The Rocky Mountain Gift Show at Denver Mart is the region’s premier destination for souvenir, resort, and gift items. Held every February and August, the gift show combines with the Denver Apparel & Accessory Mart twice a year to produce a world class wholesale buying event. Each season, the Rocky Mountain Gift Show features over 100 permanent showrooms and 150 temporary exhibitors, representing over 2,500 lines of merchandise. Every February, over 2,000 attendees from the Rocky Mountain region and beyond flock to Denver Mart to experience the gift show.
Diverse Product Selection
The Rocky Mountain Gift Show is a regional leader in lodge and resort souvenirs, Native American jewelry, pottery and rugs, and western products. Show Director Valeria Lukach tells Independent Retailer, there are “ lots of handmade and handcrafted exhibitors that offer a lot of unique items that are a little different each time. Since they are handcrafted they will always have a unique look – it helps keep inventory fresh and is never the same exact thing.” Valerie says the show also has “point of sale items that are great for souvenir shops and are great for retailers to boost items per sale.” Plus, plenty of “rustic, lodge, souvenir and printed report apparel.”
Valerie explains that “Retailers are facing a lot of change with how people are buying. Having a more diverse offering in their stores is usually beneficial. Retailers can stand out by offering unique items and diversify — we’re trying to offer that blend.” The Rocky Mountain Gift Show remains a top destination for National Park, ski resort, hospital, museum, airport, zoo, spa and boutique buyers.
Top-Notch Seminars
In addition to a quality assortment of products, retailers can also attend free seminars filled with tips and insights on marketing and management practices. Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, founder of Retail Minded, returns to the Rocky Mountain Gift Show to offer expert consumer insights and marketing tips. “I am thrilled to return to the Rocky Mountain Gift Show and work directly with retailers from Colorado, the Rocky Mountains and beyond. There is such a variety of vendors and inventory for attendees to explore and these seminars are just an added bonus to the Rocky Mountain Gift Show experience,” shares Nicole, who also calls Colorado home.
Friendly Buying Atmosphere
The Rocky Mountain Gift Show, located in the heart of the mountain region, is also simply fun to attend. “We are adding more buyer events and amenities this year,” says Valerie, including a Saturday Night Mingle for buyers and exhibitors to chat in a casual atmosphere alongside informal product modeling.
The show will also host a tasting event and how-to that demonstrates how to hold an event in your store. “It will feature product demos and create an experience that buyers can then integrate into their business,” says Valerie.
“We also have a new program for buyers placing orders at the show,” says Valerie. For every order a retailer places at the show, they are entered for a chance to receive cash and prizes. “A lot of retailers and small business owners are so busy, that once you get back to your store after the show, there are 100 other things to do and the orders don’t get placed,” explains Valerie. “We get calls all the time from retailers trying to track down exhibitors from previous shows. We really want to encourage retailers to make the purchase and check it off of your list, instead of having to remember everything and add another thing to your to-do list when you get back.”
Valerie stresses that at the show, retailers can talk face-to-face with exhibitors, ask questions, and negotiate. It’s a great opportunity to meet new vendors and build new relationships to kick off the new year. This new cash prize program gives retailers a chance to win money to either take off of your order cost or reinvest back into your store.
Retailers can plan and budget purchases ahead of time by researching vendors on the show website. “We have an exhibitor product gallery so retailers can see images of products that will be at the show,” says Valerie. Plus, Rocky Mountain Gift Show offers hotel deals with a number of partners that include discounted stays and free shuttles to and from the show.
Rocky Mountain Gift Show
Denver Apparel & Accessory Market
February 20th – 25th, 2019
The Denver Mart
1-800-289-6278 or 303-292-6278
www.RockyMountainGiftShow.com
www.DenverApparelMarket.com