List of Gift Stores
Gifts are often sold in shops that care convenient. Card Shops, Flower Shops, Drug Stores, Cooking Stores, Airport Shops, Christian Stores and Hospital Gift Shops are just some of the more common places gifts are sold. Gifts represent a huge category with products that range from handmade sewn items to high tech gizmos. The stores that sell these gift items are often small and independently owned. Often the distributors that visit these stores to refill their gum, candy and drink coolers are the same distributors or jobbers that visit convenience stores and grocery stores.
The gift channels of distribution can also be done through gift shows, gift reps and gift marts. The channels can be costly as it costs thousands to attend and setup a booth at these events. Strategies to meet gift store owners directly at these events come down to 1) attending the shows 2) handing out samples to gift reps 3) show that your product will sell by proving it in your local market first. Most successful products start in local areas then keep expanding into new markets following the same successful introduction strategies.
Gift Marts
Gift shows are a great way to start, however you should also explore gift marts. Gift marts are independent showrooms that are run by sales reps. These showrooms are often available to buyers by appointment only, however every quarter or so these gift marts will open their showroom as sort of an open house. If you have a product for gift stores, consider selling them through gift marts for more exposure to independent buyers.
Seattle Gift Mart
6100 Fourth Ave , South
Seattle , WA 98108
(206) 767-6800
Gift Center at Montgomery Park
2701 NW Vaughn Street
Portland , OR 97210
501) 228-7275
San Francisco Gift Center
888 Brannan Street
San Francisco , CA 94103
(415) 861-7733
Los Angeles Mart
1933 South Broadway
Los Angeles , CA 90007
(213) 749-7911
Denver Merchandise Mart
451 East 58th Ave.
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 292-6278
Kansas City Merchandise Mart
6800 West 115th Street
Overland Park , KS 66211
(913) 491-6688
Dallas Market Center
2100 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas , TX 75207
(214) 655-6100
Minneapolis Gift Mart
10301 Bren Road , West
Minnetonka , MN 55343
(612) 932-7200
Indianapolis Gift Mart
4475 Allisonville Road
Indianapolis , IN 46205
(317) 546-0719
The Merchandise Mart
Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago , IL 60654
(312) 527-4141
Columbus Gift Mart
1999 Westbelt Drive
Columbus , OH 43228
(614) 876-2719
Americas Mart Atlanta
240 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta , GA 30043
(404) 688-8994
Charlotte Merchandise Mart
2500 East Independence Blvd.
Charlotte , NC 28205
(704) 377-5881
Mid Atlantic Gift Center
12260 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston , VA 22091
(703) 391-0095
The Pittsburgh Expo Mart
105 Mall Blvd
Monroeville , PA 15146
(412) 856-8100
Market Center
230 Fifth Ave.
New York , NY 10001
(212) 686-1203
New York Merchandise Mart
41 Madison Ave.
New York , NY 10010
(212) 686-1203
The Northeast Market Center
1000 Technology Park Drive
Billerica MA 01890
(800) 435-2775
Miami International Merchandise Mart
777 NW 72nd Ave.
Miami , FL 33126
(305) 261-2900
Michigan Gift Mart
133 W. Main
Northville , MI
(313) 348-7890
US and Canadian Gift Shows
ALASKA
The Wholesale Alaskan Gift Show, www.newimpressions.com
ARIZONA
OASIS Gift Show, www.oasis.org
ARKANSAS
Eureka Springs Gift Show, http://www.eurekaspringsgiftshow.com/default.htm
CALIFORNIA
California Gift Show, www.californiagiftshow.com
California Market Center, www.californiamarketcenter.com
IDEX (Collectible Doll and Bear Exposition), www.dollexpo.com , www.bearexpo.com
International Gift Fair, www.weshows.com
LA Gift MART, www.lamart.com
Long Beach Furniture & Accessory Market, www.kemexpo.com
NASFT Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, www.fancyfoodshows.com
San Francisco International Gift Fair, San Francisco, www.sfigf.com
CANADA
Alberta Gift Show, www.albertagiftshow.com
Canadian Gift and Tableware Association http://www.cgta.org
Montreal Gift Show, www.montrealgiftshow.com
Vancouver Gift Show, www.vancouvergiftshow.com
Vancouver British Columbia , www.coffee-expo.com
COLORADO
Denver Merchandise Mart, www.denvermart.com
International New Age Tradeshow, www.inats.com
FLORIDA
Orlando Gift Show, www.orlandogift-how.com
IDEX (Collectible Doll and Bear Exposition), www.dollexpo.com , www.bearexpo.com
International New Age Trade Show East, www.inats.com
Miami International Gift & Decorative Accessories Show, and Miami Resort
Merchandise Show, Miami International Merchandise Mart, www.urban-expo.com
Tampa Furniture & Accessory Market, www.kemexpo.com
Orlando Variety Merchandise Show, www.merchandisegroup.com
GEORGIA
ACC Craft Show, www.craftcouncil.org
Atlanta International Gift Market, www.americasmart.com
The Gift Fair in Atlanta , http://www.thegiftfairinatlanta.com
HAWAII
Hawaii Trade Shows, www.douglastradeshows.com
ILLINOIS
ACC Craft Council Shows, www.craftcouncil.org
Beckman Handcrafted Show, www.mmart.com/giftandhome
Chicago Gift & Home Market, The Merchandise Mart, www.giftandhome.com .
