NY NOW
Gift for Life, NY NOW Reteam for AIDS Walk New York
Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ longest-running, volunteer-led, national charitable organization, and NY NOW are once again fielding a team for AIDS Walk New York, the largest single-day AIDS fundraising event in the world, on Sunday, May 19, in New York’s Central Park. NY NOW has pledged to match the first $5,000 in donations raised by the team for the 2024 edition, with all proceeds benefitting GMHC’s HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy programs.
“In 2023, the Gift for Life/NY NOW team exceeded its fundraising goal by raising more than $50,000,” said Caroline Kennedy, Gift for Life/NY NOW team co-captain. “Our fundraising goal for 2024 is set at $40,000, and we are already well on our way with $15,000+ in donations. With the help of our colleagues, friends and families, we hope not only to reach but exceed last year’s results. The $5,000 donation match from NY NOW is an important and welcome impetus that helps us jump start our fundraising efforts.”
“AIDS Walk New York is exciting and fun, whether gathering in Central Park or virtually,” said Kelly Bristol, Gift for Life/NY NOW team co-captain. “Our team meets regularly to discuss fundraising strategies and progress towards our goal. We’re hoping that our 2023 team members all will continue, and we welcome new participants as well!”
Along with team co-captains, Bristol and Kennedy, current Team members include four members of NY NOW: Kristen Brady, Sandra Kehoe, Amy Loewenberg and Matt Mathiason; plus Kate Duff of Claxton Consulting; former team co-captain Su Hilty; Matt Katzenson of Fine Lines; Ari Lowenstein of Ari’s Pantry; Angela Schmook of Roadrunners Inc. and her family; Karalynn Sprouse of EmeraldX; and friends Bill McCue and Carl Walsh.
To join the Gift for Life/NY NOW Team, or to donate, visit https://gmhc.aidswalkny.org/GiftforLifeNYNOW24, or contact team co-captains, Caroline Kennedy at kebbiekcaroline@gmail.com, or Kelly Bristol at kelly.p.bristol@gmail.com.
Kim Mancuso-Telford, general manager of NY NOW and Gift for Life Board member, remarks, “NY NOW is excited to partner again with Gift for Life and jumpstart the Gift for Life/ NY NOW AIDS Walk team fundraising efforts with our $5,000 matching grant. We carry on this tradition of NY NOW’s support of this important event that helps so many. It’s an honor to be part of Gift for Life and contribute to its meaningful work, both locally and nationally.”
Now in its 39th year, AIDS Walk New York has inspired nearly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising nearly $155 million to combat HIV and AIDS. The funds raised at the event remain a vital lifeline that the GMHC provides for the thousands of individuals affected by the disease in the tri-state area. The proceeds also benefit dozens of other HIV/AIDS service organizations that are able to participate as teams and raise funds through the Community Partnership Program. For more information, visit About & Who Benefits – AIDS Walk New York 2024 (aidswalkny.org).
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NY NOW Celebrates Centennial at Winter Market
NY NOW, owned by Emerald Holding, Inc., the largest, premier wholesale trade show in New York serving the gift, home and accessories marketplace, is preparing for the 100th anniversary of the event with the upcoming 2024 Winter Market.
At the center of this commemoration will be key enhancements aimed at providing an even more collaborative and immersive experience for the thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees expected to attend NY NOW, scheduled for Feb. 4-7 at New York City’s Javits Center. Buyers, designers, industry veterans, and members of the media are cordially invited to attend.
“Not only is NY NOW’s 100th anniversary a true milestone for an event, but it also signifies the culmination of a journey driven by our unwavering commitment to community, quality, and innovation,” said Kim Mancuso-Telford, general manager of NY NOW. “As we mark this milestone, we take great pride in drawing upon our history to create a highly evolved version of the market. Our focus remains centered on advancing the future of the industry while continuing to foster meaningful connections within our vibrant community, ensuring that NY NOW paves the way for the next 100 years of ingenuity and thriving collaboration.”
Twice per year, NY NOW draws top buyers who eagerly anticipate the latest debuts, high-end designs and must-have wares in the gift, home and accessories industries. With three recently re-envisioned categories – Gift & Lifestyle, Home, and Jewelry & Accessories – NY NOW offers a meticulously curated space trusted by tens of thousands of retailers for trendspotting, discovering emerging brands and networking with industry trailblazers.
As the Winter Market approaches, NY NOW commemorates its 100-year legacy through immersive experiences, live programming, lobby installations and vibrant receptions across the show floor. These initiatives aim to deepen community connections, celebrate the industry’s long-standing commitment to this event, and ignite enthusiasm for the market’s promising future. More details on these show enhancements will be coming soon.
While honoring our remarkable 100-year legacy, Matthew Mathiasen, event director of NY NOW, emphasizes the event’s unwavering commitment to innovation. “With the renewed focus on content and the launch of additional programs designed to nurture emerging talent, such as our Emerging Fine Jewelry Designer Incubator, we know our buyers will be thrilled to see what we have in store this February.”
NY NOW also offers Market “Destinations,” areas of the show floor that are dedicated to fostering and connecting specialized communities. These destinations include:
- Rising Artisans (a program for global makers)
- Luxury Lifestyle (a community of luxury jewelry and accessory designers)
- NY NOW’s powered by Bulletin Incubator Program (new-to-NY NOW brands under 5 years old), and International Pavilions.
