A trade show is a gathering of wholesalers and manufacturers who display their products at convention centers, hotels and other types of venues. Qualified buyers attend a trade show to see what a company offers, to see new products, and most important, to place orders that will be shipped to them later. Some retailers count on major trade shows to stock their stores all year long. In addition, buyers may attend seminars, sample gourmet foods and view demonstrations.

Attending trade shows is a great way to discover new products, to get updates on trends and learn new strategies to help your business grow. The number and variety of shows offered continues to grow each year.

Vendors who exhibit at these shows often set minimums for opening orders. Some minimums are dollar amounts, such as $150 minimum to place an order. Other minimums may be a set number of cases of the product. Most basketeers find it beneficial to collect information and catalogs first, postponing placing orders until they have compared companies and determined the best buys for their needs.

To attend a trade show you will need to have certain business credentials and register for the show, preferably in advance. Some shows have free admission with proper credentials. When you attend the show you’ll need to plan ahead in order to get the most from your visit.

Here we have listed many of the gift, giftware and specialty shows being presented in the United States and Canada. This list represents only some of the shows available. Because shows make changes, errors and sometimes even cancel, be sure to contact the show organizers before making any travel or hotel plans and to verify dates, times, fees (if any) and locations.

NATIONAL GIFT BASKET CONVENTION
This show is the only full show in the USA dedicated to gift basket designers. It offers classes, a tradeshow, competition, and activities specifically geared to the gift basket retailer http://www.ngbcaz.com/

LISTINGS OF SHOWS IN VARIOUS USA LOCATIONS

Urban Expositions
http://www.urban-expo.com/98/

Gourmet Retailer Industry Events
http://www.gourmetretailer.com/page-industry_events-40.html

INTERNATIONAL SHOWS

Australia/New Zealand

Melbourne Gift Fair

Sydney Gift Fair

Life Instyle, Sydney

Home & Giving Fair, Sydney

To see which of the other shows are available in your area, click on your state. If you discover errors or broken links, please notify us at info@giftbasketbusinessworld.com

ALASKA

Alaska’s Wholesale Gift Show http://www.alaskagiftshow.com/

ARIZONA

OASIS Gift Show, www.oasis.org

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

California Gift Show, www.californiagiftshow.com

California Market Center, www.californiamarketcenter.com

Gourmet Products Show

HIA 2000 (Hobby Industry Assn.)

IDEX (Collectible Doll and Bear Exposition), www.dollexpo.com, www.bearexpo.com

International Gift Fair, http://www.sfigf.com/Content/344.htm

LA Gift MART, www.lamart.com

Long Beach Furniture & Accessory Market, www.kemexpo.com

NASFT Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, www.fancyfoodshows.com

San Francisco International Gift Fair, San Francisco, www.sfigf.com

Western States Toy & Hobby Show, www.wthra.com

CANADA

Alberta Gift Show, www.albertagiftshow.com

Canadian Gift and Tableware Association http://www.cgta.org

Montreal Gift Show, www.montrealgiftshow.com

Vancouver British Columbia, www.coffee-expo.com

COLORADO

Denver Merchandise Mart, www.denvermart.com

International New Age Tradeshow, www.inats.com

FLORIDA

Orlando Gift Show, www.orlandogiftshow.com

IDEX (Collectible Doll and Bear Exposition), www.dollexpo.com, www.bearexpo.com

Florida Gift Fruit Shippers Association

email: arlener@fgfsa.com

website: www.fgfsa.com

If you sell gifts, souvenirs, gift baskets, a product you would like to promote call to register. Free Attendance

International New Age Trade Show East, www.inats.com

Miami International Gift & Decorative Accessories Show, and Miami Resort Merchandise Show, Miami International Merchandise Mart, www.urban-expo.com

Tampa Furniture & Accessory Market, www.kemexpo.com

Orlando Variety Merchandise Show, www.merchandisegroup.com

GEORGIA

ACC Craft Show, www.craftcouncil.org

Atlanta International Gift Market, www.americasmart.com

The Gift Fair in Atlanta, http://www.thegiftfairinatlanta.com

World Tea East http://worldteaeast.com/

HAWAII

Hawaii Trade Shows, www.douglastradeshows.com

ILLINOIS

ACC Craft Council Shows, www.craftcouncil.org

Chicago Gift & Home Market, The Merchandise Mart, www.giftandhome.com.

