Category Archives: Buyers Market Blog

PHILADELPHIA (February 17, 2013) –  Forty studio artists and 18 college students from the U.S. and Canada are winners this year of the prestigious 2013 NICHE Awards for excellence in fine craft design.

The contest is sponsored by NICHE Magazine, a trade publication for retailers of artist-made and American-made products.

The NICHE Awards program recognizes the creative achievements of professional and student artists based in the U.S. and Canada. read more

BUYERS MARKET: 160 New Artists Including 5 Merit Award Winners

PHILADELPHIA (February 13, 2013) – The Buyers Market of American Craft will open Saturday with nearly 800 exhibitors, including 160 artists whose gift, home and fashion products are new to this wholesale trade show.

The new artists include five winners of the Buyers Market Merit Award. This annual prize grants U.S. and Canadian artists their first opportunity to show designs to retailers in a national wholesale trade show. read more

Spotlight on Artful Fashions for the Retail Market

Artist-Made Apparel & Accessories “Rock the Runway” in Philadelphia

 BALTIMORE  (February 1, 2013) – The fashion industry’s wake-up call came last year when Olympians and fans demanded American-made designs. So where can independent retailers go now to source authentically American-made apparel, handbags and accessories, jewelry and outerwear?

Designs made by American artists will be presented at the Buyers Market of American Craft wholesale tradeshow, Saturday-Monday, February 16-18, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. There, store buyers and owners will discover that wearable art for the retail fashion marketplace has a new vibe that is youthfully contemporary. Emerging from artist studios now are ready-to-wear and limited-edition collections and custom designs with contemporary silhouettes and affordable style, perfectly suited for boutiques and shops catering to women who want statement-making clothes. read more

Don’t Miss the Jewelry Preview on Feb. 15 in Philadelphia

BALTIMORE (January 24, 2013) — The Buyers Market of American Craft has assembled its largest Jewelry section in three years, trade show organizers announced today. Retailers who attend the Jewelry Preview at the Buyers Market on Friday, February 15, 2013, from 4-7pm at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, will get a first look at hundreds of new designs.

“We will have more than 300 designers and suppliers in our Jewelry section, plus another 60 jewelry makers in our glass, ceramic and mixed media sections – exclusively from U.S. and Canadian studios,” says Rebecca Mercado, show director. read more

Buyers Market Sets New January Dates for 2014

The “American Made Show” Anticipates Growth in 2013 and 2014

BALTIMORE (January 16, 2013) — The Buyers Market of American Craft invites retailers to plan now for 2014, when this premier wholesale tradeshow for American-made and artist-made gift products will move to new January dates.

The Buyers Market dates for next year will be Saturday-Tuesday, January 18-21, 2014, with a Jewelry Preview on Friday, January 17, 2014, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

This year’s show will take place Saturday-Monday, February 16-18, 2013, with a Jewelry Preview on Friday, February 15, in the same venue.

“The Buyers Market is positioning itself to grow, based on the welcome increase we have seen this year in the numbers of exhibiting artists and pre-registered buyers,” says Rebecca Mercado, show director. read more

BALTIMORE (December 21, 2012) – Retailers who attend the Buyers Market of American Craft tradeshow in February will be able to use their smart phones to locate desired products and favorite artists on the show floor.

The digital and customizable floor map is one of many new buyer services that will debut at the Buyers Market, Feb. 16-18, 2013, and its annual Jewelry Preview on Feb. 15, 2013, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

Want to buy local? Search the show roster by your city or state, and pinpoint the location of those artists on the floor map. read more

Deadline extended to Friday, October 5, 2012, at 5 p.m.

Because we have received so many calls and e-mails from craft artists who want to apply, we will extend the submission deadline to Friday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. for the professional and student divisions.

Our distinguished jurors will begin their work on Oct. 7, so hurry and apply today!

Enter online at the NICHE Awards website, where you will also find contest guidelines and a link for paying the entry fee by credit card. Payment by check or money order is also permitted.  read more

Please welcome and thank the 2013 NICHE Awards jurors:

NICHE magazine, the trade publication for retailers of fine craft and handmade-in-America products, is pleased to announce the names of its jurors for the 2013 NICHE Awards competition for craft artists. The NICHE Awards recognize innovation in fine craft produced by U.S. and Canadian artists and students of craft. read more

CEO Wendy Rosen Extends Her Leave

On Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, Wendy Rosen, our CEO and publisher, halted her campaign for U.S. Congress. Acknowledging the disappointment of her many supporters, friends and colleagues, Rosen issued an apology and thanked them for remaining committed to the mission of improving job opportunities for artists. She will continue to be on leave from managing The Rosen Group while she addresses matters associated with closing out her campaign. Additionally, Rosen is working on developing new projects to benefit entry-level artists, including a third edition of her book, “Crafting as a Business.” As always, she is available to consult privately with artists about their businesses. read more

In a brief letter to exhibitors, The Rosen Group announced the cancellation of NICHE: The Show, its three-year-old Las Vegas trade show, and invited past participants to move to the company’s flagship show, the Buyers Market of American Craft.

The Buyers Market will take place February 16-18, 2013, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

“After producing three respectable and gorgeous small shows during Jewelry Week in Las Vegas, we have decided not to repeat NICHE: The Show there,” wrote Rebecca Mercado, director of both shows. “Economic factors, including the cost of producing a show in Las Vegas, have contributed to our decision to research other alternatives. In the Jewelry Week marketplace, we encountered formidable challenges to growing our show to a size that could justify the investment required.” read more