A lot of great things have happened for the merchandising manager at Motivators, Sarah Ellis. In a matter of a few months she has not only gotten married but has also moved out into a large and luxurious apartment. With all this new and exciting change, it's only appropriate that she decorate her apartment to match her style, mood and fashion.

I would recommend that her and everyone else from the Buffalo-area take one weekend and visit the Buffalo Home & Garden Show. Located at the grandiose Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, this tradeshow will feature business partners from the area showcasing their craft and products on site. Whether you're looking for a landscaping service or for an extension on a garage, the best of the best will be in attendance at this tradeshow. More information can be found on the Buffalo Home and Garden Show website. 

While there, be on the lookout for promotional product giveaways. 

It's the most exclusive party on the East Coast. People walk the streets in hope to be invited and it is so momentous that it lasts two weeks.

It's called New York Fashion Week. This semi-annual celebration, hosted by prestigious car company Mercedes Benz, is a week long celebration of new fashions, trends and the art of style. New designers and veterans alike throw lavish shows and afterparties that are even more lavish. These events are notoriously difficult to attend without connections (searching for how-to's on Google only warrents success to American Express cardholders, media and those with the right connections. For those who like are interested, there are inexpensive opportunities to attend DIY showcases and afterparties. 

February's events take place from February 9-February 16. The events in the autumn take place September 6-13 2012.

Click here for more information on how to get in to the festivities and here to view some ticket websites for certain parties. Keep the promotional t-shirt at home and bring out your best custom imprinted apparel.  

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!

Uniondale is merely a hop, skip and a jump from the Motivators New York office. Uniondale is the home of Nassau Coliseum, home of one of the largest concert halls on Long Island as well as the home of the NHL Islanders. 

In addition to these events, Nassau Coliseum is one of the most frequented tradeshow halls on Long Island. Every year, dozens of tradeshows call Nassau Coliseum its home. The Long Island Spring Home Show is one of the most popular events that is sure to help you out with any home improvement projects you may have lined up for the spring. The admission is free and will feature hundreds of companies that could certainly help you out or give ideas and advice.

If you're a company attending the Long Island Spring Home Show in Uniondale, consider purchasing promotional products to help drive potential clients to your booth.

If you were lucky enough to be one of the more than 10,000 attendees at The 2012 Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Expo, you know first-hand that the event was an overwhelming success.  During the five-day show, which was held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, over 100,000 new products were introduced to thousands of excited and curious distributors.

According to Promotional Products Business (PPB) magazine, "With a total of more than 18,350 participants, the overall non-gaming economic impact of The PPAI Expo 2012 is estimated at $19,500,000 by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority."  That astounding number highlights the importance of the PPAI Expo to the promotional products industry.

In fact, the PPAI Expo has been dubbed "the industry's show;" it's the only event that brings eager suppliers and well-qualified distributors together in one place.  Paul Bellantone, CAE, president and CEO of PPAI, told PPB magazine that on a global scale, "The PPAI Expo is the best show for the promotional products industry to bring its products and services to market every year." And this year's event was no exception; in fact, according to Bellantone, its success proves that the promotional items industry will only continue to grow.

Washington, D.C. The capital of the greatest nation in the world. It is also the birthplace of one of the most famous auto shows in the country.

The Washington Auto Show is 750,000 square feet of enjoyment for the car enthusiest. Held at the legendary Walter E. Washington Convention Center, this show includes 37 different local and imported car dealers. The list is rather impressive, includes Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Land Rover, General Moters and much more. The show also has Ride n' Drive experiences, special guests such as J.R. Martinez and WWE wrestler Randy Orton and activities for chidren. Admission is very inexpensive and you're sure to go home with car-envy.

Promotional transportation stress balls are the perfect item to hand out at this type of tradeshow. There are many different vehicles and designs to choose from - all of which can have include your imprinted logo.

 

There seemed to be something off about the holiday season. 

It wasn't how department stores decorated or the type of sales. Rather, it seemed to be a lack of the "great toy of 2011." 

Iconic toys such as Tickle Me Elmo, Mr. Potato Head and even Zhu Zhu Pets have always lef store owners, employees and shoppers very tense about supply/demand. Every year seemed like there was one big toy. This year, despite the surge in online and in-store sales, had no clear victor. 

Luckily, this year's New York International Gift Fair is here to fill the gap. The tradeshow, held at Pier 92 and the Jacob Javitz Center in New York, NY, is chock full of the gifts that didn't see the light of day at Christmas/Channukah/Kwanzaa but are sure to make it big in 2012. You'll find the next in custom imprinted toys as well as some classic items (promotional yo-yo, custom imprinted stuffed animals, etc.)

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.

Although the beginning of the Fall semester isn't for a few months, there are high school students that are starting to research and visit colleges. This step in life is a big one to take and can often overwhelm the students and the parents. There are many college fairs across the country that can help aid the process. The National Association for College Admission Counseling has announced the 2012 locations and dates for their various college fairs. These towns include Austin, Hartford, Memphis, Boston and Detroit just to name a few. The locations and dates vary with each city but with a large amount of events planned for the year, there is always an opportunity to find the best school for you or your loved one.

For colleges planning on attending any of these college fairs, you're sure to drive in patrons to your booth with promotional pens and promotional stress relievers.

You're a math nerd. You know that the Sandwich Theorum isn't about lunch and you give an unexpected answer if someone asks you "What's your Sine?" in a bar.

How do you get your math on with fellow Mathletes? Simple: attend an American Mathematical Society Meeting.

The American Mathematical Society was founded to create a further interest in the study of math by means of surveys, contests, scholarship services and even conferences.

The meetings and conferences are held across the country in large venues and will include guest speakers, lectures, socials and even short courses. This year's meeting is held in Boston, MA at the Hynes Convention Center from January 4 - January 7 2012. Registration is available now with discounts for students, the unemployed and those with mathematical degrees.

Be sure to bring your promotional calculator!