We went to the gift show in Las Vegas!
Attending the Las Vegas gift show is a great way to get out of this winter blast! Especially when it was hovering around -40C back home. But even better than the warmth, was the opportunity to look at all the new products and trends coming in giftware – and some fashion jewellery.
This show is huge, over 4,000 exhibitors and 500,000 products! It attracts over 100,000 people annually. As you can see in the picture, there are 3 very large buildings filled with giftware and furniture, but then there are 2 (of 3) long pavilions, each at least 2 city blocks long, that are also filled. WOW! What a great show to be at!
Attending these show can mean some long days…You get up early, eat breakfast, then hurry off to catch the shuttle bus from your hotel.When you arrive at the show, you have to decide where you are going to start!
I remember the first time we attended this show. It was overwhelming. The first building we entered had 16 floors. There were 8 elevators, 2 sets of escalators, and thousands of people doing the same thing as you…looking for the newest wares. The Las Vegas Market show is so well organized though, that finding your way around was pretty darn easy.
The giftware choices go on forever…and it’s just too much fun. There’s so many beautiful and fun items to see and order, and you can burn through your budget pretty quick. (Not to mention having enough space in the store to show it all.) You may enter one booth to look around and realize you are in a co-op type situation- where you can buy from 20 different companies. And everyone at the show is pleasant and helpful – you don’t get too far before you are being offered something to eat or drink. I had everything from fresh popcorn, to warm chocolate chip cookies to margaritas.
Canada in Las Vegas…
Some of the companies are Canadian…which I love. I like to see those vendors busy and taking orders. We have many great companies in the wholesale gift businesses and I am proud of that. And most of my orders come from the Canadian suppliers or the Canadian distributors, because of course, I want to support Canadian jobs and companies. In the summer, we attend the gift show in Toronto, but in January I am happier to be walking in sandals and if really needed, a light sweater, than shuffling around in winter boots and carrying around my winter coat.
By the time 6PM rolls around, I am ready to get back on the shuttle bus and happy to return to the hotel. A nice supper and stroll through the casino and it’s off to bed to do it again the next day. It’s tiring, but well worth it. Now it’s the waiting for all these wonderful things to come in -and I’m just like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.
