Today's guest post is from Fran Cleaves, senior national account executive and marketing director for GIFT SHOP Magazine.

We at GIFT SHOP spend a lot of time at the forum, answering questions, looking for new products and learning more about our audience. Lately there's been a lot of questions about which gifts show to attend. As a national account executive for GIFT SHOP Magazine, I find myself going to gift shows multiple times throughout the year, so I thought I'd do a little personal recap of the shows. (Views and opinions of the shows may vary widely, so bear in mind, these are just mine.)

I'm going to start with the National Stationery Show (NSS) in NYC in May. (This show is sentimental for me because it's where we first debuted GIFT SHOP.) Before having gone to this show, I never would have thought the coverage would have been so broad. In truth, I never actually sat down and thought about all the categories that encompass stationery—there are loads. Gift wrap, greeting cards, writing instruments—of course, stationery—are just the tip of the iceberg. There is even a nice variety of eco-friendly products. In all of the years we've now been exhibiting, I can tell you that at this show we can confidently rely on a consistent flow of traffic. Before we even had a magazine in print, it was a very worthwhile and prosperous show to attend.

Next on the docket was the second of Atlanta's two shows at Americasmart (the first one is in January). For those of you who have never experienced Atlanta, it's like no other. It's the biggest gift show, in terms of sheer size, that I've ever been to. We exhibit in Building 3, where a large portion of the temporaries exhibit. (Temporaries mean that vendors set up and break down twice a year.) There are three buildings and each one has at least 18 floors to keep one busy. And come January 2009, a fourth building will open.

Here's what I was told in August—"The temporaries housed in Building 3 will now be moving to Building 4 and in its place will be furniture." In Building 2, you'll find many permanent showrooms (and some temporaries too—if my memory serves me correctly) which are fixed stores specifically showcasing all the lines of a vendor. There are also various manufacturers' reps with permanent showrooms where you will find a multitude of the vendors they represent sharing the space. Building 1 is where you'll find country, outdoor/garden, lodge and many more categories.

If you attend or exhibit at this show I strongly recommend comfortable footwear. (You'll thank me later.) One thing I personally enjoy is the Cash & Carry aspect, where a little spending money goes a long way—as well as a nice stroll through the gourmet section (samples!). One thing I most appreciate is how nice everyone associated with the show is—so helpful and always sincerely welcoming. It's southern charm at its best.

Just a few days after Atlanta, it's off to Chicago. The thing I like about the Chicago show is one can spend quality time with other vendors. Plus, in addition to some of the exhibitors found at bigger shows, you get a chance to see regional exhibitors and artisans not found in Atlanta or New York. You also will see some of the hot "green" items being offered from this neck of the woods. I find that the green offerings differ depending on where you go in the country.

My last show this year was the NYIGF (New York International Gift Fair) in August. I've seen this show improve every time I go. It's spread out into Piers, 7West, Extracts, Metropolitan Center and the "The Mother Ship" aka, the Javits. The NYIGF was a big nod for prompting GREEN Retailer—there was just so much that fell under natural, organic, sustainable, green, eco-friendly and recycled that it seemed only natural to expand into that direction. NYIGF offers quite an array of products in many different categories in January and even more in August.

I can't attend every show, but this is what I've heard about some of the others. San Francisco is always a good show and has products you will only find on the west coast. Las Vegas is getting big news and attention—keep an eye out, that's another place you may soon see us. I've also heard that Dallas attendees are buyers more than just browsers. Finally, curiosity has made me inquire about Toronto, and from what I hear, it's Canada's version of Atlanta. It's definitely on my list to check out. 

I would love to hear your impressions on these or any other shows you've exhibited at or attended.