Show News

George Little Management LLC (GLM) appointed two new members to the advisory board of the temporaries at the Dallas International Gift & Home Accessories Show. Jim Afdahl of Afdahl's Inc. in Huntington Beach, CA, and Dan Folkmanis of Folkmanis Inc., Emeryville, CA, which was featured in the January issue of Gifts & Dec, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The six-member board meets semiannually with GLM to offer feedback on general marketing and show direction. Current advisory board members also include: John Arden, Regal Arts & Gifts, Pacheco, CA; Marty Castro Jr., Purr-fection by MJC, Tualatin, OR; Anita Crowder, Terra Cotta Creations, Nixa, MO; and Debra Kilgore, Kilgore & More Importing, Andrews, TX. GLM temporaries present more than 1,200 exhibitors in Market Hall and on the 14th and 15th floors of the World Trade Center.

George Little Management LLC, 10 Bank St., White Plains, NY 10606; (914) 421-3200

George Little Management announced the winners of the SURTEX 2001 International Student Design Competition, selected from among 162 entries received from Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Students created surface designs with a "Celebrate" theme for a variety of products. Winners were chosen by a jury of industry professionals and trade press. First prize went to Denise Dye of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, Scotland. She will receive $500, an all-expense-paid trip to SURTEX 2001, and a one-week internship. Second prize, and a $250 cash award, went to Nadia Williams of Parsons School of Design in New York. The $150 third prize went to Madeline Marx from the Philadelphia University School of Textiles. The winning entries will be on display during the 16th annual edition of SURTEX, May 20–22, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.

George Little Management LLC, 10 Bank St., White Plains, NY 10606; (914) 421-3200

The 13th annual Christmas in June Open House is scheduled for June 10–12 at the San Francisco Giftcenter & Jewelrymart, featuring giftware, home furnishings, trim-a-tree, and fine jewelry products in the 250 showrooms of the Giftcenter & Jewelrymart. For the second year, showrooms from the Fashionmart will participate in the event with the Children's Wear Holiday Market. Additional events include "Santa's Continental Breakfast," Sunday, June 10, from 9–10 a.m., and the seminar on the "Power of Color," led by guest speaker Renee Chappelle. Tickets for the seminar are $15 in advance, and $20 on the day of the program.

San Francisco Giftcenter & Jewelrymart, 888 Brannan St., San Francisco 94103; (415) 861-7733

The Sixth International New Age Trade Show (INATS) West will offer New Age buyers a wide selection of merchandise at the Denver Merchandise Mart, June 23–25. The event will feature new resources through many first-time exhibitors, as well as new product launches, seminars, and networking events. The summer 2001 edition, presenting some 300 exhibitors in 32,500 square feet of exhibition space, will be the first INATS event managed by INATS LLC, which acquired the show from K.J. Expositions in 2000. INATS West will offer 20 educational programs, including a full day of pre-show seminars, breakfasts and lunches with authors, and events such as the Networking Party and the Opening Night Banquet featuring the Coalition of Visionary Retailers' Visionary Awards. Some events require tickets.

INATS LLC, 2181 Greenwich St., San Francisco 94123; (800) 346-1212

The California Gift Show, produced by George Little Management, will issue badges by mail to buyers in advance of the show, beginning with the July 2001 edition. Badges will be sent to buyers who pre-register and to buyers who have attended one of the last two markets. Pre-registration for the summer event ends June 15. The California Gift Show runs July 21–24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register, call (800) 395-3901, or send an e-mail to sestifanos@californiagiftshow.com.

George Little Management LLC, 10 Bank St., White Plains, NY 10606; (914) 421-3200

Rosehill Enterprises Inc. announced that due to attendance growth over the last three years, the August 12–14 St. Louis Gift Show will expand into another 10,000-square-foot adjoining hall in the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL. The facility is located a few miles east of St. Louis, MO, and offers free parking, food services, and access to affordable lodging. Rosehill also announced that it recently acquired the Louisville Gift Show, August 26–28 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY, from Rome Enterprises. The show offers hundreds of lines from small manufacturers all over the Midwest.

Rosehill Ents. Inc., 4200 Rose Hill Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229; (513) 861-1139

The American Crafts Festival will be held September 1–3 at Library Green Park and the adjacent parking area in downtown New Rochelle, NY. There will be demonstrations of glass blowing, pottery firing, weaving, pottery spinning, and woodturning throughout the festival, which will also feature works selected from 850 applicants at the Lincoln Center American Crafts Festivals. More than 35,000 visitors are expected to view 130 displays showcasing over 11,000 original works presented by the artists themselves. Visitors will find a variety of gourmet, natural, and exotic foods, and beverages, as well entertainment. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors. Children under 16 will be admitted free. The American Concern for Art and Craftsmanship, which produces the event, is a nonprofit organization.

American Concern for Art and Craftsmanship, 20 East 79th St., New York 10021; (973) 746-0091

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade Inc. (NASFT) and the Specialty Food Distributors & Manufacturers Association (SFDMA) agreed to form a strategic alliance that will consolidate many of the operations of the SFDMA within the NASFT. The SFDMA will close its trade show, which was traditionally held in early January. The NASFT will work to integrate successful programs from the show into its Fancy Food Shows, which take place each year in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. In addition, the NASFT established a Distributor Council, which will consist of the board members of the SFDMA. The Council will evaluate all SFDMA programs and determine how they can be operated by the NASFT. With more than 2,250 members, the NASFT is a trade association representing all segments of the specialty food industry.

NASFT, 120 Wall St., 27th fl., New York 10005; (212) 482-6440