By IvyLee Rosario
From giftware, jewelry and furniture to handbags, candy and seasonal merchandise, the St. Louis Gift Show has it all. Taking place on August 9, 2015 from 9am-5pm and August 10, 2015 from 9am-4pm at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Missouri, the show has a plethora of product to offer its attendees. “Variety is the most important thing to us. We try to cover as much area of product as we can,” said Larry Harris, President of the show. “We are in the Midwest so we have a lot of small shops that want to cater to their specific areas. These retailers carry an assortment of product in their stores, so there always needs to be a selection at the show.”
Exhibitors are given the option to do order writing or cash and carry at their booths, after a successful trial run six years ago in which the show dedicated a small area to test if attendees would like the integration. The show has an average of 87% repeat exhibitors and is anticipating at least ten new ones so far this year, according to Harris. “We are very fortunate to have a very loyal crowd of exhibitors and buyers for our show, as well as bringing in new buyers every time. They are all very trustworthy and reliable and we have built great relationships with a lot of these people over the years.” The St. Louis Gift Show is expecting between 60 and 70 exhibitors and up to 1,000 attendees. The event draws in a crowd from a 350-mile radius, and is not open to the public. Whether you are looking to sell candles, framed prints, bed and bath or American Made Crafts, gourmet food or scarves, the St. Louis Gift Show will put you in touch with experienced exhibitors looking to help fulfill your business needs.
For returning exhibitors and guests, pre-registration forms are sent out by mail eight weeks before the show. If you are a first time participant, you can register online, by email, fax, or mail. All visitors need a federal tax ID number, a state tax ID, and a third piece of identification such as a credit card or invoice. The show also offers hotel accommodations for exhibitors and attendees at a lower cost. For more information on the St. Louis Gift Show call 513-861-1139 or visit www.stlouisgiftshow.com. Also make a note of next years show, taking place on January 10 and 11, 2016.