Pipestem State Park hosts Gift Buyers Marketplace Feb. 8-10

            A trade show for gift and souvenir buyers is scheduled at Pipestem Resort State Park, Monday through Wednesday, Feb. 8-10. An annual event, the trade show brings wholesale vendors and gift shop buyers together under one roof for three days. Buyers must register in advance or at the door. There is no charge for buyers to attend.

            “Marketplace is an opportunity for gift shop or businesses with gift sales to meet a variety of wholesale vendors. We get to see merchandise and new products for the coming year,” says Rita McAllister, a buyer for Twin Falls Resort State Park. “It is a one-stop wholesale shopping for any gift shop or business that is interested.”      

            The gift show is known as Gift Buyers Marketplace or the Pipestem Gift Show and welcomes buyers from parks, attractions, retail shops and shop buyers looking for new souvenir or gift ideas for retail sales. This 2010 Gift Buyers Marketplace features items ranging from shirts and caps, wood works and novelty items to West Virginia products.

            “In today’s retail world it is nice to have an opportunity to come to a show with more than 40 vendors under one roof,” says Sue Newton, gift shop coordinator at Pipestem Resort. “I get to actually look at the merchandise to make a buying decision and talk with the salesperson one-on-one, and the vendors get to see a lot of buyers.”

            The Marketplace starts Monday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and runs through noon Wednesday, Feb. 10. The agenda includes opportunities for buyers and vendors to network as well as one-on-one appointments and merchandising opportunities. A vendors list is available. The exhibit hall is staged in the Hudkins Conference Center at Pipestem’s McKeever Lodge. Buyers must register to attend the show. Buyers may download a registration form at www.pipestemresort.com and click on Buyers Registration Form.  Pre-registration by phone is recommended for buyers or they may register as walk-ins Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

            For additional information about Pipestem’s Gift Buyers Marketplace 2010, vendors list or buyers registration, call Pipestem Resort at 304 466-1800.