Italian Scientists and Scholars of North America Foundation
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A SHOWCASE OF EXQUISITE ITALIAN GIFT PRODUCTS PLANNED IN NEW YORK
Promoting Italian craftsmanship in gift products, a sector where innovation in the choice of new materials and styles is ever more crucial, while at the same consolidating the positive trend in exports to the US, which have risen by 3,7% in 2006. These are the objectives of the official delegation that the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) is organising for the summer edition of the International Gift Fair (www.nyigf.com), due to take place in New York on 12-16th August in the Javits Center.
The International Gift Fair is considered the most important event in the North American market for the gift industry, and it takes place every six months. The 2006 August edition was attended by 2,900 exhibitors, spread over a 60,000 square meter surface and was visited by 45,000 people.
In the light of positive feedback from last year, ICE decided to upgrade the organisational and promotional support available to the Italian firms which will take place in the Fair in 2007. Organising an official delegation will help promote the products of firms who manufacture or trade in generic gift products, silverware, collectors' items, crystalware, porcelain and ceramics, paper and cardboard, writing instruments, leather goods, bombonnières, art prints and kitchen products.
The Italian participation to the Fair is part of a wider promotional strategy on the North American market by ICE. The event will be an opportunity to showcase Italian craftsmanship districts and their products in front of US wholesalers and the specialised press. At the same time, ICE wishes to facilitate new contacts between US importers and distributors and Italian firms. After the positive results from the last years, existing contacts have to be consolidated and new ones have to be developed.
The presence of Italian industry in this sector (mainly made of small firms relying on craftsmanship and heavily specialised in high-end products) is particularly important when the size of the US market is taken into consideration. Imports of gift products rose by almost 8% in January-November 2006 compared to the previous year. In the last three years (2004-2006) imports for this sector have risen by almost 20%.
Italy - the fourth biggest supplier for the US - has been penalised in the last few years by the rise of the euro over the dollar. Despite an increase in exports volumes of 4,7% in 2005 and 3,7% in 2006, its market share has eroded slightly to 7,8%. While it maintains a leading position vis-à-vis other European countries, Italian industry is facing a challenge by its Asian competitors, who are progressively taking hold of the low end of the market. Gift 2007 will therefore be an opportunity to prove that Italian industry aims to consolidate in the high-end of the market, even for gift products.
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