NY NOW summer show reported increased traffic, robust order writing

NY NOW concluded a successful summer show, the first edition under the leadership of Rockview Management Group. Buyer attendance increased by 5% over last year, after several years of declining attendance, and drew buyers from 49 states and 40 countries. Fifty-eight percent of buyers attending came from the Tri-state region (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) with California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, Maryland and Virginia comprising the top ten states in order of number of buyers attending. The summer show featured 460 exhibitors, including more than 70 who showed for the first time or returned after a hiatus. From emerging makers to established industry favorites, the Summer show offered buyers a broad cross-section of brands across every major category, including home décor, wellness, tabletop, stationery, personal accessories, children’s goods, gourmet, fine jewelry and emerging lifestyle brands. New exhibitors — including Dr. Squatch, Weleda, cuddle+kind, Capri Blue, Printfresh, Pura, Beatriz Ball, Lauren Newton Jewelry, Kimberly Hodges Art & Design and dozens more — joined returning brands to create one of the show’s most dynamic assortments in recent years. Loren and Marisa from New Jersey based store Love Letters, said, “We had such a great buying experience at the NY NOW show! There was an excellent selection of quality products, and the vendors were friendly and helpful. We found some great new items for our customers and look forward to attending again!” “After shopping the NY NOW show for just over 30 years, I can confidently say that NY NOW has officially begun its journey back towards its heyday. It was wonderful seeing so many vendors, old and new, and there was an energy in the air that made us feel as though there’s new, young talent in those halls, just waiting to be discovered,” said Elizabeth at Home Grown from Pennsylvania. Positive energy was felt throughout the show experience from buyers walking the aisles, to new show branding seen throughout the facility, as well as interactive activations, morning mimosa bars and an opening night reception. This general excitement translated into real business with exhibitors reporting robust order writing — right up until the close of the show. Noelle VanHendrick from ZPOTS said, “The vibe and energy were unreal at this Summer show. I’ve been doing this show a long time, and some of my buyers who haven’t been to NY NOW for years came back and wrote orders with me again. I’m really excited for the future.” “We didn’t just write reorders, but had over 60% new orders at this Summer show. From small shops to big institutions, in addition to significant museum and educational presence and a lot of catalogs. This has been by far the most successful show we’ve had in a very long time and reached pre-pandemic levels,” said Sarah Rubin, Owner and Designer at Rubyzaar.

A strong start to NY NOW’s next chapter

The Summer 2026 show reflected the organization’s commitment to investing in the future of the wholesale marketplace while building on NY NOW’s more than century-long legacy. Across three days, retailers, designers, specialty stores, museum shops, department stores and independent boutiques gathered to source new products, strengthen existing partnerships and discover emerging brands. “We are so proud of what we accomplished since acquiring the show just three months ago,” said Dorothy Belshaw, CEO of NY NOW. “The energy, excitement and positive feedback from both buyers and exhibitors was overwhelming, and we are so grateful to the industry for supporting our vision of transformation.” The strong turnout underscored the industry’s continued demand for meaningful, in-person connection and product discovery in one of the country’s most influential retail markets.

Building momentum for Winter 2027

Building on the momentum of the Summer show, NY NOW will return to the Javits Center Jan. 31–Feb. 2, 2027, with a refreshed market experience designed to make product discovery easier and more robust for buyers and increase visibility for exhibitors. The Winter show will introduce a simplified floor plan organized around three core destinations — Gift & Lifestyle, Home and Handmade — creating a more thoughtful sourcing experience while encouraging buyers to explore the full breadth of the show floor. The show will also celebrate the return of Handmade, a category long associated with NY NOW, alongside expanded agency participation, international exhibitors and the return of the Greeting Card Association’s NOTED event. “On-site sign-up for Winter 2027 indicates we are tracking toward a 96 percent renewal rate,” said Belshaw. “We hosted 107 exhibitor prospects at this show and are working to accommodate them for the upcoming show as well.” For more information, visit nynow.com.