Quotable

The magazine also includes a Special Resort Section covering monogrammed merchandise and jewelry, a Gift Report featuring interviews with retailers at state park gift stores, and an Apparel section that offers interviews with officials from apparel boutiques and water parks and amusement parks.

As one of the many bonus features in the issue, we offer a special interview with industry veteran Tom Park. Also in the edition is an update on retail at hospital stores, a General Merchandise Special Report, a piece about candy and snacks at pharmacies and florists, and a story covering soap and lotion sales. And don’t miss the Games, Playthings and Plush Section for the latest news on toy sales.

I hope you enjoy this edition, which also includes product news about several of the latest souvenir and gift items in the industry. If you are a vendor interested in an SGN advertising program, please contact our sales staff by emailing sgnmag@kanec.com. If you are a reader with comments, questions or suggestions, please email our editorial department at editorsgnmag@kanec.com.

Scott C. Borowsky President and Executive Editor Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties magazine

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The Industry Loses Alton “Al” Lipkin

Alton “Al” Lipkin, longtime CEO of NANCO/Nancy Sales, passed on Monday, July 5, 2021, after a brief illness. He was 89 years old. After graduating from Brown University in 1954, he joined his father-in-law at Nancy Sales in 1957. From 1993-2008, Al was the CEO of NANCO/Nancy Sales. He was an accomplished and respected force in the souvenir, novelty, and gift industry. He was also a pioneer in sourcing product from overseas, developing relationships with suppliers that have maintained themselves to this day.

Al is survived by his children, Stephen Lipkin and his wife Janet, Debbie Seresky and her husband Peter, and Amy Robbins and her husband David. He is also survived by grandchildren Michelle and her fiancé Dan, Heather, Todd and his wife Melissa, Margo and her husband Ben, Robyn and her fiancé Jon, and Jodi and Jason. ❖

A&F Souvenir Unveils Rebrand with Fresh Website and More

A&F Souvenir has undergone a rebrand, complete with new website, fresh events, and a new vision for the future of the souvenir industry.

The logo and visuals are only one aspect of the larger rebrand, which aims to bring a fresh perspective to souvenir merchandising. The A&F website has been reimagined entirely, with a new focus on usability, storytelling, and access to information straight from the A&F team. Gift shop and souvenir merchandisers can enjoy a fresh, new experience on desktop and mobile.

Additionally, new social media accounts are being unveiled across Instagram and Linkedin, and events are coming back, too. Anyone interested in seeing A&F products at an upcoming trade show can track those dates online, while customers who can’t make it to an in-person show still have the option to schedule the company’s trade show in a box experience. This feature allows customers to peruse products at their leisure and even see what they would look like on shelves.

“We wanted to remove the friction between our customers and our products, and provide a better visual experience online, at events, and in our catalogs. This way, they can really envision what products might look like and how they’ll feel in-store,” said company President Michael

Atkinson.

While things are getting a shake-up online and in gift shops across the continent, A&F is staying true to the core promises that have kept them around since 1962, like super-low minimum order requirements, always-domestic shipping, and total customization. Above all, A&F will commit as much as ever to their partners, relationships, and services.

(For more information, visit www.afgift.com.) ❖

RSN 29

Summer 2021 Atlanta Market Exhibitors Report Record Sales and Return of National Accounts

Atlanta Market confirmed its place as a top Summer 2021 buying destination for the national retail and design industry with better-thanprojected attendance and reports of record-breaking shows across its home and gift collections at the closing of its seven-day run, July 13-19, 2021 at AmericasMart Atlanta.

“Atlanta Market was exactly what buyers and sellers needed right now,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “The buzz about market quickly traveled through the industry, and the brands and buyers who did not attend were really feeling like they missed out. We’re confident that their need to be a part of Atlanta Market will accelerate the growth of the Winter Market in 2022.”

Pent up demand for inventory led to aggressive buying by retailers and designers. Buyers from all market verticals – Gift, Home Décor and Apparel – were well represented with growth in all three categories over the Winter 2021 staging. Attendees hailed from all 50 states with notable growth from the Midwest and continued recovery of international traffic with buyers from some 36 countries.

