Has anyone participated in the New York Gift Show or Ex-tracts? Next Show Comes up in January

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Rivera on November 18, 2009 at 11:52pm

I have attended the Extracts show and will be attending the NY Gift Show in Jan. It is a great opportunity for exposure!! I loved just seeing all the variety of merchandise on the market. It was also lots of fun! Good luck!!

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Permalink Reply by Funlayo Alabi-Shea Radiance on November 19, 2009 at 7:50am

Thanks Melissa. Maybe I'll see you there :0

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Permalink Reply by IBN Member Lela Barker - Bella Lucce on November 19, 2009 at 2:59pm

I walked Extracts 2 years in a row- '04 and '05 if I recall correctly. Good show, but I kept hearing over and over that the crowds were lighter than in the past. It had a bit of a "past its peak" feel. That said, it was professionally run from what I could tell and most vendor slots were filled. This was before they paired it with the NY GIft Show. I had planned to potentially exhibit in '06,but that was the year they teamed up and Etracts was actually moved off site from Javits (to make room for the NY Gift Show), though complimentary shuttle buses ran between the two and there was to be lots of cross-promotion. For whatever reason, that ghosted me a bit and I decided not to participate. By the time '07 rolled around, we had chosen to focus on spa accounts and Extracts doesn't necessarily share that focus, so we passed.

With that said, if you have friends or family near NYC that you can crash with (to eliminate those pricey Manhattan hotel room expenses) and your focus is less spa and more gift boutique/ wellness or yoga center/natural foods stores, etc. then I think it very well may be worth the $4,100 fee. Just remember that the $4,100 is just one portion of your expenses. Don't forget to budget for samples, booth decor, shipping and storage, travel expenses, lots of printing, etc. I'd say double your booth fee (at a minimum) for total cost if its a local show or you have a free place to stay locally, Otherwise, I'd triple that. But 2010 is set to be a good year for rebound, so it may well prove to be a wise move to exhibit.

Hope that's helpful...

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Permalink Reply by Funlayo Alabi-Shea Radiance on November 19, 2009 at 6:15pm

Very helpful Lela, Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Bill OSuch on November 19, 2009 at 6:10pm

Hi, any sense of what price points these events target ? Our price point is $88 and I think it might be at the high range for NY Gift Show. Our current US sales representative went their with ours and her other products and the results were not that great.

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Permalink Reply by Christine White - Scandle LLC on November 20, 2009 at 2:31pm

Wow, it's been a while since I looked into that show myself. Amazing that it costs that much! Sorry...just had to share my thoughts here...having a "mini-stroke.";)

Christine
Scandle LLC

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Permalink Reply by Tarynn Loranger on November 23, 2009 at 10:35pm

My mother and I have gone every year for about 5 years now. We always went before for ideas, and to gather information. Plus to get the free stuff!! This last August we went with SHOPPING in mind because we just opened our boutique and gallery this last weekend.

We did buy from 3 vendors we had seen for years and couldnt wait to purchase from now that we had a place to sell. But I have all the information from the last 3 years, that we now plan on ordering from, as well as packaging companies I use. This one coming up in Jan will be fun because we can buy even more stuff! And don't forget, as long as the company who buys from you doesnt go out of business, you will get them as a repeat customer. Not a one time thing, like a craft or vendor show. Its not people shopping, its businesses shopping.

We placed one 400 dollar order, which we had to wait in line to do, and one 600 dollar order. And that was before we even opened. So far our customers, just from opening weekend, love our two lines we bought, and we anticipate reordering after Christmas. Plus the show was held in the Javits for the past 2 years. Extracts took up about 2 rows out of the whole fair. But we did see natural product companies in the regular gift section to try and attract other buyers. So I dont know what location would be better. We intend on going for 2 days this year because we only got through half the show in August! There was a lot of people. And yes, definitely double the cost. You need free samples, you need GOOD promotional materials. I have some papers that I remember distinctly what the product was, what the booth looked like, and whether or not I want to order. Then there are those, that may have been good products, but with the sensory overload if you dont stick in peoples minds you will get overlooked. I always wanted to do the show myself. I carry my own products, as well as purchase other lines. One of these years I will be able to step up my manufacturing. I love natural products! :)

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Permalink Reply by Funlayo Alabi-Shea Radiance on November 23, 2009 at 11:56pm

Dear Tarynn,

Thanks for feedback. It's good to know what buyers are looking for and what helps them make a decision to buy. I am curious about buying at the show. As a buyer, did you feel comfortable writing a check for an order that you had to wait to receive?

I am looking forward to hearing more about your experience

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Permalink Reply by Tarynn Loranger on November 24, 2009 at 10:42am

Absolutely. I don't think it ever crossed our minds that we wouldnt receive our items. They also accepted credit cards. Which helped make the sale too because we didn't have a lot of start-up cash. Good show deals also help people to buy right then and there as opposed to taking your information and then waiting till you get home or just not placing one at that time. When you have say 100 things to choose from, one gives you free shipping, one gives you free product, you have to decide which one is a better value, because as much as I would LOVE to order everything I liked..... thats impossible. So we spent a good 3 hours at lunch deciding who to buy from, and then what to buy. If there was a good package deal, a good starter assortment. That sort of thing. If you have a good product, even if buyers dont get the chance to order at the show, they will go home... use it, and then have that experience to remember you by. A colorful catalog is a very good take home addition too. Or even colorful sales sheets. We get BAGS of stuff and papers, and information. Its gotta stand out. We save it for sure. But when you have a stack of stuff, you intend to look at it all again, but sometimes they pile up and you just dont get to it. Next show comes around.. and you got more stuff. Its definitely fun to go! I wouldnt miss it.

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