International Housewares Show, www.housewares.org .
NASFT Fancy Food Show, www.fancyfoodshows.com
St. Louis Gift Show, www.stlouisgiftshow.com
PromoExpo & Conference, www.promoexpo.com
INDIANA
Indiana Gift Mart; tel. 217/423-5185.
Heritage Cash and Carry Wholesale, www.heritagemarkets.com
KANSAS
K.C. Gift Mart, www.kcgiftmart.com .
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Crafted, www.kycraft.org
Louisville Gift, Craft & Jewelry Show, www.louisvillegiftshow.com
LOUISIANA
New Orleans Gift and Jewelry Show, www.gift2jewelry.com
MAINE
New England Products and Trade Show, http://www.nepts.co m
MARYLAND
ACC Craft Show, www.craftcouncil.org
East Coast Gift Expo, www.urban-expo.com
MASSACHUSETTS
The Premier Show, www.thegiftcenter.com
The Cape Cod Gift Show, www.capecodgiftshow.com
Boston Gift Show, www.bostongiftshow.com
The Buyers Cash & Carry Wholesale Mart, http://www.marketsquareshows.com
Heritage Cash & Carry Wholesale Market, www.heritagemarketing.com
MICHIGAN
Michigan Gift Mart, www.michigangiftmart.com
MINNESOTA
Minneapolis Gift Mart, www.mplsgiftmart.com
MISSISSIPPI
Biloxi Gift Show, www.wmigiftshows.com
MISSOURI
St. Louis Gift Show, www.stlouisgiftshow.com
NEVADA
Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show, www.urban-expo.com
Las Vegas Trade Show, www.merchandisegroup.com/merchandise/index.jsp
NEW JERSEY
Atlantic City Variety Merchandise Show, www.merchandisegroup.com/merchandise/index.jsp
NEW YORK
American Gift and Art Show, www.westernnewyorkgiftshow.com
New York International Gift Fair, www.nyigf.com
225 Gift and Housewares Show, www.225-fifth.com
Upstate New York State Gift Expo, www.upstatenygiftexpo.com
Variety Merchandise Show, www.merchandisegroup.com/merchandise/index.jsp
West New York Gift Show, www.westernnewyorkgiftshow.com
NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte Gift Show, www.charlottegiftshow.com
OHIO
Columbus Gift Mart, www.columbusgiftmart.com
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City Gift Show, www.wholesalemarketinc.com
OREGON
Portland Gift Show, www.portlandgift.com
PENNSYLVANIA
Cash and Carry Wholesale Market, www.marketsquareshows.com
Philadelphia Gift Show, www.urban-expo.com
Pittsburgh Gift Show, www.westernnewyorkgiftshow.com
SOUTH CAROLINA
Grand Strand Gift & Resort Merchandise Show, www.urban-expo
TENNESSEE
Norton ‘s Gatlinburg Gift and Variety Show, www.ommart.com
Smoky Mountain Gift Show, www.smokymtngiftshow.com
TEXAS
Dallas International Gift Market, www.dallasmarketcenter.com
Houston Variety & Merchandise Show, www.merchandisegroup.com/merchandise/index.jsp
San Antonio Gift Show, www.wholesalemarketinc.com
UTAH
Salt Lake Wholesale Gift Show, 801-566-9300
VIRGINIA
Washington Gift Show, www.washingtongiftshow.com
WASHINGTON
Seattle Gift Show, www.seattlegift.com
WASHINGTON DC
Greater Washington Gift Mart, 703-352-8010
Washington Gift Show, www.washingtongiftshow.com