This weekend, 2,800 exhibitors and 35,000 buyers will be attending the newest NYC attraction awaiting your discovery. Twice a year, an astounding array of the world's best home, gift and lifestyle resources converge at the NYIGF offering an incredible selection of exceptional merchandise in one convenient, well organized marketplace. This year it will be located at Jacob K. Javits Center, August 18- August 22, 2012, discover for yourself the "design". Design breeds innovation. And innovation unleashes the new. New drives business. Which moves the market, creates trends, and infuses energy. Makes ordinary, extraordinary.

From my experience with many promotional products trade shows, I feel that the display plays a very important role. Your trade show exhibit says alot about your company and how you choose to represent yourself. A great display represents cleanliness, knowledge and experience. In my opinion the display must captivate and engage the client to visit your booth. There are many creative and unique ways to set up a tradeshow display. Pop up booths, table top stands, banner stands, full floor kits, tents, and signs, these are just a few of the tradeshow materials that can greatly assist you with standing out in the crowd at a tradeshow. How do you want to portray your brand?

Working hard to get your website seen? If so, this is a conference you don't want to miss.

Search Marketing Expo (SMX) East 2012 is hitting New York City's Javits Center on October 2, 2012. The show, which runs through October 4, offers more than 50 educational seminars on Internet marketing. Topics will include search engine optimization (SEO), paid search advertising, mobile and local search, semantic SEO, and social media marketing.

According to the event website, the show "is programmed by the search marketing authorities who edit the leading news blog Search Engine Land and who have years of experience educating search marketers." The trade show's organizers promise an event so good that you'll "start implementing tips during breaks!"

SMX East's comprehensive workshops will cover everything from AdWords training to Facebook marketing. Those who work in marketing, IT, and management will all benefit from attending the sessions.

If you're interested in registering for the big event, click here or call (877) 242-5542.

If a trade show that brings more than $40 million to your state's economy threatened to move locations, would you listen?

Since 1996, one of the world's largest outdoor promotions fairs, Outdoor Retailer, has taken place in Salt Lake City, Utah. But now the show's coordinators are threatening to take it elsewhere -- unless the state's governor is willing to make some changes.

According to CBS News, the Outdoor Industry Association, which helps organize the Outdoor Retailer twice a year, is asking Gov. Gary Herbert to "pursue public land policies that support the outdoor industry." And unless it receives a positive sign from the governor, the trade show will likely move to another venue.

"We have not and will not sit silently on threats to the nation's recreation infrastructure," said association president and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer in a statement.

In March, Herbert signed a bill that "demands the federal government relinquish control of public lands in Utah by 2014" -- a move that did not sit well with the association.

Outdoor Retailer's organizers are looking at venues in Denver, Las Vegas, and Orlando.

If you're a photography professional or enthusiast in or around the New York City area, keep October 24 -27, 2012 open! In just 85 days, the PhotoPlus Expo comes to the Javits Center.

According to its website, attendees will get a taste of all the latest advances in photography. Imaging and photography products and services will be on display from the industry's leading manufacturers, like Nikon and Panasonic. They'll show off the hottest new products including sleek digital cameras and editing software. Furthermore, those attending have access to more than 90 seminars and other events throughout the trade show.

So to get a first-hand look at hundreds of exhibits and walk away with dozens of photography promotional products, register for the PhotoPlus International Expo + Conference today!

Processing and packaging are necessary in almost every industry, from automotive to tobacco. That's why PACK EXPO 2012 will be the largest edition of the trade show since 2002.

According to the trade show's website, "For four full days, PACK EXPO International 2012 brings together more than 46,000 buyers from all over the globe and 1,800-plus leading suppliers, showcasing state-of-the art materials, machinery and methods for packaging and processing in every market." More than 1.1 million square feet of space will be dedicated to a record 1,800+ exhibitors displaying the freshest packaging and processing innovations.

