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Giftware News eWeekly, August 7, 2008

• Boston Gift Show Sold to Urban Expositions
• Giftcraft To Launch Betty Boop Collection
• JPMA Reaffirms Commitment of Safety
• Momeni Secures Largest Rug Showroom in Atlanta
• Philadelphia Gift Show Returns To Suburban Philadelphia
• DMC Names 2008 Total Home & Gift Retail Advisory Board
• Radko Adds 72 Designs To Mid-Year Collection
• Seen & Heard at the Summer Markets

Boston Gift Show Sold to Urban Expositions
The Boston Gift Show, run by GLM, a dmg world media business, has been acquired by Urban Expositions, effective immediately. A Georgia-based firm, Urban Expositions owns, manages, and produces trade events for the gift, souvenir, resort merchandise, fabric, sourcing, textiles, and sewn products technology industries. The Boston Gift Show will expand Urban Expositions' roster of regional gift shows, which currently serves markets in Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

"This agreement furthers our partnership with Urban Expositions, which began in 2002," commented Alan Steel, executive vice president, dmg world media. "Their nearly 15-year history within the industry represents trade show management expertise, in-depth knowledge of the gift industry, and a proven track record of superior customer service - all of which will be of great benefit to our New England constituents."

The next edition of the Show will run March 28-31, 2009, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Giftcraft To Launch Betty Boop Collection
Giftcraft Ltd., designer and marketer of gifts, garden, and home décor products, will be launching a new Betty Boop licensed line, available for shipment to retailers in the 4th quarter of 2008. Giftcraft's Betty Boop product launch will include Garden Girlfriends, a line of garden décor and accessories, as well as tabletop pieces, fashion umbrellas, stationery, ornaments, message plaques, magnets, and other general gift items. A premiere collectibles series will also debut, featuring the icon in a number of dimensional designs, including new figurines.

"We are thrilled to be a part of the worldwide Betty Boop phenomenon – a licensed name that has been a part of our culture for more than 75 years," said Trevor Cohen, CEO of Giftcraft.

JPMA Reaffirms Commitment of Safety
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) has just issued "The Declaration of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association" in promoting and maintaining children's product safety. The JPMA Declaration was signed during a recent legislative Summit in Washington, DC. Says the JPMA, this creed expresses the commitment to working together as an industry to ensure the safety of the infants and children whose caregivers have entrusted JPMA and its members with the creation of safe and useful products.

"JPMA understands that each company has unique needs and finds value in belonging to the only association solely dedicated to promoting the industry and the safe use and selection of juvenile products," remarked Tony DeSimone, JPMA Chairman. "This Declaration is evidence that we take pride in our role of serving as the voice of the industry and are committed to doing our part to ensure the safety of our nation's children."

Momeni Secures Largest Rug Showroom in Atlanta
Rug company Momeni Inc. will be setting up shop in a 13,500 square foot showroom at the AmericasMart in Atlanta. Located on Floor 5 of Building 1, this space is the largest tradeshow space in the Area Rug product center. To accommodate this expansion, AmericasMart will redesign the floor, creating new showrooms, and extended growth for existing and new exhibitors. The unveiling of the renovated floor and revamped Momeni showroom will take place during the January 2009 Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show. AmericasMart will celebrate Momeni's new and expanded space with a ribbon cutting ceremony during the market."

Philadelphia Gift Show Returns To Suburban Philadelphia
Urban Expositions has decided to move the annual Philadelphia Gift Show back to the suburbs and hold the January 17-20 edition at the new Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. Show producers feel this center is the ideal replacement for the former Fort Washington Expo Center where the show had a successful 10-year run before the facility closed in 2006. The show has been held at the Greater Reading Expo Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, for the past two years. The new center, located in the King of Prussia area, offers thousands of free on-site show parking spaces, discounted hotels with complimentary shuttle service to and from the show, and a host of other area amenities that promise to keep buying trip costs down.

"We're thrilled to be able to bring the Philadelphia Gift Show back home to the thriving suburban Philadelphia Montgomery County area that played such a key role in its steady growth," said Doug Miller, president of Urban Expositions. "With its size, easy accessibility for retailers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, and cost-effective area amenities, this new venue will further strengthen this show's position as the nation's largest and most important regional gift event.".

DMC Names 2008 Total Home & Gift Retail Advisory Board
Dallas Market Center (DMC) has announced the recent appointment of its 2008 Total Home & Gift Retail Advisory Board. Members of the Retail Advisory Board, selected by DMC management and exhibitors, provide feedback on the gift and home décor industry and how markets can better serve retailers. The Retail Advisory Board is comprised of 10 members who represent a variety of gift and home décor stores located throughout the United States. The 2008 Total Home & Gift Retail Advisory Board members are:

Leah Dillingham; Miss Jackson's, Tulsa, Okla.
Melissa Fritz; Halls Merchandising, Kansas City, Mo.
Donald Fowler; Stanley Korshak, Dallas, Texas
Geni Hulsey; The Garden Book Store, Houston, Texas
Ann McCoy; Countryside Cottage, Springfield, Mo.
Kent Ozborn; Estellas in Metairie, La.
Becky Pierce; Becky's Hallmark, Searcy, Ark.
JoLynn Powell; Collector's Gallery/Christmas Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
Pat Scheer; Mercy Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Pam Vincent; Culinary Connection, Plano, Texas

Radko Adds 72 Designs To Mid-Year Collection
The Christopher Radko Division of Rauch Industries Inc has introduced 72 new glass ornament designs to its 2008 Mid-Year Collection. These introductions are reminiscent of Radko's long heritage, and include classic holiday themes, intricately hand-painted details, and generous embellishments.

The collection comprises 11 designs; a special re-coloration of one of Radko's most popular styles is available in 7 individually styled color stories, while the Little Gems collection adds 17 new styles, and the Christmas category expands with 37 new designs. All design will be available for delivery this holiday season.

Seen & Heard at the Summer Markets

"Traffic at shows this summer has certainly not been robust, but we have found that the retailers who are attending are ready to buy," said George White, President of Up with Paper (800/852-7677). "We also are continuing to see very strong seasonal sales; everyday has softened a bit, but the seasonal—or at least our seasonal programs anyway—seems to be a hook that specialty shops are using to drive traffic. In fact, we have the best Mother's Day in company history this year—a trend we hope continues with Halloween and Christmas, and on into next year!

Crazy Mountain's (877/216-5456) new Jim Shore Home Decor line opened to rave reviews at Crazy Mountain's Atlanta Showroom Stores, says the company. Retailers of all types came in and made major purchases. It was noted that retailers stopped in their tracks just to see the new eclectic line of Home Décor.

In Chicago, Cashells Founder and President Donna Fanning (651/235-9482) introduced a clever line of real (and empty) painted chicken eggs that have a slot cut in one side so that a message or money can be inserted. It comes nicely gift boxed and with instructions. Fanning says, "It's the gift that's meant to be broken," but also said that some people can't bring themselves to break them, and try to remove any money or messages with tweezers.

If you've been looking for a men's personal care line, you would have found it at the Caren et Cie (800/626-6272) booth in the temporaries in Chicago. Their Gear line of toiletries has been expanded, thanks to customer requests, said company CEO Harold Singer.

Jolene Turner writes the Giftware News eWeekly; if you have news or any upcoming show information, contact Jolene at jturner@talcott.com.