New York International Gift Fair Recap of Opening Day, Sunday August 16, 2009

After overcoming a poorly-planned half marathon, which dissected Midtown Manhattan and most routes from its Hotels to Javits Center, the Gift Fair opened without a hitch. Once exhibitors and attendees managed to wind their way through (and ultimately, under) the labyrinth of NYPD barriers and marathon runners, the August Gift Fair was underway.

A few Highlights

A new booth design - Anchored by innovative Ribbon Fixtures designed to vanish into our classic MIDORI black curtain backdrop, this year’s MIDORI booth stood out for its brevity and simple beauty.

The 6’ tall, 36” wide fixtures allowed the quality and sheer beauty of the colorful Ribbon they supported to truly shine. An edited showing of the MIDORI Ribbon and Handmade Gift Wrap collections, creative displays, and a thoughtful layout all helped contribute to visitor interest. Amid the sensory overload of a packed and vibrant show, a simple, clean booth design was a welcome, refreshing, and eye-catching sight for most.

The attitude – Bright, optimistic, playful, and eager to bring wonderful products to shops and design studios this Holiday season, Gift Fair attendees appeared excited to find MIDORI in a new booth space (#2457) and it was fantastic to see old friends, as well as to meet new ones.

Thinking on our feet - A customer's flip-flop broke under the pressures of rigorous first day action. Fortunately, her shoe gave way in our booth - Mary Ellen Kauffman, the MIDORI Rep for New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, snapped into action. Below is a photograph of what followed:

The customer was able to secure the tired and broken flip-flop using a cutting of MIDORI Organdy. By looping the ribbon around her sandal, wrapping it around her toes, and tying it to her ankle, she was able to continue her opening day at the show!

MIDORI at the New York Gift Fair August 16 - 20, 2009

The New York International Gift Fair is next week, will you be there?

MIDORI® has a new booth location, 2457-2459, and will be unveiling a new booth design, a new Ribbon line, and additions to the popular Gift Wrap and Icon lines.

Fun, educational, and frantic at times, the summer NYIGF should be an exciting middle-point to what has been an interesting year in our industry. Here at MIDORI, we view the upcoming show as a great opportunity. There has been an abundance of change in the marketplace, and we are eager to demonstrate how we have strengthened our commitment to our value proposition, and re-focused our design eye.

We look forward to reconnecting with those of you coming to the New York show. Please stop by to say hello and experience the new MIDORI booth and introductions in person.

And as always, we want to thank you for your business throughout this challenging year and the nineteen before it. We are grateful for each one of you, regardless of whether or not we will see you at a show this year.