Love wrapping up your day with a glass of Merlot? Does your perfect Sunday involve touring local wineries and vineyards? Is this one of your favorite episodes of I Love Lucy?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you love and appreciate good wine. 

And you're not alone -- according to the Sacramento Bee, upwards of 11,000 wine professionals are expected to attend the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, California.  The trade show, which kicked off on Tuesday and will run through the end of today, is "built with the joint input of growers, vintners and allied industry members" and "is the largest event of its kind in the western hemisphere."

Attendees can look forward to a diverse lineup of expert speakers.  According to the trade show's Web site, wine professionals will share information about facing climate change, the state of the industry, and advertising and marketing.  And of course, those attending will also snack on lots of food while sipping from custom wine glasses!

After a long workday, its sometimes nice to recline with a nice glass of wine. As of 2005, 29% of Americans admitted they were avid wine drinkers with that number steadily climbing. If you have the tastebuds for it, you'll probably find yourself in Chicago, IL very soon.

For two days in April, the World Wine Meeting of America will take place at the Embassy Suites in Downtown/Lakefront Chicago. The group is organized by wine vendors and suppliers from South and North America. The buyers come from some of the prestigious regions for wine production in Europe so if you want to see some of the finest American (South and North) brands bring your palate here. 

For more information regarding the World Wine Meeting of America 2012 (April 28 - April 30) visit the WWMA website. Be sure to have your custom imprinted barware on-hand.

With the warmer NY weather finally coming to an end and the cold December weather moving in, I'm already thinking about Spring longingly. In addition to some small events (my birthday, St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day) spring tends to mean warmer weather, the beginning of barbecues and the relationship between rain and flowers comes into fruition. 

But to have a fruitful spring and a beautiful home for the springtime means intense planning during the winter. The folks at Turner Exposition know this all too well which is why they hold arguably the largest tradeshows on the subject in the Tampa, FL area. The 2012 Spring Home & Garden Show doesn't have tickets on sale just yet but there's already news of hundreds of vendors expected to be there focused on everything from windows to gardens and barbecues to swing sets. Ticket prices are an inexpensive $7-$8 (children under 12 are free) and is sure to have plenty for everyone.

Are you a vendor planning on attending the show? Motivators carries promotional Kitchen and Home products that will make your imprinted logo look phenomenal.

Congratulations! You have confessed your undying love to that special someone and now find yourselves counting down the days until the wedding day.

Those days tick by very quickly though. A year becomes months in the blink of an eye and then days before you even know it. Luckily, there's help...

2012 marks the 11th annual Hartford Bridal Showcase - a very well known showcase that has become the cornerstone of Connecticut and the Tr-State Area for the inside scoop on what's new and stylish in the industry.  The ticket price is a mere $8 for everyone and will have 100's of chefs, DJs, photographers/videographers, florists and much more. Expect promotional products to be in high supply, including custom imprinted food samples and promotional business card magnets. 

The Hartford Bridal Showcase is held at the XL Center in Hartford and takes place April 1, 2012 (Sunday) from 11am - 4pm. 

Florida is a Southern U.S. state known for its citrus fruits. My favorite orange juices, for example, are shipped up north from the Sunshine State. That's why it's no surprise that each year, Florida Grower magazine hosts the Florida Citrus Show.

According to a press release, "The Florida Citrus Show features a comprehensive lineup of educational sessions designed specifically for Florida growers and packers interested in learning about the latest trends that directly impact their businesses." The annual event takes place January 25 - 26 in Ft. Pierce, Florida. At this year's event, attendees will learn about replanting groves, new techniques, and the economic outlook for the industry. 

But perhaps the most exciting part of the Florida Citrus Show is the fact that it includes a trade show "with nearly 80 suppliers exhibiting the latest products and service innovations."  For more information on the trade show, visit http://www.citrusshow.com!

On November 5, Trade Show News Network named the Winter Fancy Food Show as the fastest-growing association trade show, reflecting consistent increases in attendance.  That's according to a press release distributed yesterday.

The Winter Fancy Food Show, which is scheduled for January 15 - 17 in San Francisco, California, is sponsored by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), and shares the top spot with the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo. According to NASFT President Ann Daw, "This award is a true honor for our exhibitors, who consistently present new and innovative specialty foods and beverages to key buyers from around the world who use our show to start each year with great ideas and products.”