Overall, the Summer 2021 Atlanta Market well outpaced the Winter 2021 staging, growing by nearly 55% in attendance and ultimately beating IMC’s pre-market projections with more than 85% of the Summer 2019 turnout.

Many retailers and designers chose Atlanta Market as their first market after a pandemic hiatus or as their first market ever.

“Coming back to the Atlanta Mart has felt like a homecoming,” said Jorge Gonzalez, buyer and general merchandising manager for Draeger’s HOME & Market with four stores in California. “The safety measures and the graciousness of the Atlanta Market staff has left me with a smile on my face and an incredible hope for the future of our business and brick and mortar stores!”

Brands from across Atlanta Market’s categories had record breaking shows. Hali Vradelis, National Sales Director of Vietri reported “our biggest day of sales ever – and not by a small margin!” Jack Abelarde, owner

3 Kids Kompany said “July Atlanta Market has been a CRAZY good show - RECORD-BREAKING!”

The Winter 2022 Atlanta Market is Tuesday, January 11 - Tuesday, January 18, 2022, with temporary exhibits Wednesday, January 12 - Sunday, January 16.

Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show 2022

The Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show (SLTS) is slated to take place January 19-21, 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The 2022 event will be the first live show since cancelling in 2021 due to health and safety concerns. The response from both attendees and exhibitors has been overwhelmingly positive and show organizers ex- pect a solid turnout.

Products for Every Fan

Attendees represent stores of all sizes and range from specialty shops to department stores to mass market retailers. The vast array of product categories on display from exhibitors make the show appeal to a variety of retailers.

More than 300 companies will be exhibiting, showing off the latest fan gear to expand the product offerings of retailers. Exhibiting licensees represent all professional and collegiate leagues and teams and will be showcasing merchandise in every possible product category – from toys and games to apparel to pet products and much more. Licensors and agents that participate include Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), NASCAR, NHL, and NBA. Some of the licensees exhibiting include: FOCO, Rico Inc., Team Sports America, Party Animal Inc., The Highland Mint, Fan Creations, Jenkins Enterprises and Aminco. The entire exhibitor list can be viewed at SportsTailgateShow.com.

Money Back on Purchases

The License to Buy Show Specials Program will be back again in 2022. License to Buy is a favorite among exhibitors and retailers alike. This exclusive rebate program gives buyers money back on orders they are already placing at the show. Retail buyers are rewarded based on the number and dollar amount of orders placed with participating exhibitors. More than $20 million in orders were written at the 2020 show with the 155 participating exhibitors and

Continued on page 24

Trade Show News (From page 23) the show gave back over $230,000 in rebates to buyers.

SLTS will again offer an industry breakfast with keynote address, along with educational sessions specifically for retailers. Other show highlights include The Opening Night Party and the New Product Zone. The Opening Night Party is the official gathering of all attendees and exhibitors for food, drink and networking. The party takes place Wednesday, January 19 at 5 p.m., in the Sports Lounge on the show floor. The New Product Zone is a special display area that lets buyers preview exhibitors’ latest products before they even enter the show floor.

Attendee registration will open in September. Qualified buyers can register for free prior to October 31. Visit www.SportsTailgateShow.com for more information or to sign up to be alerted when registration opens. ❖

Gift for Life’s “Feed the Hungry - Feel the Good” Campaign Raises Nearly $50,000 for World Central Kitchen during Atlanta Market

Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced recently that its “Feed the Hungry – Feel the Good” fundraiser yielded nearly $50,000 for World Central Kitchen, an organization which distributes individually packaged, fresh meals in communities that need support during times of crisis.

The campaign, which ran in connection with this summer’s Atlanta Market (July 13-19), raised a total of $48,403 for World Central Kitchen. Individual donations ranged from $50 to $1000, with large gifts from J Douglas, Loloi Rugs and Worlds Away and a $10,000 matching grant from International Market Centers.

“Nearly $50,000 translates to almost 5,000 meals and 30 restaurants supported,” said Cole Daugherty, chair of the Gift for Life board. “We are grateful for the industry’s support of our first at-market fundraiser for World Central Kitchen, and hope that we can continue this momentum in August for campaigns connected with the Retailer Excellence Awards and Las Vegas Market.”

Donate online at: https://donate.wck.org/LasVegasMkt. ❖