The October 28 - 31, 2012 event will take place in Chicago, Illinois. To make it easier for attendees to find solutions for their particular needs, PACK EXPO will feature five industry pavilions: The Processing Zone, The Brand Zone, The Pharmaceutical Pavilion, The Confectionery Pavilion, and The Reusable Packaging Pavilion.

Furthermore, this year's event will highlight suppliers who offer sustainable solutions. Eco-friendly trade show packages will feature the green PACK EXPO logo.

"Accessories are important and becoming more and more important every day. They can completely change the look of an outfit, and women like the idea of having a wardrobe that's versatile. For instance, a strong piece of jewelry can make a simple outfit look elegant."

- Giorgio Armani

As we approach the August 5, 2012 launch date of Accessories Circuit / Intermezzo Collections, a promotional personal accessories show at New York's Javits Center, Armani's quote rings true. Retailers from New York and the surrounding cities will be attending the convention in hopes of finding everything from clutches to belts to add to their stores.

The August 5 - 7, 2012 show will focus on fashion apparel and accessories from more than 500 exhibitors. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to network, discover new trends, and discuss innovations. Accessories Circuit / Intermezzo Collections promises three full days of quality traffic and great exposure.

Get your accessories and apparel noticed by signing up today!

It's that time of year again! Comic-Con 2012 launched today in San Diego, California, and will run through Sunday, July 15, 2012. As the world's most popular comic book trade show, it's sure to be an epic event.

And what's the most important item at a convention of this size? Promotional bags, of course!

This year, Warner Bros. Entertainment supplied official bags that attendees can use to carry the freebies they pick up during the show.  According to CBS News, "The totes will have the Comic-Con official design on one side, and the other will spotlight different TV shows and movies."

"The bags are just so important for getting through Comic-Con," convention attendee Sony Chabolla told the San Diego Union-Tribute. "I use it to put free stuff in, but I also buy comics and figurines and I put them in there."

Chabolla may not realize it, but she explained why trade show giveaways are so important -- not only are they used at the event itself, but they live well beyond it. Did you snag one of these highly sought after Comic-Con 2012 bags?

There's one thing about technology that we can all agree on:  You can never keep up with it.  Still, it's important to be aware of trends, especially within the trade show industry.  Let's take a look at some of the industry's latest technology crazes.

1. Mobile
   
   These days, everybody's got a smartphone on them at all times.  How can you incorporate this technology into your trade show?  One way is to encourage exhibitors to print QR codes onto their trade show giveaways.  Attendees can then scan the code for instant access to a company's website, Facebook page, etc.
   
   
2. Social
   
   Some argue that social media will soon completely replace traditional forms of marketing.  Therefore, if you're presenting at a trade show, it's wise to promote your booth, product, and/or services via social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  Include your usernames and URLs on business cards to make a big impact on visitors.
   
   
3. Virtual
   
   Sometimes, for various different reasons, it doesn't make sense to host a live trade show.  If your potential participants are spread across the country -- or even the world -- you might want to look into organizing a virtual trade show.  These gatherings take place on the web, rather than at a specific venue, allowing more flexibility for exhibitors and attendees.
   
   

What other technologies would you add to the list?

People often think of makeup as something only girly-girls wear.  They think "makeup" and beauty promotional items like fake eyelashes, mascaras, and compact mirrors come to mind.  But makeup can be used for so much more like creating wonderful creatures and stunning effects.

That's why the International Makeup Trade Show (IMATS) brings in so many makeup enthusiasts each year.  And this year's Los Angeles event was a "sold-out success."

Exhibitors included big names like Urban Decay and MAC, which certainly helped to draw in the crowds.  Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics won makeup lovers over with its line of vegan products.

But an awards show for YouTube's Beauty Vlogger of the Year, hosted by the infamous Perez Hilton, may have been the biggest crowd-pleaser. "It was a really positive event. Competition is healthy—it keeps you striving, learning and trying to improve," Director of Education for Macadamia Natural Oil Michael Cain told Salon Today.