Posts Tagged ‘SEATTLE GIFT SHOW’

URBAN EXPOSITION ACQUIRES SHOWS FROM WESTERN EXHIBITORS

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Urban Expositions has acquired the Portland Gift & Accessories Show, San Francisco Cash & Carry Show, Seattle Cash & Carry Show and Portland Cash & Carry Show from Western Exhibitors. The latest acquisitions are part of the continued western region growth strategy for Atlanta-based Urban Expositions, which purchased the San Francisco International Gift Fair and Seattle Gift Show from dmg world media in 2009 and launched the Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show in 2007.

As part of the seamless transition plan, Kelly McLoughlin, long-time manager for all four shows under Western Exhibitors’ management, now  joins Urban Expositions in the same role.

“With their product and target customer profiles, we felt these shows offered a great opportunity not only to strengthen our presence in the region, but to tap into cross-marketing strategies to further build and grow all of the events we now manage out west,” explains Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. “We look forward to building upon the quality customer service, friendly show atmosphere and long-term business relationship traits that Western is known for as we take over the reins for these shows.”

“Urban’s hands-on management style and show service philosophy mirror ours, so we felt they were the ideal company to take these events forward,” said Wendy Tonkin, President, Western Exhibitors. “We look forward to working with them to ensure a quick and easy management transition.”

Effective immediately, Urban Expositions assumes management duties for all four shows, including sales, marketing, operations and other day-to-day activities. As part of the sales agreement, the Western Exhibitors management team will serve an advisory role throughout the transition process.

Held annually at the Oregon Convention Center, the next Portland Gift & Accessories Show is scheduled for March 3-5, 2012.  Popular with gift and specialty retailers throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Northern California, the show has built a reputation for its  friendly, easy shopping experience and boutique marketplace atmosphere. Featuring more than 175 companies in 250 booths, the show brings together a wide array of gifts, unique handmade products, one-of-a-kind vintage merchandise, fashion accessories and more.

The three cash and carry shows are also annual events featuring a host of gifts and collectibles, gourmet food products, fine and fashion jewelry, bath and spa items, aromatherapy as well as handcrafted items, personal & fashion accessories, antiques, found objects and more – all available for order or immediate delivery to the trade. Upcoming editions for 2012 include:

  • Portland Cash & Carry Show, October 12-14, 2012, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
  • Seattle Cash & Carry Show, October 19-21, 2012, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA
  • San Francisco Cash & Carry Show, October 26-28, 2012, Concourse Exhibition Hall , San Francisco, CA

For exhibitor, buyer or other information on the Portland Gift & Accessories Show, San Francisco, Seattle or Portland Cash & Carry Shows, contact Urban Expositions, 1690 Roberts Blvd, Ste 111, Kennesaw, GA 30144, 800.318.2238 or 678.285.3976, www.urban-expo.com or email: info@urbanexpositions.com

ABOUT URBAN EXPOSITIONS
Urban Expositions is a leading producer of gift, souvenir and resort merchandise trade shows. With a successful track record bringing buyers and sellers together in cost-effective and convenient settings, the company’s growing show roster includes the Philadelphia Gift Show, San Francisco International Gift Fair, Seattle Gift Show, Grand Strand Gift & Resort Merchandise Show, Boston Gift Show, Ft Lauderdale Gift Show, Galveston Gift & Resort Merchandise Show, Gulf Coast Gift Show at Panama City Beach, the National Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show, Ocean City Resort Gift Expo, Orlando Gift Show, Birdwatch America, Smoky Mountain Gift Show  and invitation-only event, The Gathering. For more information, visit www.urban-expo.com.

RETAILERS FORUM magazine is a proud media sponsor at Urban Exposition’s trade shows across the country and we know that the organization will be quite successful with the new acquisitions. Be sure to pick up your copy of Retailers Forum Magazine at all Urban shows to find the USA’s best suppliers of wholesale merchandise.

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NEW OWNERS FOR SEATTLE GIFT SHOW AND SAN FRANCISCO GIFT SHOW

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Urban Expositions announces its acquisition of the San Francisco International Gift Fair® (SFIGF) and the Seattle Gift Show® from dmg world media. The ownership transition will take place following the August 2009 editions of the semi-annual shows. The acquisition adds a strategic western region presence to Atlanta-based Urban Expositions’ growing portfolio of trade shows.

“We have been looking for growth opportunities in the Western US for some time now and felt that the San Francisco and Seattle shows offered the perfect complement to our show roster,” explains Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. “These shows now join our growing Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show and new LA editions of the Material World & Technology Solutions textile shows to expand and strengthen our position out west. We look forward to building upon the outstanding efforts of dmg world media and GLM® – the shows’ current producer – to bring even more new business growth and development opportunities to the region’s gift community.”

“Urban Expositions is ideally suited to take over the management of the San Francisco and Seattle shows,” said Alan Steel, EVP, business-to-retail, dmg world media, which sold its annual Boston Gift Show to Urban Expositions in 2008. “The Urban team has built a solid reputation over the years for its hands-on management style and commitment to customer service. Urban’s leadership has a strong understanding of the specialized needs of these events, their buyers and exhibitors, and we know they will bring continued success to the shows in years to come.”

Urban Expositions will assume all management duties from dmg world media following completion of the August 8-11 San Francisco and August 22-25, 2009 Seattle events. At that time, the company will take over all sales, marketing, operations and other day-to-day duties for the January 23-26, 2010 Seattle Gift Show, the February 6-10, 2010 SFIGF and all future editions of the two shows.

Held semi-annually at Moscone Center, the SFIGF attracts some 11,000 retailers ranging from small specialty stores and boutiques to big box retailers including Pottery Barn and Cost Plus World Market; from museum stores to wineries and much more.  The Show features more than 600 exhibitors who represent more than 3,000 lines.

The Seattle Gift Show® at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center and the permanent showrooms of the Pacific Market Center come together twice a year to host Seattle Market Week. These two world-class, easy-to-shop venues give retailers an opportunity to explore 10,000 national and innovative new product lines.  Together, they represent the largest market in the Pacific Northwest, drawing independent and specialty retailers, national chain stores and corporate buyers from the Pacific Northwest, surrounding states, Canada and Alaska.

“We plan to hit the ground running with both of these shows,” adds Urban’s Miller. “Buyers and exhibitors can be assured that we’ll maintain the same level of customer service and innovation they’ve come to expect from both of these shows. And, we’re already working on a number of new programs, promotions and product resources to help take these shows to the next level.”

For information on the upcoming August 2009 shows, buyers and exhibitors should contact GLM, a dmg world media business, 888 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90017. Ph: (213) 430-2300 fx: (213) 362-5660.

For exhibitor, buyer or other show information on the Winter 2010 events, contact Urban Expositions, 1690 Roberts Blvd, Ste 111, Kennesaw, GA 30144, 800.318.2238 or 678.285.3976, www.urban-expo.com or email: info@urbanexpositions.com. This information brought to you by the leading magazine for wholesale merchandise, Retailers Forum Magazine.

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