International Housewares Show, www.housewares.org.

NASFT Fancy Food Show, www.fancyfoodshows.com

Pet Industry Trade Show, www.hhbacker.com

St. Louis Gift Show, www.stlouisgiftshow.com

PromoExpo & Conference, www.promoexpo.com

INDIANA

Indiana Gift Mart; tel. 217/423-5185.

Heritage Cash and Carry Wholesale, www.heritagemarkets.com

KANSAS

K.C. Gift Mart, www.kcgiftmart.com.

KENTUCKY

Kentucky Crafted, www.kycraft.org

Louisville Gift, Craft & Jewelry Show, www.louisvillegiftshow.com

LOUISIANA

New Orleans Gift and Jewelry Show, www.gift2jewelry.com

MAINE

New England Products and Trade Show, http://www.nepts.co m

MARYLAND

ACC Craft Show, www.craftcouncil.org

East Coast Gift Expo, www.urban-expo.com

MASSACHUSETTS

The Premier Show, www.thegiftcenter.com

The Cape Cod Gift Show, www.capecodgiftshow.com

Boston Gift Show, www.bostongiftshow.com

The Buyers Cash & Carry Wholesale Mart, http://www.marketsquareshows.com

Heritage Cash & Carry Wholesale Market, www.heritagemarketing.com

MICHIGAN

Michigan Gift Mart, www.michigangiftmart.com

MINNESOTA

Trade shows across the state, www.biztradeshows.com/usa/minnesotacity

MISSISSIPPI

Biloxi Gift Show, www.wmigiftshows.com

MISSOURI

St. Louis Gift Show, www.stlouisgiftshow.com

NEBRASKA

http://www.ShowOfficeOnline.com

NEVADA

Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show, www.urban-expo.com

ASD/AMD Las Vegas Variety Merchandise http://www.seektradeshows.com/trade-shows/d_470_asd-amd-las-vegas-variety-merchandise-show.html

World Tea Expo http://www.worldteaexpo.com/

NEW JERSEY

Current shows across the state of New Jersey, New Jersey Art and Craft Shows

NEW YORK

American Gift and Art Show, www.westernnewyorkgiftshow.com

Extracts Aromatherapy Show, www.glmshows.com

National Stationery Show, http://www.nationalstationeryshow.com/

New York Cash and Carry Show, www.nygiftcashandcarry.com

New York International Gift Fair, www.nyigf.com

225 Gift and Housewares Show, www.225-fifth.com

Variety Merchandise Show, www.merchandisegroup.com/merchandise/index.jsp

West New York Gift Show, www.westernnewyorkgiftshow.com

NORTH CAROLINA

Charlotte Gift Show, www.charlottegiftshow.com

OHIO

Columbus Gift Mart, www.columbusgiftmart.com

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma City Gift Show, www.wholesalemarketinc.com

OREGON

Portland Gift Show, www.portlandgift.com

Nascore Specialty Coffe & Trade Show, www.nascore.net

PENNSYLVANIA

Cash and Carry Wholesale Market, www.marketsquareshows.com

Philadelphia Gift Show, www.urban-expo.com

Pittsburgh Gift Show, www.westernnewyorkgiftshow.com

RHODE ISLAND

Shows in Rhode Island, http://www.nemadeshows.com/

SOUTH CAROLINA

Grand Strand Gift & Resort Merchandise Show, www.urban-expo

TENNESSEE

Norton ‘s Gatlinburg Gift and Variety Show, www.ommart.com

Smoky Mountain Gift Show, www.smokymtngiftshow.com

TEXAS

Dallas International Gift Market, www.dallasmarketcenter.com

Houston Variety & Merchandise Show, www.merchandisegroup.com/merchandise/index.jsp

San Antonio Gift Show, www.wholesalemarketinc.com

UTAH

Salt Lake Wholesale Gift Show, 801-566-9300

VIRGINIA

Washington Gift Show, Alternative Gift Shows of Washington

WASHINGTON

Seattle Gift Show, www.seattlegift.com

WASHINGTON DC

Greater Washington Gift Mart, 703-352-8010