WHITE PLAINS, NY, October 24, 2014… With an impressive roster of exhibitors, unparalleled shopping and sourcing opportunities, and a comprehensive slate of educational seminars and networking events, NY NOW®, the Market for Home +Lifestyle is gearing up for a blockbuster winter 2015 edition, Saturday, January 31, through Wednesday, February 4, 2015, in New York City.
“The winter market is poised to make a big impact – with new leadership and more vitality – and buyers from every retail category and suppliers from all distribution channels are sure to find the winter market a winner,” said Randi Mohr, NY NOW co-director and vice president. “NY NOW offers a full range of outstanding products; a full slate of educational seminars addressing cutting-edge and relevant industry trends and business strategies; and lively after-hours events that showcase the best of New York City and our industry overall.”
Attendees from all 50 U.S. states and over 80 countries worldwide will be able to source and shop from 100,000 products in 400+ categories across NY NOW’s comprehensive collections: HOME, which embraces Accent on Design®, Home Furnishings + Textiles and Tabletop + Gourmet Housewares; LIFESTYLE, which includes Baby + Child, Gift, Personal Accessories and Personal Care + Wellness; HANDMADE, which incorporates Designer Maker and Global Design; and NEW! which highlights the latest entries to the NY NOW market.
The winter 2015 edition of NY NOW will extend its industry reach by again co-locating with Artisan Resource®, a first-of-its-kind market connecting U.S.-based volume importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers with juried overseas artisan enterprises offering handmade production resources and products. However, Emerald Expositions has decided not to continue with the co-location of SourceNY and IMPULSE at NY NOW this winter. As a result, NY NOW’s NEW! Collection and the co-located Artisan Resource will relocate to the Javits Center from Pier 94 for the winter 2015 edition.
“Pier 94 comfortably accommodated four events last summer, but with two events this winter, it will not provide attendees with the robust and compelling offerings they typically find at the Pier,” said Scott Kramer, NY NOW co-director and vice president. “We are working with the Javits Center to maximize our existing floor plan to integrate NEW! exhibitors into other relevant NY NOW collections – HOME, LIFESTYLE and HANDMADE – and to utilize some of the building’s public spaces for Artisan Resource exhibits. It will be a tight squeeze this winter, but this change will offer some dynamic shopping efficiencies for buyers.”
With the integration of NEW! exhibitors into the Javits Center this winter, NY NOW will enhance in-booth signage and directory designations for new companies, making it easier for buyers to identify these resources. The NEW! Preview display also will broaden to showcase products from some 400 new companies expected to participate in the winter market.
Beyond the show floor, an extensive slate of special events, seminars and displays, is expected to complement the product finds. On tap as part of NY NOW’s roster of special events: ASID’s NY Metro Chapter “Best of the Best NY NOW Winter 2015 Awards,” presented to select NY NOW HOME exhibitors on Sunday, February 1; Gift for Life’s 23rd Anniversary “Party for Life” Fundraiser on Monday, February 2; NY NOW’s ever-popular “A Night on Broadway,” featuring specially priced tickets to a current Broadway hit on Tuesday, February 3; and the Museum Store Association’s Member Networking event also on February 3.
An extensive line-up of educational seminars, featuring business strategies for retailers and other industry professionals alike, will be offered over four days of Market. NY NOW seminars are presented by representatives from trade publications, such as Gifts and Decorative Accessories on visual merchandising, Giftware News and Baby & Kids on trend-spotting, Home Accents Today on fashion forecasting and METROPOLIS on the burgeoning “Maker Movement.” Through a set of short 15-minute presentations, SnapRetail also will coach retailers on a variety of online marketing topics, such social media, e-commerce and e-marketing. A complete lineup of seminars and events is available at nynow.com/programs.
Industry associations also will host a number of sessions: CRAFT (Craft Retailers & Artists For Tomorrow) plans five “Power Hour” sessions, covering a variety of marketing and branding topics; New York City’s International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) will present a color forecast for the new year and beyond; the Day Spa Association will showcase top-selling spa products from the exhibit floor; and ART will host a fashion-forecasting session. For more information and registration for all NY NOW seminars and events, visit nynow.com/programs.
NY NOW’s unique series of Best New Product Awards will recognize outstanding entrants at market in specific categories: Baby + Child, Home Textiles, Personal Care + Wellness and Tabletop + Gourmet Housewares. In addition, Best of HOME and Best of LIFESTYLE will recognize select products from each NY NOW Collection using online popular voting. Accent on Design® will also feature two sets of recognitions: the Accent on Design® Awards as well as the Bloggers’ Choice Awards. Through its program, “Best of the Best,” the New York Metro chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) recognizes outstanding HOME exhibitors in seven categories. Co-sponsored by NY NOW and GREENRetailer, the Eco Choice Awards recognize excellence in green practices and products. More information about the awards can be found at www.nynow.com/theshow/displaysawards.
A series of curated displays will spotlight specific themes and products at NY NOW: SustainAbility: design for a better world®, will showcase products that meet a specific set of environmentally conscious production criteria. The popular Made in the USA Display will cater to attendees’ continuing interest in sourcing handcrafted and factory-produced American-made products.
The winter 2015 edition of NY NOW®, the Market for Home +Lifestyle, will run Saturday, January 31, through Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. NY NOW has staggered show opening dates and locations, with HANDMADE running Saturday to Tuesday, and HOME and LIFESTYLE running Sunday to Wednesday. Market hours are 9am – 6pm, daily, except Tuesday, February 3, when HANDMADE closes at 5pm; and Wednesday, February 4, when HOME and LIFESTYLE close at 2pm.
NY NOW’s comprehensive collections – HOME, LIFESTYLE and HANDMADE, as well as NEW! exhibitors – will encompass 100,000 products in 400+ product categories. Attendees from all 50 U.S. states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration are available online at www.nynow.com.