The Gourmet Housewares Show today announced the activation of the Online Catalog Gallery - a visual product finder - with 10 catalogs already posted and some 50 more anticipated, according to GLM, the show's operator. Charter companies include Breville, Nespresso, Nordic Ware, Scanpan Cookware and more.

The Online Catalog Gallery is powered by Whereoware's Active Merchandiser technology and allows tradeshow attendees to browse exhibitor catalogs or brochures, at the product level by clicking the "Online Catalog Gallery" button at www.thegourmetshow.com. Fully integrated with lead generation and reporting, the technology enables connections and appointments to be made before, during and after the Gourmet Housewares Show, according to GLM.

"The Online Catalog Gallery affords Gourmet Housewares Show exhibitors 24/7 visibility of products to a vast audience, augmenting their return on investment, while also providing an effective online planning and sourcing tool for attendees," said Penny Sikalis, vp and show manager of the Gourmet Housewares Show.

Media Contact
Bill Haskitt
(703) 889-1212
bhaskitt@whereoware.com

For Immediate Release  

Whereoware Adds Adam Schrier to Its Extensive Team

Schrier to Lead Expansion into New Industries with Online Catalog Gallery

Herndon, VA - Whereoware, the leading provider of web-based eCommerce and eMarketing technology to the Gift and Home Industry, adds Adam Schrier to the newly created post of Executive Director of Marketing and Business Development.  In his new position, Schrier will focus his efforts on building Whereoware's brand and developing new lines of business, particularly through its Online Catalog Galleries which uses Active Merchandiser^TM technology.  Formerly, Schrier served thirteen years at Andrea by Sadek, the last seven as the Director of Sales and Marketing.  This valuable experience will add to Whereoware's capabilities in its core Gift and Home Industry.  Schrier has an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and is a member of the Gift and Home Trade Association Board of Directors.

            "Over the last two years, Adam repeatedly proved himself as one of our most innovative customers, " said Eric Dean, President of Whereoware.  Dean continued, "When Adam approached me about the next step in his career, the match between our plans and his skills set was easy to recognize.  He combines a deep understanding of both our customers' changing needs and Whereoware's capabilities. Adam will be an invaluable asset as we expand into other industries through our Online Catalog Gallery efforts.  He will also add a great deal to our existing business in the gift and home industry he knows well."

            Entering its second year, Whereoware's Online Catalog Gallery continues its rapid growth, both in results delivered to existing customers and in new Industries.  Activity at the first Gallery, the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), is expected to grow to 15,000 qualified leads and 8 million catalog page views this year and up to ten new Galleries at other show and publishing venues are planned.  For more information on the Online Catalog Galleries please visit http://www.onlinecataloggallery.com/ or contact Whereoware at 703-889-1200.

About Whereoware
Whereoware is a software and professional services business serving manufacturers in the Gift, Home and Lighting Industries with proven success and great endorsements from the leading players. Founded by Gift and Home Industry veterans in 1999, Whereoware benefits from unique insights into the complex operational and marketing challenges faced by today's manufacturers and translates this expertise into solutions that are right for today. In a world where traditional sales and marketing channels are increasingly losing market share, companies are turning to the Internet to find operating efficiencies and new ways to capture and service customers. No other channel can match the current or future sales potential of the Internet. However, the complexity of executing a market-driven strategy combined with the intricate operational issues surrounding a database driven, web-based sales and marketing strategy exceeds a manufacturer's typical internal IT capacity. Whereoware is located at 505 Huntmar Park Drive, Suite 200 in Herndon, VA 20170.  For additional information about Whereoware call 703-889-1200, contact sales@whereoware.com or visit www.whereoware.com.

About Online Catalog Gallery
The Online Catalog Gallery uses the Active Merchandiser^TM technology from Whereoware, enabling individual exhibitors to quickly and easily load their own catalogs directly to the NYIGF® website. Exhibitors can change or update their information in real-time making the Online Catalog Gallery the most up-to-date source of product information available.

Use of NYIGF® Online Catalog Gallery Skyrockets More Than 2,500 Leads Generated by Retailers in Advance of August Show

WHITE PLAINS, NY - Taking advantage of a sophisticated new Internet planning tool, more than 2,500 qualified leads have been generated from the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) Online Catalog Gallery in advance of the Summer 2008 market. Since going live in April 2008, this newest feature which is available through the NYIGF® website at www.nyigf.com/catalog, has received more than 1.5 million catalog page views.

Designed to save considerable product sourcing time, the Online Catalog Gallery enables buyers to view product assortments prior to attending the market. A total of 138 exhibitors have loaded their product catalogs into NYIGF®'s Online Catalog Gallery, offering retailers access to information about some 50,000+ products that will be featured at the August show. Simply by using a keyword search, retailers can find information specific to their needs and interests.

"The Online Catalog Gallery creates tremendous efficiencies for buyers and exhibitors," said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF® director. "Buyers can source product, set appointments and arrive prepared to place orders. