Mixed Reports on California Shows
By Staff -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 8/19/2008 10:04:00 AM
Los Angeles — According to Tradeshow Week, sister publication to Gifts & Decorative Accessories, the California Gift Show declined in both exhibitors and attendees. Held July 18-21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, this year's show had 948 exhibitors and about 18,000 attendees, According to Chris Gowe, vice president of George Little Management, these numbers reflect a drop of 20 percent and 18 percent, respectively. The show also saw declines last year, moving from No. 105 on the 2008 Tradeshow Week 200 to No. 132 this year.Numbers from The San Francisco Intl. Gift Fair, held July 26–29 at Moscone Center, weren't available by press time, but last year's event dropped from No. 127 to No. 148 on the TSW 200 with declines across the board in number of exhibitors, attendees and net square footage. GLM parent company dmg world media bought the San Francisco show, along with the Seattle Gift Show and the Portland Gift & Accessories Show, earlier this year.
Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., show management of the permanent showroom building LA Mart, reported positive results. Michael Kessler, vice president & general manager, said, “Our attendance was solid; we had more temporary exhibitors then ever. This year alone we have 22 new showrooms and expansions.” One showroom reported that the trend toward lower attendance at market actually worked to his benefit. “One of my regular customers who normally go to all the shows didn’t go this year. He placed ALL of his orders with Flemming Chalef!” said Douglas Moseman, owner Fleming Chalef. The L.A. Mart also held a 50th anniversary party called Takin’ it to the Fifties, which benefited Inner-City Arts, a downtown Los Angeles visual and performing arts school. Inner-City Arts staged an exhibit of visual art in the lobby area, and several showrooms auctioned lithographs to raise additional funds.
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