In addition, brands and buyers can anticipate a suite of transformative updates, encompassing smarter merchandising, dedicated product neighborhoods for seamless discovery, an amplified emphasis on content programming, and a hybrid market experience through NY NOW Online, the fully integrated wholesale platform.
Visit www.nynow.com for more information about exhibiting or registering for the upcoming event.
NY NOW is the largest gift, home and accessories wholesale trade show in New York, where brands, buyers, and designers come twice per year to make the game-changing connections that supercharge their businesses. NY NOW and online wholesale marketplace partner, Bulletin, connect 4,000+ independent brands with 40,000+ U.S. and international buyers from independent stores, museums, department stores, bookstores, galleries, general gift shop, art & entertainment venues and many more.
With 3 core sections across 35+ product categories, NY NOW encompasses home décor and tableware, gifts, accessories, jewelry, and so much more. Attendees can explore an extensive range of offerings, from stationery, eclectic gifts, and trending home décor to aromatherapy and fragrance, skincare, wellness, and fine jewelry, and even emerging categories such as sexual wellness and cannabis and psychedelics. The show promises the unrivaled thrill of in-person connection and endless discovery, and NY NOW Online, the integrated wholesale platform, makes ordering a breeze for thousands of buyers in attendance. It’s a true hybrid wholesale experience.
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JK Adams, NY NOW Team Up on Buyer Offer
JK Adams, the nation’s leader for personalized cutting boards and wooden gift products, is partnering with NY NOW to offer VIP Buyers a complimentary engraved cutting board.
NY NOW, the premier wholesale event in New York City, is set to make its return from Aug. 13-16 this summer at The Javits Center, and JK Adams has created a dramatic new engraved collection to be introduced during this market.
JK Adams has joined the NY NOW 2023 Summer Show in booth #602 and will have a special offer for the show’s VIP buyers. Buyers will receive a voucher for a custom cutting board to be engraved at the show by a JK Adams engraver. They will have several design options to choose from and be able to watch the product be customized. The engraving station will be in the Bulletin Home Incubation area.
“We are thrilled to partner with JK Adams, offering their stunning personalized cutting boards as gifts this season. This engaging activation reflects our commitment to enhancing attendee experience and fostering a sense of community,” said Kim Mancuso Telford, general manager of Bulletin x NY NOW. “At NY NOW, we believe in the magic of in-person events: connecting people, engaging with products, and creating lasting impressions. Through immersive experiences like this one, plus our educational panels, inspiring buyer tours, and more, we aim to deepen the connection to our industry for our vast retail audience.”
For over 20 years, JK Adams has been part of the NY NOW trade show. This will be the first time the company has participated in the show since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“JK Adams has been leading the way in personalization,” said President and CEO Adam Sigel. “For almost 80 years, we have been the innovator in our space. We are thrilled to partner with NY NOW to demonstrate to retailers our capabilities and reward them with a gift for attending the show.”
Check out some of the brands that will be exhibiting via NY NOW Online, the event’s new integrated
wholesale platform.
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Gift for Life Raises Record Donations
Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ sole charity, marked its 30th anniversary by raising more money than ever for charitable causes. The total of $160,495 raised was through 15 fundraising campaigns held during 2022 including several new initiatives. Since its founding in 1992, the all-volunteer organization has motivated the gift and home industry to donate more than $6 million in connection with at-market events, cause marketing initiatives and direct donations.
“This year was record setting in several ways,” said Peter Schauben, Gift for Life founder. “We raised more money, we held more fundraising events and we launched new initiatives in order to help more people. It’s immensely gratifying that representatives from all areas of our industry – brands, buyers, sales agencies, market makers, media and industry suppliers – have stepped up to support our efforts so whole-heartedly.”
The record-setting 2022 fundraising benefitted Gift For Life’s current pandemic-inspired focus on crisis-related hunger relief as well its legacy mission connected to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, education and advocacy. The majority of funds was raised for World Central Kitchen through more than a dozen fundraisers. In addition, a record $48,091 was raised by the 2022 Gift For Life/NY NOW AIDS Walk New York team.
Two additional fundraising initiatives – Crystal Media’s 10th Anniversary campaign and H.E.L.P. by T. Jazelle’s “Give Back Collection” custom-designed bracelet – will extend into 2023.
In the meantime, donations in honor of Gift for Life’s 30th Anniversary will be accepted through year-end at https://donate.wck.org/GFL30.
Read more about Gift for Life in the January issue of Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
Gift for Life/NY Now Team Raises $44K+ for AIDS Walk NY
The Gift for Life/NY Now team, led by top individual fundraiser Matthew Katzenson and team co-chairs Su Hilty and Caroline Kennedy, raised $44,500+ for this year’s AIDS Walk NY, which took place May 15. Team Gift for Life/NY NOW placed fourth in overall fundraising for the 2022 event, which brought in $2,246,787 to benefit those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. Donations will be accepted online through June 10.
Gift for Life was founded in 1992 by a small group of gift industry professionals responding to the tragic loss of friends and colleagues as a result of AIDS. Since then, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6 million for AIDS research and education, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment with charity partners AmfAR and DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Beginning in 2020, with COVID-19 temporarily causing cancelation of in-person events at industry markets, Gift for Life pivoted toward online digital events, with a specific emphasis on supporting World Central Kitchen’s crisis-related food insecurity programs.
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