Sep 1, 2015

Summer NY NOW draws record number of new exhibitors

With record numbers of international companies and both new and returning exhibitors, the summer edition of NY NOW, the Market for Home, Lifestyle + Gift delivered a successful market filled with new resources for retailers and brisk business and order-writing for exhibitors. This August also marked the first summer market with all three NY NOW Collections and all ten NY NOW sections presented under one roof, resulting in a bustling and busy vibe throughout every available inch of exhibit space at the Javits Convention Center — Level 1, Level 3, Javits North and River Pavilion — as well as lobbies and public areas.

Of the Market’s total 2,600-plus exhibitors, there were a record 396 new and 219 companies returning from an absence, distributed across all three collections at NY NOW — Home, Lifestyle and Handmade — provided exciting new product finds to Market attendees. In addition to a record number of new exhibitors, the summer Market also featured its largest-ever international participation, with 515 individual international exhibitors from more than 65 countries. A significant number of these global suppliers exhibited in Artisan Resource, which featured 155 companies from 32 countries within NY NOW’s HANDMADE Collection. Other highlights of Artisan Resource this August included expanded participation by World Fair Trade Organization members, as well as the debut of a new “Buyer Match-Making” booth.

The summer market also enjoyed a spirited social media buzz, especially with the brand-new #NYNOW Social Media Lounge, sponsored by HGTV Magazine’s Blogger Block Party, which allowed attendees to follow the action live while connecting and sharing highlights with fellow industry professionals. In addition, NY NOW expanded its popular Bloggers’ Choice Awards to encompass the entire market, with representatives from alternate and emerging media channels identifying top home and lifestyle products as the next big thing.

Innovative product design was also recognized by trade and consumer editors through “Best New Product” Awards in four categories: Baby + Child; Tabletop + Gourmet Housewares; Personal Care + Wellness; and Home Textiles Market Week. From 20 winners in these four categories, popular voting deemed the Lavender Facial Oil from True Moringa (Boston) as “Best of LIFESTYLE” and AvoSeedo LLC (Frankfurt, Germany) for its AvoSeedo germination device as “Best of HOME.”

Other awards presented during Market were the Eco Choice Awards, Accent on Design Awards; the New York Metro chapter of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) “Best of the Best” Awards; and New York City’s International Furnishings Design Association IFDA Selects Awards. A complete list of awards and winning products is available online at http://www.nynow.com/the-market/best-new-product-awards/.

NY NOW hosted its first summer Market “VIP Dollars” promotion, giving away $30,000 — in $250 and $500 increments — to select VIP buyers on four days of the Market. Randomly drawn winners could redeem their NY NOW VIP Dollars with exhibitors for onsite order-writing, which was steady throughout the show. Lola Sanchez, co-founder of The Oliver Gal Artist Co. commented, “Some of the accounts found us from the [VIP Dollars] from NY NOW and those have worked very well.” She added that the summer NY NOW had been their best show yet, saying, “We’ve seen a lot of traffic and opened a lot of new accounts.”

Market participants honed their business and professional skills through a comprehensive suite of seminars and events. Leading industry experts dissected practically every aspect of business operations — social media marketing, visual merchandising, tax preparation, demographics analysis, importing advice — and shared savvy, actionable strategies. A slate of popular after-hours social events included NY NOW’s popular Night on Broadway, featuring specially priced tickets to HAMILTON, as well as the Retailer Excellence Awards, which recognize excellence in retailing as well as industry achievement.

The winter 2016 edition of NY NOW, the Market for Home, Lifestyle + Gift, will run Saturday through Wednesday, Jan. 30-Feb. 3, 2016, at New York City’s Javits Center. NY NOW’s three comprehensive collections — HOME, LIFESTYLE and HANDMADE, as well as new exhibitors — will encompass 100,000 products in 400-plus product categories. Information and registration will be available online at www.nynow.com.