Trade shows are ideal opportunities to view a wide variety of products first hand, to network with your peers, to get advice from experts, and to celebrate what you do.

Following is New Age Retailer's list of selected trade shows for 2009. Please note these dates are subject to change; always check the website or call to confirm show information before making plans. If there’s a trade show that should be included on this list, please email the details to us.

March 2009

Vancouver Gift Show
March 1-3, Vancouver, B.C.
888/823-7469, www.vancouvergiftshow.com
Includes amuse, by hand, dwell, give, indulge, and reward. Approximately 525 exhibitors.

Virginia Gift Show
March 1-3, Virginia Beach, Va.
800/318-2238, www.urban-expo.com
T-shirts, general giftware, fashion accessories, toys and games, decorative accessories, aromatherapy, greeting cards, paper goods and social stationery, tabletop, gourmet, and garden gifts. More than 400 exhibitors.

Natural Products Expo West
March 6-8, Anaheim, Calif.
866/458-4935, www.expowest.com
Natural and organic products including foods, dietary supplements, personal care products, and home goods. Educational events and seminars. 43,000 attendees, 2,600 exhibitors.

Gatlinburg Apparel and Jewelry Market
March 7-9, Gatlinburg, Tenn.
865/436-6151, www.nortonshows.com
Order writing, immediate delivery, and cash and carry show. Apparel, jewelry, furniture, candles, fragrances, oils, gourmet food, vitamins, herbs, cosmetics, pewter, stationery, gift wrap, and more. 12,000 attendees, 550 exhibitors.

Lansing Gift Show
March 8-10, Lansing, Mich.
231/526-1270, www.lansinggiftshow.com
Gift, souvenir, specialty food, resort apparel, jewelry and accessories, home décor, tabletop, retail point-of-sale systems, and label and packaging. 120 exhibitors.

Montreal Gift Show
March 8-11, Montreal, Quebec
888/823-7469, www.montrealgiftshow.com
Apparel, fashion accessories, contemporary handcrafted, general gift, gourmet food, garden accessories, holiday, floral, home and décor, housewares, jewelry, stationery, and more. 15,000 attendees, 350 exhibitors.

Hawaii Market Merchandise Expo
March 11-12, Kaneohe, Hawaii
800/525-5275, www.douglastradeshows.com
Jewelry, gift, apparel, fashion accessories, leather goods, art, and collectibles, plus products manufactured in Hawaii. Cash and carry.

Minneapolis Mart
March 13-17, Minnetonka, Minn.
800/626-1298, www.mplsgiftmart.com
Minneapolis Mart’s temporary show. Permanent showrooms feature more than 5,000 lines of gift and accessory merchandise.

Contemporary Crafts Market
March 14-15, San Francisco
808/422-7362, www.craftsource.org
Juried show includes accessories, baskets, ceramics, glass, jewelry, leather, metalwork, and more.

Atlanta Spring Gift, Home Furnishings, & Holiday Market
March 14-16, Atlanta
800/285-6278, www.americasmart.com
Includes a wide array of giftware, stationery, fine and fashion jewelry, and contemporary and traditional crafts. 85,000 attendees, 4,000 exhibitors.

Spring Gift and Home Furnishings Market
March 14-17, Los Angeles
800/677-6278, www.lamart.com
Gift, home décor, and accessories.

The Cape Cod New England Gift Show
March 15-16, Hyannis, Mass.
305/647-1918, www.capecodgiftshow.com
Clothing, gifts, and decorative accessories, jewelry, paper, stationery and gift wrap, arts and crafts, souvenirs, nature, and beach products. 350 to 500 attendees, more than 100 exhibitors.

ASD/AMD Trade Shows Las Vegas
March 15-18, Las Vegas
800/421-4511, www.merchandisegroup.com
Large, diverse buying event for variety and general merchandise industry. Features giftware, jewelry, Native crafts, apparel, baskets, boutique items, decorative and fashion accessories, and imports. Three shows held concurrently.

Kansas City Gift Market
March 20-23, Kansas City, Kan.
800/950-6278, www.kcgiftmart.com
More than 80 permanent showrooms marketing more than 4,000 lines of merchandise, five great markets, and 350-plus temporary exhibitors.

Columbus MarketPlace Show
March 20-24, Columbus, Ohio
800/686-6278, www.thecolumbusmarketplace.com
Gifts, collectibles, home furnishings, accessories, housewares, stationery, and floral items.

Heritage Cash & Carry Wholesale Market
March 20, Columbus, Ohio
717/249-9404, www.heritagemarkets.com
Traditional American handcrafts and select imports specializing in new and innovative products for the home and garden.

Offinger’s Handcrafted Marketplaces
March 21-22, Columbus, Ohio
740/452-4541, www.offingershandcrafted.com
Celebrating its 79th year, Offinger’s features handmade, limited production traditional crafts, gifts, home furnishings, furniture, and home accents.

New England Products Trade Show
March 21-23, Portland, Maine
800/638-6787, www.nepts.com
Juried selection of giftware, home furnishings, and specialty food from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. 2,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors.

International Home + Housewares Show
March 22-24, Chicago, Ill.
847/292-4200, www.housewares.org
The world’s largest home goods and housewares marketplace, showcasing thousands of new products and designs in four related product expos. 60,000 attendees. 2,100 exhibitors.

GlobalShop
March 23-25, Las Vegas
800/933-8735, www.globalshop.org
The largest retail design and in-store marketing show in the U.S. New-product displays, fixtures, lighting, and shelving. Seminars on buying trends, forecasts, and branding strategies. 12,000 attendees, 900 exhibitors.

Body Soul & Spirit Expo
March 27-29, Edmonton, Alberta
877/560-6830, www.bodysoulspiritexpo.com
Consumer show. Canada’s largest and longest-running holistic and spiritual-lifestyle expo. Showcases products, services, and resources that foster the individual quest for greater self understanding and improved well-being.

Boston Gift Show
March 28-31, Boston, Mass.
800/318-2238, www.urban-expo.com
Stationery, gourmet products and foods, general gifts, floral items, decorative and personal accessories, tabletop, traditional and contemporary crafts, souvenirs, jewelry, furniture, decorative accessories, and more. 10,000 attendees, 600 exhibitors.

Southwest’s Premier Marketplace
TBD, San Antonio, Texas
512/261-4223, www.parkertradeshow.com
Cash and carry show. Jewelry, apparel, bags, beads, belts, crystals, diamonds, gold, glassware, home accessories, beauty products, handbags, eyewear, pearls, perfumes, watches, and more. 9,000 attendees, 250 exhibitors.

Whole Health Expo
TBD, Northampton, Mass.
877/943-3976, www.wholehealthexpo.com
Consumer show. Natural health, healing, healthy home products, organic- cotton clothing, hemp products, yoga and meditation supplies, community organizations, intuitive counselors, consultants, financial planning, and new technologies. More than 100 exhibitors.