Here we go…the New York International Gift Fair. As is normal, there’s a lot of pre-show buzz about what will happen the next few days. One camp says the show will be soft since Atlanta was so strong; another camp believes the opposite, coming off what was arguably a solid Dallas outing. Truth be told, no one knows what to expect since right now, no “normal” rules apply.
Nonetheless, hopes are high. If I was to venture a guess, this will look and feel more like a regional show than usual, with lots of east and southeast retail representation but not as much from west of the Ohio Valley or south of Virginia. Many retailers opted to stay closer to home this winter, boosting Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles instead of traveling to a larger show. And many who normally hit two major shows find themselves cash-strapped into a one-or-the-other scenario…which pretty much boils down to Atlanta versus New York.
We already know Atlanta did well; the regional shows held their own last weekend. Time to see which buyers have yet to step foot into market…and how long they’ll stay. Could be quiet by Tuesday afternoon, regardless of who makes the Big Apple jump.
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