GLM to Create Artisan Sourcing Show-in-Show

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/13/2012 2:00:00 AM

NEW YORK - New York International Gift Fair organizer GLM will launch an artisan production sourcing event for U.S.-based importers, direct import retailers and Called Artisan Resource, the event will run from Aug. 20-22 during the NYIGF. However, buyers will be separately credentialed.
     Buyers qualifying to attend Artisan Resource will be required to handle FOB (freight on board) pricing. Buyers will include large and volume retail stores, national retail chains, mail order catalogues, wholesaler companies and manufacturers, designers and sourcing agents.
     The event will include educational programming for buyers on importing basics, FOB pricing, customs, warehousing and distribution. For the artisans, two days of exhibitor education prior to the show will include U.S. market-readiness training, including from product designers, and New York market familiarization, including visits to New York retailers.
     Exhibitors will be selected for experience in meeting export demands, as well as design innovation, cultural preservation, social enterprise and sustainability. Participating exhibitors will come from countries such as Afghanistan, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, South Africa and West Africa. Some 50-75 companies are expected to participate in the first show, which will be located in Hall 1E (Baby and Child will move from 1E to 1D, and Handmade Global Design to the newly renovated Galleria for the summer show. In January 2013, Artisan Resource will move to the Piers to accommodate the ongoing Javits Center renovations.)
     Artisan Resource will be managed by GLM and organized with the help of ByHand Consulting, which offers product design, marketing and training help to artisan enterprises looking to reach new export markets, and helps U.S. buyers source artisan products. Its clients include export promotion agencies of foreign governments, international economic development institutions, and private enterprises in the U.S. and abroad.
     ByHand co-founder Colvin English formerly served as GLM's director of craft marketing, while co-founder Karen Gibbs previously worked with Aid to Artisans and Hand/Eye Fund as well as serving as an independent consulting to international development organizations.
     GLM promoted Allison Rober to sales manager for Artisan Resource. She reports to Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF show manager. Rober, an eight-year GLM veteran, has served as sales representative for two GLM events, The Gourmet Housewares Show at NYIGF and NYIGF's Tabletop & Housewares division, and as show coordinator for NYIGF's General Gift division.