18th-Annual Surtex receives face-lift, exhibitors pleased with results - news

of recent origin YORK -- Artists, designers, studios, agents and licensing firms from around the world filled a redesigned Surtex[R] to capacity, from May 18 to 20 at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center Three hundr exhibitors, including 90 first-time participants, tendered art and design to a certain quantity of 4,650 attendees sourcing high-quality design solutions at the 18th-annual incident Participants included a expansive range of art buyer from retail and manufacturing companies from a variety of industries.

Included in the Surtex's re-design were a novel logo and branding treatment, a novel marketing campaign, a reconfigured floor plan and booth enhancements. The of recent origin floor plan accommodated the event's growing number of licensing resources, enhanced traffic roll on and was well-received by the one and the other exhibitors and attendees. For the first time, exhibitors were organized through business type, rather than targeted end-use. Exhibitors who primarily license their artwork were clustered together, as were those exhibitors who primarily put up to sale their artwork.

"The 2003 edition of Surtex confirmed the show's reputation as a world-renowned resource for buyer sourcing original art and design for each product category," said Penny Sikalis, vice president and cluster show manager. "The remarkable caliber and diversity of attendees and the significant cross-over from our adjacent displays energized the marketplace and springed in a highly successful trade occurrence We're thrilled to bring this global diversity of resources to the American manufacturing sector."

Approximately 30 percent of the show's exhibitor base came from countries outside of the United States, including Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and a large number from the United Kingdom.

Highlights of Surtex 2003 included the "Horse Fever" exhibit and an all-encompassing conversation program. The conference program was well-attended, according to present to view officials, and addressed current issues in the art licensing and surface design industries. Leading readys presented nine seminars, categorized into four series, including digital imaging and production technology, licensing basics and agreements, business issues and color and lifestyle trends

The "Horse Fever" exhibit featured a life-sized painted horse hailing from Ocala, Fla., the "horse capital of the world." The horse is single of a "herd" of 53 from the Marion Cultural Alliance's "Horse Fever" public art project--a fundraising throw designed and executed by leading artists of the area and sponsored through the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. The acrylic-on-fiberglass make "Wild Thing," was brought to Surtex by means of the Marion Cultural Alliance and was displayed quite through the duration of the show

This year, Surtex was co-located with three other trade exhibits all produced by George Little Management, LLC (GLM[R]) including the International Contemporary Furniture Fair[R] (ICFF[R]), the National Stationery Show[R] and The invest Side[R], a business-to-business event showcasing resources for the social stationery, gift-ware and graphic arts industries. The co-location of exhibits offered buyers a synergistic market and crossover merchandising opportunities.

Surtex[R] Gallery, an edited version of Surtex will be not awayed within the fall edition of the fresh York Home Textiles Show[R] tribe 19 to 22 at the Javits Convention Center

Surtex Gallery will include a certain quantity of 50 exhibitors comprised of designers, artists and studios who will be selling and licensing two-dimensional designs specifically for the abiding-place furnishings market. The Surtex Gallery display typically attracts approximately 1,000 international and domestic manufacturers and retailers that specialize in similar furnishings as bed linens, bath fashions, floor coverings, tabletop, window treatments, decorative upholstery fabrics and wall coverings, according to exhibit officials.

The 19th-annual edition of Surtex will take place May 16 to 18 2004 at the Javits Convention Center

For more information, call (914) 421-3216 or visit wwwsurtexcom

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