Market Report: Boston

If you think smaller regional markets aren't worth visiting because you won't see anything you haven't already seen in Atlanta or Dallas or New York or LA … think again. The smaller shows offer treasure troves of vendors that haven't yet grown enough to attend the big shows, or have gotten lost in the crowds there, or just don't want to pay the expense of exhibiting at the bigger shows.

The Boston Gift Show, at the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, showcases many such vendors. Primarily a regional show catering to New England and upstate New York retailers, it features many locally based vendors and a lot of real merchandise gems.

One buyer who was attending the show for the first time seemed overwhelmed. “It's so large! There's so much to see,” she exclaimed. “I don't know how we can get through it in three days.”

Such newness and enthusiasm was refreshing to those of us who tend to get a little road weary and show jaded after a season's worth of gift shows. Another retailer chided, “Wait till you see New York!” to the excited buyer. Still, her amazement was infectious — and it turned the “ho-hum” of walking a show into “hmmmmm, lemme take a closer look.”

We came to Boston to moderate a roundtable panel. Last year, the Boston Gift Show inaugurated the Pride of New England (PONE) awards to recognize New England retailers for excellence in creative merchandising, customer service and community involvement. Three 2006 PONE Award winners shared tips and techniques that have helped their stores be successful. One simple tip from Al Shameklis of Color Inc. made a particular impression on us: “Don't walk a trade show the same way every time,” he said. “Mix it up; vary your pattern. You'll see things differently.”

Now that's good advice. After all, we're all creatures of habit, and changing a few things around can give anyone a fresh perspective.

The 2007 Pride of New England Award winners were Dedham Women's Exchange, Dedham, MA; New Hampshire Made Shops, Hampton, NH; Off the Wall, Newburyport, MA; Snow Goose Shops, Sandwich, MA; Susan's Secret Garden, Sturbridge, MA; The New England Sampler, Manchester, NH.

An unusual foam chair juxtaposed with some extremely chic handbags and totes led us to meet Andrea Valentini, an entry to the gift industry from another profession. Valentini started out designing contemporary furniture pieces using industrial materials, which she exhibited at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). “[But] I wanted to design things using industrial materials that I would really wrap my arms around,” she said. So she turned to fashion accessories. In addition to the handbags and totes, Valentini offers a line of jewelry. The bags are made of a lightweight foam and the jewelry is made from tiny ball bearings — and you'd never guess the industrial origins of the pieces.

Bright green carved figurines stopped us at the booth of Malachite International. Patrick Mulumba was showing the pieces, created by master craftsmen in the Congo. The carvings are as beautiful as the stone itself

For the complete Boston Report, visit www.giftsanddec.com and click on “Direct From Market.”