SHOW A Look at Upcoming Trade Shows

11-15 Atlanta Apparel

AmericasMart

Atlanta, Ga.

(Circle 02 on card.)

14-15 Gem and Lapidary Wholesalers

West Springfield, Mass.

21-23 Gem and Lapidary Wholesalers

Livonia, Mich.

22-26 High Point Market International Market Centers

High Point, N.C.

28-30 Gem and Lapidary Wholesalers

Orlando, Fla.

30-Nov. 1 Ocean City Resort Gift Expo

Roland E. Powell Convention Center Ocean City, Md.

November

1-2 Gem and Lapidary Wholesalers

Asheville, N.C.

8-10 IGES

Sevierville Convention Center

Sevierville, Tenn.

9-12 IGES

Le Conte Convention Center

Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

9-12 Smoky Mountain Gift Show

Gatlinburg Convention Center

Gatlinburg, Tenn.

December

5-8 Grand Strand Gift & Resort Merchandise Show

Myrtle Beach Convention Center

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

January 2023

10-17 Atlanta Market

AmericasMart

Atlanta, Ga.

(Circle 02 on card.)

Al Bass: The Industry Loses a True Living Legend

October 1, 1937 – March 7, 2022

Al Bass passed away peacefully on March 7, 2022, surrounded by his family after a short illness. He retired at age 80 after many decades in the souvenir and resort industry. He missed many aspects of the business, but first and foremost the interaction with customers and peers.

Al joined his family’s wholesale business after serving in the United States Air Force and graduating from Babson College in 1961. He worked as a dry goods wholesaler in the Boston area until his father’s retirement in 1972.

Al transitioned to a sales rep, first in gifts and then switching to the souvenir business. The souvenir business was the perfect fit for him and became his life for the next 50 years.

He loved the work, the travel and most importantly the people. He made lifelong friendships with customers, colleagues and competitors. He treasured the longterm relationships he had with the companies that he represented and was with most of them for 40-plus years. He retired from actively travelling at 80, but still wrote orders until this season.

Al most enjoyed the camaraderie at trade shows. He not only attended them as a salesman; he organized and managed many over the years including The New England Souvenir Show, The New York (Lake George) Souvenir Show, Wildwood Souvenir Show, The Green Mountain Souvenir Show and the National Unfinished Furniture Show. He also exhibited in many international trade shows outside of the souvenir business visiting Germany, France, England and China to sell American products abroad.

His love of trade shows prompted him to start the Snowbird Souvenir Show, an invitation-only trip for a close circle of friends, both reps and customers. They did a small amount of business and explored exotic resort destinations abroad.

“We were so sorry to hear about Al. As co-founders of Urban Expositions, Al was very supportive of our events and offered us a great deal of insight and wisdom in order for us to always try to improve the overall experience for our customers. Many of the decisions we made came from the advice we received from Al. He was also a pretty darn good show promoter as well. We and the souvenir, gift and resort industry have truly lost a legend. He will be greatly missed,” said Doug Miller and Tim von Gal.

Al was also the founder and long-time Secretary and Emcee of the Living Legends Association. He loved the dinners and celebrating the lives and careers of his peers.

“To the ultimate Living Legend. Thanks for your knowledge, kindness, friendship and all of your contributions to the industry. You will be greatly missed by all,” said Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties (SGN) magazine Advertising Director Larry White. White was honored by The Living Legends group in 2016.

"Al always had a smile on his face and was the ultimate Living Legend," said Joe and Shelly Goldberg.

Al had so many friends in the business, it would be a disservice to single out any one of them. The souvenir business made Al one of the happiest and most content people you could ever meet. Being a sales rep was the perfect position for him.

Jeff Jacobson of Scranton, Pa.’s Jacobson Hat sent this message to the Bass family, “I am deeply saddened to learn that Al has passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Al was such a major force in the souvenir industry and at Jacobson Hat for so many years that it is hard to believe he is gone. His customers and the companies he represented loved him. He was a great person and an excellent salesman. His work ethic and his love for selling was an inspiration to me and to all around him. I met Al in November 1979 at the Gatlinburg Show, which was my first show. Cowboy hats were the hot item and Al was the perfect salesman dressed in his western shirt with metal collar tips and cowboy boots. I immediately recognized that Al knew our line frontwards and backwards. Al was a driving force in creating the Living Legends and if there was a Hall of Fame for the Legends, Al would be a first ballot inductee. He will be missed.”

Al is survived by Debbie, his wife of 58 years. His son, Mike Bass, and son-in-law, Brian Tonis, continue the work at Bass Resort Sales Corp. He is also survived by his daughter Edie Tonis, daughter-in-law Wendy FowlerBass and grandchildren Matthew, Jonathan, Benjamin and Caroline.

Al’s love for the social aspects of the business is best summarized by the quote with which he ended every Living Legends meeting:

“Everyone has to believe in something; I believe that I will have another drink.” ❖