Spring 2023 - 62

SHOW NEWS
*Noted and SF NOW return to San
Francisco
*Noted: The Greeting Card Expo and SF NOW return April
27 & 28, 2023, to the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture in
San Francisco. The two-day event is a joint effort by Emerald,
producers of NY NOW and the nonprofit Greeting Card
Association (GCA).
Last year's market gave hundreds of buyers from across the
country an opportunity to discover a wide range of stationery,
gift, home and lifestyle products on the West Coast, " recalled
GCA Executive Director Nora Weiser. " Strong attendance
fostered and strengthened business-to-business connections,
spurred transactions, and ensured the two-day market was
exciting, memorable, and an immense success. "
On the sold-out *Noted side, this year's edition will again
include the award-winning Pitch Programs. These give
selected makers the opportunity to pitch their lines to a
select panel of retailers. Meanwhile, finalists and winners
in the Louie and Noted@*Noted Awards will be highlighted
in displays designed and generously donated by Universal
Presentation Concepts (UPC). The Louie Award Gala occurs
April 26; the Noted@*Noted Award presentation occurs as the
market opens.
SF NOW will present a fresh, curated atmosphere where
brands, makers, retail buyers, and sales reps can forge new
relationships, place orders, see what's trending, share stories
and celebrate community.
For more information, visit sfnow.com or greetingcard.
org/noted.
Shoppe Object draws record attendance
Shoppe Object occurred Feb. 5-7 on Manhattan's Lower
East Side with a larger footprint, a bigger brand count, a
sold-out floor and record-breaking attendance. The show's
expansion included 30 percent more exhibition space to
facilitate 150 new brands (for a total of 600+ cross-channel
participants). With attendees representing six continents,
38 countries and all 50 states, Shoppe Object managed
significant growth while maintaining the carefully curated,
design-forward ethos and engaging presentation that first
defined it.
" We had two clear objectives for this market, " shared
Shoppe Object's founder and show director, Jesse James.
" To fill the new pavilion without sacrificing an ounce of
quality, and to attract new buyers at a rate that outpaced
the expansion. "
Visitors arrived in record numbers with a 35% increase over
Shoppe Object's August edition, a 60% jump from the previous
year, for their largest ever audience. The carefully imagined
space featured a large wall of available artwork from Darrell
Dean, the show's North Carolina based Artist of the Season, as
well as dramatic and colorful installations from Dallas's The
Color Condition.
For more information, visit shoppeobject.com.
62 Spring 2023 | STATIONERY TRENDS
Atlanta Market jumpstarts 2023 buying
and selling
Strong order writing, expanded discovery opportunities,
standing-room-only events and significant participation
from industry organizations brought energy to the bustling
Winter 2023 Atlanta Market staged Jan. 10-16, 2023, at
AmericasMart Atlanta.
" Atlanta Market is thriving! " said Bob Maricich, International
Market Centers (IMC) CEO. " It felt like the Atlanta Market that
buyers and sellers know and love. The surprise and delight of
new product, connecting with new and old industry friends,
engaging with programming - and even waiting for a packed
elevator - were welcomed signs of a confident industry
looking forward. "
Atlanta Market attendance posted double-digit growth over
the winter 2022 staging, attracting buyers from all 50 states
and 56 countries. International traffic significantly increased,
nearly doubling year-over-year with a notable 350 percent
increase in Canadian attendees. Domestically, attendance
from the Northeast grew by over 40% and the Southwest by
over 70%.
The Summer 2023 Atlanta Market is July 11-17, 2023, with
the debut of Casual Market Atlanta July 10-13, 2023. For more
information, visit AtlantaMarket.com.
IMC adds digital expertise to executive
leadership team
On March 13, International Market Centers (IMC)
announced the hiring of a chief digital officer, Mark
Crowther, a digital executive with 25+ years of experience. He
has experience across several verticals including technology,
advertising, media, FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods)
and financial services.
" Mark's expertise in digital innovation will help us iterate
strategies to enhance the value of IMC's offerings to drive
more year-round value for our customers, " said Bob Maricich,
CEO of IMC. " Mark's addition to our executive team will help
us transform our digital-physical strategy in ways that are
fully integrated, collaborative and omnichannel. "
Crowther brings expertise in leveraging technology and
innovation for growth. He has been a founder/CEO and
advisor to growth-stage and Fortune 500 companies on
digital strategy and innovation. He spent the last five years at
Amazon, Inc. in leadership positions.
" Building products and services that offer compelling value
to customers through the innovative use of technology is part
of every business today, " said Crowther. " I'm looking forward
to further accelerating IMC's digital transformation to become
a true omnichannel marketplace. "
For more information, visit IMCenters.com.
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Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spring 2023
