CGTA Gift Show Fall 2007

Toronto’s Canadian Gift & Tableware Association (CGTA) Gift Show is second only to Atlanta’s Gift, Home Furnishings and Gourmet exhibition as the largest North American wholesale gift convention.

The most recent CGTA Gift Show had over 1,000 wholesale exhibits that attracted an estimated 22,000 retail buyers over a 4 day period ending on August 15. Closed to the general public, the gift show is restricted to registered buyers from the retail industry. Wholesalers take orders only, usually with a set minimum quantity.

Products in the Buyers’ Guide handbook are organized into 42 categories, ranging from jewellery to gardening. Some products were funny, like pecan-pie-scented candles and girth-control chocolates that purportedly stop consumers from thinking about chocolate for up to 15 minutes.

Since retail sales are not allowed on the show floor, many gourmet food booths offer prospective retail buyers free samples of such products as candies, cookies, crackers, sauces, dips and flavoured beverages.

Prize Winning Products

Toronto’s gift show runs two times each year, once in January and then in mid-August. At each show, retail experts choose the 10 best products based on such criteria as visual appeal, usability and price. Below is the list of top 10 products from the August show.

• Smencils from MacFABhome Inc. are gourmet-scented pencils made from 100%-recycled newspaper.
• Bamboo Tableware from Tiimports (also Fancy Paper suppliers) are disposable plates and utensils made from bamboo.
• Hidden Treasures Jewellery Mirror from Hilborn Pottery Designs has a secret back compartment to store valuables.
• Eisch Breathable Glass from B&M Marketing makes wine taste like it’s been decanted and aerated for over an hour but after only 3 minutes.
• Vivid Alon Basket from JANETBASKET is a multi-purpose, collapsible carrier for groceries, garden supplies and picnic foods.

While the above 5 products are export-ready, the remaining 5 items below come from wholesalers who have not yet committed to servicing foreign buyers (at least not under the CGTA's formal registration program).

• Babywrapper from Pisces Innovations is like a fluffy bib that wraps around a parent’s neck so their hands are free to swaddle and dry a baby after a bath.
• Bark Cloth Bag from Africharisma is a soft handbag with a natural cloth-like finish made from the inner bark of African ficus trees.
• Two By Two Organic Biscuits from Dove Tale Collections are organic treats with vanilla, strawberry and toffee flavours.
• The String Doll Gang from Interior Accessories refers to small novelty dolls handmade in Thailand from one continuous piece of string.
• Sheer Genius 5-in-1 Window System from RJS Trading International has multi-headers that enables retailers to carry a full line of curtains in a small space.

CGTA Must Focus On International Trade

Even though the CGTA Export Ready Program has about 600 member companies, only 40% of CGTA Gift Show exhibitors offer export-ready products. One reason for this may be that the CGTA program is far less effective than Atlanta’s International Services at selling to a worldwide audience. For example, Atlanta’s gift show website is supported with links to international financial services including loans of up to US$10 million, global trade consultants, related retail and manufacturing associations, tradeshow partners as well as shipping experts.

To attract more retail business from around the world, the CGTA as well as Canada in general must improve its Internet presence to better market both the association and CGTA member companies.

Gift bows & ribbons

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