Taste of NY June 2013

Numerous new exhibitors are looking forward to successful debuts at the summer 2013 edition of NY NOW®, the Market for Home & Lifestyle (formerly NYIGF®), running Aug. 18 to 21 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

“We are pleased to welcome a variety of exciting new resources in gourmet products and upscale housewares,” comments Christian Falkenberg, NY NOW director and senior vice president of show producer GLM. “These new exhibitors will be offering a range of fresh and innovative new products that will surely prove interesting to retail buyers shopping the show.”

The August event marks the debut of a new format for NY NOW, which was formerly the New York International Gift Fair. As part of the new format, the Gourmet Housewares Show® will be integrated into the Tabletop + Gourmet Housewares neighborhood within the NY NOW HOME collection. More than 300 suppliers of gourmet housewares products and specialty tabletop items will showcase their products during NY NOW.

“NY NOW is one of the must-do trade shows for the housewares industry,” asserts Emilie Creuzieux, chief executive of monbento, a four-year-old French firm specializing in portable dining products. “The show brings a wealth of diverse cultures together and acts simultaneous as a magnifying glass and a window by which we can see what is à la mode and where the market is going. We are extremely excited for our first showing at NY NOW and anticipate getting in contact with numerous influential New York-based department stores, specialized boutiques and kitchen shops in addition to general industry contacts and publicity opportunities. In short, NY NOW will enormously contribute to the monbento’s growing housewares notoriety.

“Not only is New York City one of the most vibrant and thriving international marketplaces in the world, it is the epicenter of fashion, synonymous with innovation and the place for do-anything creativity in the United States,” Creuzieux continues. “NY NOW is the perfect opportunity for monbento to once again showcase our brand and our products on a global scale to an international audience. We will be showcasing our 2013 monbento original bento box collection (above, left) with nine different colors and a variety of colorful accessories, as well as our brand-new liquid range including a bowl, mug and water bottle. The expanding monbento product lines aim to revolutionize eating on-the-go by combining design esthetic and functionality.”

Another new exhibitor, Vermont Farm Table, is launching a line kitchen products designed by professional chefs. “We are launching a new line of hard-working kitchen products designed in collaboration with some of Vermont's best known chefs and restaurants,” states Dustin Glasscoe (right,) founder of the five-year-old furniture and housewares supplier. “The Vermont Chef Project will bring 15 new kitchen products to the front and center of our show presence. We are thrilled to be a part of the gourmet kitchen and tabletop section, [because] we are a relatively new company in the gourmet kitchen and tabletop industry.

“In addition to the Chef Project we expect the balance of our products to receive a strong response,” Glasscoe adds. “Vermont Farm Table makes hard-working, genuine products for the passionate home chef and cooking professionals. Our products are offered in a variety of wood species and are always made with the highest quality raw materials. We anticipate this along with the explosion of the American Craft movement will result in a strong show for our brand.”

California-based Tin Parade Vintage Party Goods is also a new exhibitor, and will feature its unique line of table banners (left) in August, launching new seasonal banners for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. “This is Tin Parade’s first time at NY NOW and we’re trying to make as big a splash as we can,” points out co-owner and head of operations Ryan Larson. “Our Table Banner line recently debuted; we are feeling some very good momentum from our reps up and down the California coast and think the NY NOW presence will help us continue that forward momentum. NY NOW is huge exposure for us and we’re excited to be seen there by some of the major buyers in the gift and home arena.

“To us, New York City is the epicenter of design and the heartbeat of our industry,” Larson adds. “As a small product-based business, it’s daunting to come to N.Y., but you know your product is going to be in front of all the major retailers, reps and influencers; anyone of which can really put your company on the map in a major way. It’s exciting just talking about it.”

Toronto-based tableware producer SteelForme will launch more than 100 new products at the August show. “This is the only retail show we will be doing in 2013 so we have high hopes, and this show is very important for us!” declares Craig Bahl, founder and creative director. “Over the past year we have set up a production facility close to Toronto to produce nine new tableware lines using laser technology (right,) which we will be displaying at the show. Our items range from bar to home to kitchen. Our ‘Confucius’ line consists of tableware items featuring famous quotes laser cut spiraling around our products. We feel this will be well received at the show.”

Utah-based Charmeur will debut its special candy-making tool (left) at the August show. “NY Now is the most well-known and well-attended show for products such as ours,” notes Maren Toone, vice president of marketing. “Who doesn’t love New York City? Of course, NYC as a venue is significant to us, since it’s the source of so many of the world’s up-and-coming trends. It’s also a venue that is likely to attract strong international attendance.”

Classic Touch, a New York wholesaler of home décor, gift, and tabletop accessories, is adding several new lines of stainless steel tabletop, home and Judaica accessories, including stainless steel with diamond accents (right,) two-tone stainless steel and stainless steel with flowers. “Our expanding lines of designer products lustrously articulated and infused with pizzazz have metamorphosed our company into a name synonymous with expert craftsmanship,” remarks Joshua Deutsch, president. “The beautification and verve we achieve by fusing a vibrant color palette is a result of team spirit, creativity, and integrity.”

NY NOW, the Market for Home & Lifestyle will run Saturday, Aug. 17 through Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94. NY NOW’s four comprehensive collections–Home, Lifestyle, Handmade and New–will encompass 100,000 products in 400+ product categories. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nynow.com.