Are you an artisan producer or gift-shop owner?
Buyer Days, ANCA’s annual gift-product trade show which has been running for 25 years, features handmade products and specialty foods from regional artisans and producers. During the two-day event, about 120 gift shop attendees order roughly $200,000 worth of product from approximately 60 artisan exhibitors. When they resell these items back in the shop, retailers generate another $200,000. We estimate that this show alone generates $400,000 in direct sales annually.
Specialty foods now make up 25 percent of the show’s exhibitors. Product lines typically are of a style or theme most suited for the mountain, lake and river based setting of Northern New York and New England. This is a great opportunity to buy directly from the regional producers, meet the makers and learn their stories.
Registration now open for Buyer Days 2012
The 26th annual Adirondack North Country Association’s Buyer Days is taking place March 7-8, 2012 at the Saratoga Springs City Center.
Register online here. Pay by credit card or check. Payment needed to secure your space, as well as a signed copy of show terms and conditions. (Print and mail this form). Send to Adirondack North Country Association, 67 Main St., Suite 201, Saranac Lake, NY 12983.
Buyers are invited to come free of charge. We ask that you register, which can be done here
See who is coming here
Contact
Angela Petitto, Artisan Program Coordinator: anca@adirondack.org, 518-891-6200
Melissa Hart, 2012 Buyer Days Coordinator: mhart@adirondack.org, 518-891-6200
Other resources
Upstate New York Gift Expo is taking place Feb. 13-15, 2012 at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. In a special partnership, show organizers are offering a discount to exhibitors who have shown at Buyer Days. Contact Rob Igoe for details: 315-735-4877, rbigoe@verizon.net. http://www.upstatenygiftexpo.com
GiftBizBuzz.com: An online trade magazine just for retailers. Trade show listings, product info and more.
More on buying local
The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, or BALLE: North America’s fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, comprised of over 80 community networks in 30 U.S. states and Canadian provinces representing over 22,000 independent business members across the U.S. and Canada. Site contains lots of great information about the benefits of buying local.
“Think Local First” campaigns: Ready to take buying local to the next level? This link to BALLE’s “Think Local First” page points to resources on how to start a campaign to educate consumers about the economic and social advantages that independent and local businesses bring to a community.
SyracuseFirst: A great example of a community organization in BALLE’s membership base, SyracuseFirst is a not for profit network of locally owned, independent businesses and organizations dedicated to building a sustainable community by encouraging citizens to “Think Local First.”