2/1/2008
Pipestem Resort State Park in Summers County will sponsor a trade show for gift and souvenir buyers Monday through Wednesday, February 4-6. An annual tradition, the trade show brings vendors and gift shop buyers together under one roof.
"Originally it started as a way to reduce the amount of traveling by our parks staff to gift buying shows," explained say Steve Bolar, Pipestem StatePark Superintendent. "It was called the Pipestem Gift Show in the early days. Instead of traveling out-of-state to gift shows, we brought the gift show to Pipestem. We're one of the few remaining venues of this kind."
Today the gift show is known as Gift Buyers Marketplace and welcomes buyers from parks, retail shops and shop buyers looking for new souvenir or gift ideas for retail sales. "This year's Gift Buyer Marketplace features more than 65 vendors with items ranging from shirts and caps to West Virginia products and items available through efforts of the WV Preservation Alliance.
"In today's retail world, a blend of items unique to an area, as well as souvenirs and novelties, is necessary to satisfy the broad range of visitor buying tastes," says Sue Newton, gift shop coordinator at Pipestem Resort. "Our marketplace gives shop owners a lot of options to consider and purchase for shop inventory. This show let's me consider many different items at one place. I get to actually look at the merchandise to make a buying decision, and vendors get to see a lot of buyers."
Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) introduces a residency influence to this year's vendor lineup and displays regional products for shop owners' consideration. A private, non-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation and heritage tourism development, PAWV partners with Main Street West Virginia to establish the West Virginia Cultural Heritage Development program. Through a project called Made In, Grown In West Virginia, the program works to build relationships between West Virginia foods, arts and crafts producers and West Virginia retailers and tourism outlets.
The Marketplace starts Monday, February 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and runs through noon Wednesday, February 6. The agenda includes opportunities for buyers and vendors to network as well as one-on-one appointments and merchandising opportunities. A vendors list is available. The exhibit hall is staged in the Hudkins Conference Center at Pipestem's McKeever Lodge. All buyers must register to attend the show. Pre-registration by phone is recommended for buyers or register as a walk-in either Monday or Tuesday.
For additional information about Gift Buyers Marketplace 2008, vendors list or buyers registration, call Pipestem Resort at (304) 466-1800.
Contact Information
Ruth Ann Hatcher
(304) 466-1800
conventions@suddenlinkmail.com