Yes there is no way I can cover everything in one post. This was my first time checking out the New York International Gift Fair and I was pretty overwhelmed at the enormity of this show - 2,800 exhibitors! A total NYIGF Rookie on this visit. I know the Javits Center is big, but there were moments where I didn't know where I was and was completely disoriented. If I am fortunate enough to go again, I will have a better plan of attack.
I admit I was jealous of the retailers who were there to shop for their businesses. This is a trade show not open to the public. It is attended by retailers from stores as big as Macy's, Barney's New York, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, and Bed Bath & Beyond to smaller Main Street local businesses. Divided up into divisions such as At home, New York's Newest, Studio, General Gift, Tabletop & Housewares, and my personal favorite Accent on Design (with 200+ exhibitors alone). I wanted to focus on the Handmade shops but couldn't help but be swooned by some of the other booths. The displays were so inspiring and colorful!
I was really happy to see that paper goods are still going strong. Despite all of the technological do-dads that come out and hypnotize people, there will always be a need for pretty notebooks, handwritten notecards, and stationery.
There were a few exhibitors that I checked out and whose worked I just loved so I will share more about them in a separate post but right now I'll just give them a quick shout: Alexandra Ferguson, Strawberry Luna, Girls Can Tell, Fisk & Fern, Rifle Paper Co, Amano Studio Jewelry, Noon Designs, Maptote, Kitsch n Glam.
See more pictures in my Flickr album: NYIGF Winter 2013
