Trade show organizer GLM, which owns and operates the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), will launch a new show in August — an artisan production-sourcing event for U.S.-based importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers. Presented semi-annually alongside the NYIGF, the show will offer programming for exhibitors and attendees, including seminars on topics such as importing basics, FOB pricing, customs, warehousing and distribution.

Artisan Resource will offer a new market to juried overseas artisan enterprises offering handmade production resources and products, at export terms from each country of origin. Artisan Resource exhibitors will be carefully selected for their proven experience in meeting export demands, and by their commitment to design innovation, cultural preservation, social enterprise and sustainability.  Participating exhibitors will hail from countries including Afghanistan, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, South Africa and West Africa. Some 50 companies are expected to participate in the inaugural show.

“This is an exciting new opportunity to broaden the scope of the New York International Gift Fair by offering a platform to a new segment of the gift and home distribution channel,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “Artisan Resource will efficiently and affordably facilitate a stronger pipeline of global artisanal craft into mainstream U.S. distribution.”

Artisan Resource attendees will include import buyers representing large and volume retail stores, national retail chains, mail order catalogues, wholesaler companies and manufacturers, designers and sourcing agents. Attendance will be credential-based, as buyers will be required to handle FOB (freight on board) pricing.

The first semi-annual edition of Artisan Resource will be presented Monday, August 20, through Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Center; and the second semi-annual edition will be held Monday, January 28, through Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at the Passenger Ship Terminal’s Pier 92 in New York City.  In advance of the show’s opening, there will be two days of exhibitor education, U.S. market-readiness training and New York market familiarization.

The show will be managed by GLM and organized with the assistance of ByHand Consulting, a decade-old business offering product design, marketing and training expertise to help artisan enterprises reach new export markets, and to help U.S. buyers source artisan products. Its clients include export promotion agencies of foreign governments, international economic development institutions, and private enterprises in the U.S. and abroad.

“There is an unprecedented demand for handmade and artisan products in U.S. gift, home and accessories markets today.  Tapping into large production artisan resources allows importers access to suppliers with quantity capabilities and capacities,” said ByHand co-founder Colvin English. “We’re delighted to partner with GLM to formalize what we have been doing independently at NYIGF for some time.”

Co-founders English and Karen Gibbs have more than 40 years of experience in product design, marketing, sales, business management and training. Their experience includes working with artisans in more than 50 countries. Formerly GLM’s Director of Craft Marketing, English has worked with both for-profit and non-profit groups to market handcrafts. Gibbs’ career spans non-profit organizations Aid to Artisans and Hand/Eye Fund to independent consulting with leading international development organizations.

Additional information and registration is available online at www.artisanresourceny.com.