affluent Consumer. 10–11 a.m. Moderator: Becky Boswell Smith, editor of Home Accents Today. An in-depth look at the luxury home furnishings market and the purchasing habits of today's affluent consumers. Includes exclusive research from Relish, a new publication for the luxury market.

Tuesday, January 30

• Working Globally: Succeeding in the Transition. 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Sponsored by Executives Working in Home Textiles (EWHT). Moderator: Jennifer Marks, Home Textiles Today. Includes lunch. EWHT members, free; $40, all others. For information, visit www.ewht.com or to register, infoewht@yahoo.com.

LOOK FOR: At Metro-politan Pavilion: Daily Luxury Indulgence, 9:30–10:30 a.m. and 2–4 p.m. Javits Center World Stage: Daily live music presented by Putamayo, 11 a.m.–noon and 2–3 p.m. Housewares is HOT! And Metropolitan Pavilion Preview displays in Javits Center Concourse.

NEW YORK GIFT WEEK

January 25–February 1

7W New York

7 West 34th St.

New York 10010

(800) 235-3512

www.7wnewyork.com

Show Producer: Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI)

Show Hours: Thursday–Friday, January 25–26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday, January 27, and Monday, January 29, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday, January 28, and Tuesday–Wednesday, January 30–31, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Travel Arrangements: www.7wnewyork.com

Special Events:

• Shop the showrooms and enjoy complimentary lunch from noon-2 p.m. on Thursday–Saturday, January 25–27.
• Design Inspirations. Friday, January 26. Suite 500. Midwest artist appearances: Serenity artist Ceal Bialobrezeski, 10 a.m. –noon; Wendy Addison, 2–4 p.m.
• Celebrate Holiday Style. Saturday, January 27. Various showrooms showcase Holiday 2007 collections.
• Grand Opening Gala: Midwest & Colonial Candle ribbon cutting. Suite 500. 4–5 p.m.
• 7W Big Apple Bistro: Shopping Evening. Saturday, January 27. 5–8 p.m.
• Cocktails and Connections. Sunday, January 28. 3–5 p.m.
• Kidz Konnection. Monday January 29. 9 a.m.–noon. Various showrooms showcase their children's products.
• Red Carpet Review: Premier Shopping and Cocktails. Monday, January 30. 5–8 p.m. Photo opps with top models.

Seminar

Tuesday, January 30

• Tie One On with the Gift Box Corp. 11 a.m. Speaker: Jane Reiser of Lawrence Schiff. Trends and tricks of the tying trade. Suite 1035. Free.

NEW YORK GIFT SHOW

January 28–February 1

41 Madison Avenue

(212) 686-1203

www.41madison.com

New York Marketcenter

230 Fifth Ave.

(800) 698-5617

www.230fifthave.com

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR

February 11–14

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

655 W. 34th St.

(212) 675-1141

And at participating showroom locations in New York City including 230 Fifth Avenue and 7W New York

www.toy-tia.org

Show Producer: Toy Industry Association Inc. (TIA)

Show Hours: February 11, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. February 12–13, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. February 14, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Travel Arrangements: Travel Planners, (800) 221-3531

Special Events

• Retail Store Tour. Saturday, February 10. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. $50/person. Space is limited; register at www.toyfairny.com
• Toy of the Year Awards. Saturday, February 10. 6:30–11 p.m. Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway. Hall of Fame inductee: George Lucas. $450/person. For tickets, visit www.toy-tia.org.
• ASTRA Event. Sunday, February 11. 7–10 p.m. FAO Schwarz. $65 members/$130 non-members. For tickets, visit www.astratoy.org.

Seminars

Some information was not available at press-time. Check the Toy Fair web site for information updates.

Tuesday, February 13

• Safety Update Seminars. 9 a.m.–noon. $99 per person