Chronicle Books Blog

Twice a year, vendors and buyers converge in New York at the beloved Javits (there’s sarcasm there) for the New York International Gift Fair. It is an incredible show where you can find the most amazing array of home goods, stationery, handmade jewelry, high design products, and general gift items. It’s been great to see so many buyers in the aisles—there has definitely been a buzz on the floor that we haven’t felt in a few seasons.

It’s been wonderful to talk to buyers who clearly had a surprisingly good holiday and are now looking to stock their shelves with innovative new products. We’ve had a great reception to our new Spring 2010 list, including stand outs like Mom’s One Line a Day, Look! It’s Jesus!, new Taro Gomi (Scribble It! and Doodle 123!), Handy Dad, In My Series…, The Sneaker Coloring Book, Whoopie Pies, and Stuff Every Woman Should Know (Quirk).

After standing at many gift shows over the past month, I now have a good sense of what is resonating in the marketplace. It’s clear that buyers are looking to laugh. It’s been fun to see people huddled around a book in front of our booth laughing out loud (biggest laughs hands-down goes to Hip Snips from Quirk).

And then there was the laughter over in our Children’s section—with the Bear in Underwear. It’s not often you can feel tighty-whiteys on the cover of a book!

We are also launching the Moleskine Passions line here at the show! The standouts are clearly the Recipe Journal and the Wine Journal, as I think it’s a requirement of attending trade shows that you must love to eat and drink. The new X-Large Volants and mini-2011 Planners are also clearly resonating with buyers.

It’s been an exhausting and exhilarating show. As I walked out of dinner tonight (yummy Korean BBQ) here in New York, it was snowing. I wasn’t expecting to see snow, and it was a beautiful sight…just like the crowded aisles at Javits!

Lisa Bach
Associate Director of Special Sales

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