Gift shows are a primary showcase for manufacturers and wholesalers to display their wares and services to potential gift retailers and business owners.  These vendors travel from around the world in the hope that their offerings will capture your interest and fill the needs of your customers.

A Wall Street Journal article reports on the recent International Gift Show, where a group of about 30 third world artisans attended to learn how  to sell their  handmade goods at  future gift shows.

These small business owners were part of the “Market Readiness Program” an event produced by Aid to Artisans. This West Hartford, Connecticut nonprofit  joins low-income artisans from around the world with American importers to build profitable businesses inspired by their handmade traditions. Its efforts over a ten year period have generated $230 million in retail sales for about 125,000 artisans from mainly third-world countries. 

The group of artisans not only observed at the Show, but also attended classes, and studied the structure of the U.S.  gift market, costing and pricing, importing rules and regulations, among many other related topics.

The artisans represent a wide variety of products from silk shawls to handmade paper to woven baskets. This continued success of programs such as Aid to Artisans points to an increase in handmade products at future gift shows. With the growing call for green and sustainable products, this trend is right on time.

How can your gift basket business benefit from an increasing availability of handmade products from around the globe?