By Andrea Lillo
With their undivided attention from gift show buyers, vendors readied themselves for the New York International Gift Fair amid a challenging economy environment.
J.K. Adams has displayed at the show for five years now, said Candice Gohn, national sales manager. “We love the New York show because it draws high-end gift buyers and those looking to make their kitchen stores unique,” she said. “These buyers have a better-honed design eye.” And now they are looking for good design, value and U.S. manufacturing, she added.
Among J.K. Adams’ new collections at the show will be its FSC-certified line made of woods from managed forests, which Gohn hopes will “create excitement. … Even though belts are tightened, [retailers] will spend carefully but will spend for ethics.” The FSC collection consists of three groups: Manchester, Danby and Dorset.
The company also wanted the wood to be as local as possible to be even more eco-friendly, so the new line is all certified maple from New England and northeast Canada. “That was an important factor for us,” Gohn said. The FSC products are about 10 to 15 percent more expensive than similar lines, she added, as it costs money to be in the FSC program. But people expect to pay more for green products, she said. “It’s like buying organic food at the supermarket; you know it’s going to cost more,” she said.
DKB Household USA uses the show for soft launches or to build momentum for a product that was released in the back half of the previous year, said Tim Yee, director of marketing. “It’s a good way to get an early read on a product,” he said, as well as stay connected with its retail partners. The company is strong with anything related to salad prep and cutting tools, and this show will see several introductions in those areas, he said. Through its partnership with chef Jamie Oliver, the company will have the U.S. debut of the Flavour Shaker, which is designed to crush, mix and release flavor from spices, herbs, nuts, citrus grind and more. DKB also has redesigned its popular Lettuce Knife, he said.
The show will see new exhibitors as well, such as Mastrad. The company “is quite excited to be exhibiting at the gift show and views this as a major opportunity to realize their sales and marketing goal of distribution in the gift segment,” said Carla Hunter, director of marketing. “We look forward to meeting with buyers and introducing them to the entire Orka lineup.” Hunter added that highlights of the Orka display will be its popular Counter Display Units, which she felt were ideal for a gift store venue.