The Winter 2023 edition of Shoppe Object, a New York trade event for curated home and gift, will take place February 5-7 at Manhattan’s Pier 36. The sold-out show, with a 30 percent increase in exhibitors over a record-setting summer 2022 market, will fill a newly constructed expansion pavilion next to their Pier 36 home, showcasing more than 500 exhibitors.
This latest edition of the design-driven event, first launched in 2018, continues to attract more celebrated international and domestic brands as well as top-tier brands and designers choosing Shoppe Object as the venue for their return to market after an extended hiatus. The winter show also features its signature mix of exclusive new brand discoveries, increased sponsorship of talented Black designers through Shoppe Object’s Black Lives Matter Action Initiative, and the return of beloved country pavilions, including Showcase Japan and Made In Ireland, as well as the launch of several strategic partnerships designed to bring more fresh product to market from places near and far. In total, more than 100 hand-selected additions have been added to Shoppe Object’s ever-growing roster, seeking to present “the very best of Home and Gift.”
The show’s founder and show director, Jesse James, shared this: “Coming off of a remarkable summer show and heading into the unknown of 2023, we aimed high, setting some pretty lofty expansion goals, and I’m beyond thrilled to say that we’ve exceeded them, continuing to raise the bar for our community. The significant increase in our footprint this winter is both an answer to the needs of our buyers, and to the continued strength of our waitlist.
"It’s been in the works for some time, and the addition of our new Cityside Pavilion, connected to our existing Riverside Pavilion at Pier 36, allows us to bring a greater selection of quality brand partners to our unique hybrid model (Shoppe Object and its digital counterpart, Shoppe Online).” Further addressing the growth this season, he adds, “We focused first on broadening our collections for the home, bringing exciting international brands to the show like Bomshbee, Charvet Editions, Pappelina, and Yamazaki, and we’re equally honored that brands like Graf Lanz, Etú Home, Rifle Paper with their new focus on home decor, Fog Linen, and Sin – among many others – are joining Shoppe Object this season after a long break from doing shows.”
In addition to the growing presence of larger, established design brands, several new initiatives will create more opportunities for smaller makers this market. A new pilot program, the Global Artisan Project, broadens the show’s representation of handmade products from around the world, in partnership with Karen Gibbs and Colvin English of By Hand Consulting. Washington DC-based Aid To Artisans is joining the show for the first time, highlighting collaborations with enterprises in Mexico. Kiel Mead, founder and principal of Brooklyn-based American Design Club, has forged a multi-market alliance with the show, to develop a unique incubator program at Shoppe Object.
The existing BLMAI, Shoppe Object’s Black Lives Matter Action Initiative, doubles to sponsor 20 brands, fostering a better, more representative market for home and gift. Recent BLMAI participating brand Cool & Brown says, “The mentorship gave us a crash course with tools and information that we never thought we’d be able to achieve.” Another recent BLMAI participant, Oya Abeo, shares, “It was a transformative experience for my brand. I feel like we went from kindergarten to graduate school in a hot minute! I was inducted into a community of veteran brands who were all happy to share their experiences with me, and I interacted with buyers I had only thought of in dream scenarios.”
Shoppe Object’s steadfast commitment to curation and unwavering attention to detail have been mainstays of its appeal, fostering loyalty among buyers and brands alike. Laci Combs, owner of Mongrel in Richmond, VA, says, “This show keeps getting better and better. It’s great going to a show that brings in new vendors and offers new experiences. I always leave Shoppe Object inspired, and with so many cool new vendors for our store.” And Victoria Whitbread of London’s British Colour Standard, a returning exhibitor at the show, puts it this way: “The best thing about it really is that there is not a duff brand in the show. It’s what makes it one of the best, if not the best gift and homeware show in the world.”
Of the feedback, James says, “It’s music to my ears.” James and a small team of tastemaker friends and coworkers, including Sales Director Renata Bokalo and Head of Growth & Engagement Jojo Feld, vet each application and oversee every detail of the event. Adds James, “We’re approaching a year since our acquisition by IMC (International Market Centers), and despite early theories among some that the partnership might change the ethos of Shoppe Object, our markets are proving the opposite to be true; we’ve been given the tools and resources to double-down on our commitments to quality, community, and thoughtful growth. It’s incredibly validating.”
Shoppe Object will take place February 5-7 at Pier 36 in NYC. The show is open each of the three days from 9am – 6pm. To RSVP, visit the Shoppe Object website and click on the “Join Us” page to either create or log into your Shoppe Online profile. Then click the “RSVP” button to generate a QR code that acts as your ticket to the show. A copy of the QR code, as well as registration confirmation, will arrive by email. Be sure to sign up for the Shoppe Object email newsletter for regular updates, invites, and inspiration all season.
