Los Angeles Gift Show

I attended the Los Angeles Gift Show for the first time this year. It was an interesting combination of Cash & Carry and typical tradeshow booths, and I was surprised just how many small start-up companies participated. Here’s a few favorites and insights I wanted to pass along…

TOKYOMILK really stood out . The brand was created by designer Margot Elena, who also created Lollia, Bloom Essentials, and Love & Toast. I loved this brand’s pretty yet clean design aesthetic and clever packaging. I noticed a Kiss & Tell kit complete with a sheer lipstick and mints bound in a really pretty slide box that you would love to carry in your hand bag. TOKYOMILK also has quite a selection of small and sweetly decorated makeup mirrors that you’d be happy to be seen using.

I also really enjoyed meeting Ianthe Kabakov,and learning more about her eco green coconut wax candles, which triple as a body butter and perfume balm. She had cleaver clean fragrances including Lawn Bowling, Asher and Dahlia (named for her kids), and she suggested that you light the candle for a bath then use the softened butter all over your body when you get out. According to Ianthe, the wax is completely organically grown and sustainable, and she packages them up in recycled glass jars and repurposed ribbon and brown paper – GREAT ideas.

The Boutique, Spa & Wellness section only made up 5-10% of the show and was a bit less trafficked than the Cash & Carry area. In speaking with the vendors, I learned that the LA show was less known for order writing than information gathering and follow up compared with the New York and Atlanta gift shows. All that said, pretty consistently folks said they had landed new accounts making it worth their while. We also found out that there were less booths this year than in years past.

All in all, the LA Gift Show was worth the trip, and I’d love to go back next year to compare the experiences.