Survey Indicates NYIGF’s Top Position Among U.S. Home and Gift Shows
Results from a recent market study conducted by independent strategy consultancy AMR International (AMR) indicate that the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) holds a top position among U.S. home and gift tradeshows for both buyers and suppliers.
“The survey results will help us develop short-term actions to improve the show experience for both buyers and exhibitors, as well as a longer-term strategy to maintain NYIGF’s position as the leading, must-attend marketplace for home and gift products in North America,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “We’ve identified several areas to maximize our competitive strengths, which include our design-focused divisions and breadth and depth of new product offerings.”
AMR found that NYIGF’s established position and strong focus on design and quality has enabled it to outperform the market during recent economic downturns, with detailed feedback from survey respondents identifying three key differentiators: its focus on new and design-led product, especially in its Accent on Design® and Handmade® divisions; its overall product range; and its New York City location. Additional benefits identified by market participants were NYIGF’s clear focus on unique product divisions; the look of the show; and its affordable product selection. Overall, home furnishings and decorative accessories are the most popular product sectors of interest, followed by jewelry.
Further insight about NYIGF buyers showed that the average number of buyers per company attending NYIGF is on the rise for all categories except very small businesses. Additionally, buyers see NYIGF as the most inspirational of the U.S. gift shows, which is resulting in post-show spending growth.
AMR also found that buyer sourcing habits and spending are changing, both during and after the Fair. Retailers reported that nearly two-thirds of their orders are now placed in the weeks and months following the Fair, rather than at market. More business also is being conducted online, with over 65% of attendees using catalogs and the Internet to find product. This was evidenced clearly during the summer 2010 market, with 38,000 retailers from 135 countries viewing more than 5.2 million pages on NYIGF’s Online Catalog Gallery before, during and after the Fair. A total of 10,300 sales leads have been generated for the 386 NYIGF exhibitors with catalogs posted to the site for the August 2010 market cycle.
AMR conducted two surveys – one for attendees and one for exhibitors – in May 2010. Responses were collected anonymously via online surveys tailored to each group, as well as through personal interviews, returning a statistically projectable response rate.
AMR International is the leading strategy consultancy working in the events and exhibitions sector, and publisher of the definitive report on the trade show market, “The global exhibition organising market: assessment and forecast to 2013.” Founded in 1991, and with offices in London, New York and Frankfurt, AMR has completed well over 200 assignments in events in 30 countries worldwide.
NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected.
The winter 2011 edition of NYIGF runs Saturday, January 29, through Thursday, February 3, 2011, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.
