Jun 1, 2011

7W New York’s Gift & Home Textiles Market Week

New York, NY – After a busy spring, including a successful Home Fashions Market and a well-attended Tabletop Market, 7 W New York is gearing up for an eventful summer. In addition to their June 14th Designer Day, featuring influential woman entrepreneur Donna Sharp, 7 W is planning an exciting schedule to enhance the upcoming Gift & Home Textiles Market Week®, August 12 – 18. The 7 W showrooms will feature generous promotions, inspiring learning opportunities, extended shopping hours, and an array of fun events that aim to please and support market-goers. On the agenda for the week will be: Shop 7 W First on Friday – a chance for buyers to be the first for specials & promotions; a Summer Showtime Tropical Cruise-themed party on Monday night at 7 W, as well as an off-site, On the Town NYC experience in partnership with NYIGF, 230 Fifth Avenue and Forty One Madison. As an added benefit to buyers, 7 W will also offer initiatives like its Chart Your Course and Showroom Spotlight, which will help attendees discover a variety of suites & product and give them an opportunity to win prizes.

According to Chris Collins, VP & General Manager, 7 W New York, “With each gift market we strive to achieve new levels of success for our tenants and to make more productive and enjoyable buying experiences for our attendees. Once again I believe our programs and events are creative and unique to 7 West, which in turn helps support what we believe will be a great New York summer market.”

A preview of the events:

Shop 7 W First on Friday (Friday, August 12) – The first day of the show features promotions and extras specifically designed for shoppers worldwide who want to beat the crowds. Gift bags and showroom specials are just some of the perks.

60th Annual Retailer Excellence Awards

(Sunday, August 14)

6:00PM – 10:00PM, The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers

Attendees are invited to join Gifts & Decorative Accessories in celebrating the 60th Annual Retailer Excellence Awards, which recognize excellence in retailing and individual achievement. During this festive industry gathering, 2011 finalists will be recognized, retail category winners will be announced and special recognition awards will be presented. As part of this very special evening, Gift For Life, the gift and home industry’s only charitable organization, will present its 2011 Industry Achievement Award to Michael Aram. In addition, the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to 7 W’s Su Hilty, who will be retiring this summer after a 40-year career.

are $150 each, including cocktails and dinner. They are available through www.giftsanddec.com.

Monday at 7 W: Summer Showtime Tropical Cruise (Monday, August 15) – It’s time to set sail with 7 W! Showrooms will be ready for attendees to enjoy an evening of late night shopping from 5:00PM – 8:00PM. Events throughout the building will provide buyers with a fun-filled atmosphere in which to find those must-have items. Food, drink, and entertainment will round out an enjoyable and productive night at 7 W.

Chart Your Course (Daily) – Use the 7 W Showroom Map Postcard, to shop participating showrooms and see the latest and greatest products out there. Participants can present their card to the showroom for a stamp and turn it in before leaving 7 W. A minimum of six stamps gains entry into the 7 W drawing for a chance to win a mini-computer.* Showroom Spotlight (Daily) – The spotlight will shine on showrooms that are hosting an event and launching a new product. Buyers should check out the Spotlight Board upon entering the building for the day’s BIG EVENTS!

Only in NYC! (Friday, August 12 – Thursday, August 18)

Museum of Arts & Design, 2 Columbus Circle (at 59th Street and Broadway)

Market-goers can enjoy free admission to the Museum of Arts & Design (MAD) during Market Week. The summer 2011 badge is all that is needed for admission, compliments of NYIGF, 7 W New York, 41 Madison and 230 Fifth Avenue. Exhibits on view will include: Otherworldly: Optical Delusions and Small Realities; Stephen Burks | Are You A Hybrid?; and A Bit of Clay on the Skin: New Ceramic Jewelry. www.madmuseum.org

Finally, to round out the first-class buying experience, 7 W will offer:

Complimentary lunch vouchers, will be offered on select days during the show

Commuter, parking & taxi rebates will be available

Complimentary transportation will be accessible between NY market venues

Why shop anywhere else but NYC, your destination marketplace! For complete and continually updated information about 7 W New York, keep visiting www.7wnewyork.com. You can also find 7 W on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Odds depend on number of applicants who participate. Retail value of prize $500.00. Participants may enter by dropping the entry postcard in the containers indicated by contest signage, each day of the market week. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to participate and win. The winners will be notified by email address or phone number provided on the contest card. Entrants may also participate by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to “7 W January Gift Giveaway, 7 W 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 by August 18, 2011”. Rules are available upon request.

7 W NEW YORK® is a wholesale mart building, catering to the buyers of Home Décor, Table Top, Giftware, Textiles, Decorative Accessories, Fine Arts and related industries. Located at 7W 34th Street, its daily hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm with extended hours during special market weeks. 7 W New York is a trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI).

MMPI is the world’s leading owner and operator of showroom buildings and trade show facilities, bringing buyers and sellers together in more than 300 market events, trade and consumer shows and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West Mart Center Chicago; the Architects & Designers Building, 7 W New York, and Piers 92/94 in New York City; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; the Washington Design Center in Washington DC; and Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center in Cleveland.

VORNADO REALTY TRUST, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.