New Tabletop Show dates set fall buying earlier
NEW YORK – The New York Fall Tabletop Show will be held in September this year, a strategic shift from its longstanding October timing and an acknowledgment of how much buying patterns have changed in the years since COVID.
The New York Tabletop Association voted unanimously to shift the show to September 16-19 this year for several reasons, said David Zrike, president of the association.
Lead times have increased in terms of product development, he said, while stores are setting their holidays earlier, in some cases by as many as 30 to 60 days earlier (Halloween displays have been spotted in July, for example.) An earlier fall show fits that new cadence better, noted Zrike, who is also president of Zrike Brands.
The September show will also coincide with the textiles show, officially called the New York Home Fashions Market, and although the product category buyers do not overlap with tabletop, upper-level store management would only have to travel once to New York to meet with executives in multiple product categories. “We’re trying to be sensitive to the rising cost of travel,” Zrike said.
“Obviously, it’s a challenging year in a lot of ways and we’re continuing to try to make sure the shows remain relevant and serve the needs of the customer. We also spoke to some key customers who were in favor of it,” he added.
“It gives our retail partners the opportunity to discover and place orders for products they can still launch in time for the holiday season, which is a key advantage,” agreed Maria Rios, marketing associate at Vista Alegre. “The only concern is the proximity to Maison & Objet [Sept. 4-8], which could create some logistical challenges for brands and buyers attending both. But overall, I believe the earlier timing is a smart move that better aligns with the retail calendar.”
Emma Ros, marketing and project manager for Orrefors Kosta Boda, had another reason why the earlier date might appeal to retail buyers: “October is too late, and it is hard for the buyers to escape Q4 activity outside of the office,” she said. “September should be better timing for buyers to focus on new introductions.”
Ralph Girardi, a product development executive at Certified International, said he was concerned the new date does not leave enough time to finish product development, “and with the rising costs or Fed Ex or UPS, shipping costs are prohibitive to meet the new deadline.” But he was hopeful nonetheless that the new timing might draw more buyers.
Zrike said his group is testing the waters with the new date this fall. Next year’s fall show will also take place in September, though the spring editions will remain in April for now. “We’re going to see how this goes and decide,” Zrike said.
Attendance at the show has grown since the Tabletop Association took over the running of the show in 2022, when Rudin Management, which owns 41 Madison, stopped producing the show, according to Zrike.
“We expect to continue that trend,” he said. “But to be honest, this is an extremely challenging year because of tariffs. Companies are cutting expenses and watching budgets very carefully, so in some ways, we have to take this year out of the equation. It’s a unique situation.”
