California Gift Show (CGS) has announced an impressive roster of new and expanded permanent showrooms and new and returning temporary exhibitors to launch the CGS summer show. This recent flurry of leasing activity signals the market’s response to the strength of the region and the L.A. Mart/California Gift Show brand.
 
“As the U.S economy begins to improve and as consumer confidence begins to notch upwards, the gift industry in the region is responding accordingly,” says Jeff Sampson, vice president marketing, L.A. Mart/CGS/L.A. Mart Design Center. “Manufacturers and multi-line rep showrooms who do business here are demonstrating their conviction by signing on the dotted line, that’s great news for everyone, especially for the retailers who shop with us.”
 
Joining the line-up of showrooms at L.A. Mart are CGS temporary exhibitors transitioning to permanent spaces, newcomers from competitive market centers, and existing showrooms expanding in square footage and renewing long-term leases. Highlights include: six-time CGS exhibitor Keena, a western states multi-line rep firm. Keena offers home and personal accessories, a partial listing of lines include; Austin Press, Corkcicle, Danica, Funnybone, Kobo, Mywalit, Russell + Hazel, Thomas Paul, S'well, Urban Aid and more. Owner Catharine Keena “felt that Keena needed a home in Southern California and that the retailers based there would benefit from our presence in a permanent showroom space at L.A. Mart.”
 
Reinforcing the reach of the L.A. Mart’s Design Center division is the lease renewal and showroom expansion of PALECEK who added 6,650 square feet totaling almost 10,000 square feet. “We are very excited about our recent expansion to our showroom in the L.A. Mart allowing us to add considerable space for displaying our PALECEK and Pierce Martin by PALECEK products,” said David Beld, executive vice president, PALECEK. “Adding this amount of square footage will also allow us to use a portion of the new space to sell furniture, lighting, wall décor, and accessories off the floor attracting both designer and retail customers.”
 
Other new permanent showrooms opening at L.A. Mart include: Chow’s Oriental Arts, Inc., Echo by Fine Lines and Noir Trading. These five new/expanded showrooms add almost 20,000 square feet to the already impressive line-up of year-round shopping resources.
 
At the Los Angeles Convention Center, approximately 100 new exhibitors representing almost 15,000 new square feet join the roster of returning exhibitors to the Gift and Beckman’s Handcrafted Show L.A. line-up. A small sampling of new Gift Exhibitors includes: Bedhead Pajamas, Tokyomilk, Ty Inc., Picnic Time, Maxwell Division, Lollia, Love & Toast, Ohio Wholesale and new to Beckman’s: Virtu, Broke Jewels, Life on Accessory, Bijoutiere and many more.

2012 SCHEDULE:
 
JULY
California Gift Show
Wednesday, July 25 - Tuesday, July 31
            L.A. Mart Showrooms: 25 - 31
            Hours: Monday - Thursday and Saturday - Tuesday: 9 am - 6 pm
                        Friday, Late Night Shopping: 9 am - 8 pm
 
            Los Angeles Convention Center Temporaries: 27 – 30
            South Hall Gift I Beckman’s Handcrafted Show L.A. I Kentia Global
            Marketplace
            Hours: Friday - Sunday: 9 am - 6pm
                        Monday: 9 am - 4 pm
 
SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER
L.A. Mart Fall Gift + Home Market
Sunday, September 30 - Tuesday, October 2, Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
 
NOVEMBER
L.A. Mart Fall Gift + Home Sample Sale
Thursday, November 8 - Friday, November 9, Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
 
MARKET TUESDAYS
Each Tuesday of every month, L.A. Mart permanent showrooms will be opened and offer seasonal specials, sneak peeks at new products, meet & greet’s with manufacturers and reps, and much more.
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
 
June 5, 12, 19, 26
August 7, 14, 21, 28
September 4, 11, 18, 25
October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
November 6, 13, 20, 27
December 4, 11, 18, 25

For information on L.A. Mart Gift + Home, visit www.lamart.com/gift.