The show was picked from a group of 20 trade shows across a variety of industries.  The implication, therefore, is that the specialty food industry and custom food products are still being supported, even in a period of rough economic times.

Attendance at the Winter Fancy Food Show is expected to reach an all-time high this year.  According to the press release, "the show is expected to attract more than 17,000 buyers from across the U.S. and around the world. With exhibitors from 35 countries and regions and 80,000 products, the show is the largest marketplace devoted exclusively to specialty foods and beverages on the West Coast."

The good news is that there's still time to register; visit http://www.fancyfoodshows.com now for more details!

If you're going to call something "Ultimate" you need to stand behind the product/service 110% and it needs to be the best of its kind around. For that reason, it's appropriate to call things such as Ultimate Fighting Championship and Ultimate Frisbee - ultimate.
With this is mind, it's also appropriate to refer to the Ultimate Fishing Show as the "ultimate" tradeshow for fishing and fishing accessories for the entire continental United States. Taking place in the majestic Suburban Collection Showcase in Detroit, MI this tradeshow is three days of fishing accessories, fishing equipment and even fishing seminars. These include exhibits of new fishing boats on the market, a fish fry dining hall, demonstrations on how to clean fish, thousands of different hooks and tackles as well as a 110,000 gallon lake for demonstrations.
Motivators has dozen of fish-related items in-stock. There's custom imprinted food products that look like goldfish, custom imprinted stress balls in the shape of fish, custom imprinted fishing hooks and even a promotional fishing line bobber. 

Yesterday marked the first day of the 29th International Fair of Havana (FIHAV), an international trade show in Cuba. The fair will be held through November 5, and its goal is to improve the nation's economic ties with foreign countries.

According to People's Daily, FIHAV is the most important yearly trade show in Cuba.  Rodrigo Malmierca, minister of foreign trade and investment for Cuba, told People's Daily that the end goal of the fair is to "promote the economic relations between Cuba and the world." So far, it seems that the fair is seeing positive results. 

Prensa Latina reports that "More than 120 Spanish companies" are participating in the fair, representing important sectors like industrial supplies, furniture, and custom food products. Additionally, ambassadors for 57 countries are attending the tradeshow, totaling over 13,500 square meters of space.

Even representatives from the United States, a country which has long-standing trade restrictions with Cuba, are gathering for the trade show. According to the Southwest Farm Press, rice industry experts have traveled to Cuba "in hopes of developing new trade strategies and gathering support for overturning the U.S. embargo, which would re-open the Cuba market to U.S. rice."

Eat Up.

As if Halloween wasn't enough, this weekend also marks the 14th annual Chocolate Show in New York, NY. Held at the Metropolitan Pavillion, this tradeshow will feature more than 65 fine chocolate companies that will display their art for all to see. Additionally, there will be exhibits designed for children, cooking seminars in two elaborate theatres and promotional book signings by world-renowned chefs.

For those who can't make the last minute minute trip to the chocolate hub of North America and are too old to walk door-to-door for Milky Way bars, there is always promotional chocolate products from Motivators. There are chocolate coins, chocolate shapes and even chocolate gift boxes. All of these are delicious and always fresh upon delivery. Perfect for clients and employees for the upcoming Holidays...or for yourself. 

Love cooking and all things kitchen? Then get ready for the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show (MCES), slated for November 5 and 6 in Washington, D.C.  This year's event will feature presentations by celebrity chefs Paula Deen, Guy Fieri, and Giada De Laurentiis, among others. The star-studded trade show is making its way to the District of Columbia for a sixth consecutive year, and will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

In addition to appearances by well-known cooks, the MCES will feature dozens of exhibitors, from Tupperware to Agave Dream Ice Cream.  Exhibitors will have a chance to sell their products face-to-face to consumers, making it a great opportunity for brand exposure. "Exhibiting at the Show is a great experience all the way around," said Holly Di Maura, owner of Holly's Oatmeal. "The staff is so supportive, pays attention to detail and gives a personal touch to everything. And they bring in attendees who are there to buy, which has been essential in helping us build our brand in the marketplace."

Interested individuals are encouraged to sign up at MCES's Web site for updates on events, sales, and to enter to win promotional cookbooks and other fun custom printed home items.  If you're not looking to exhibit, and instead interested in shopping, take a look at the ticket assistant guide to determine which ticket is right for you.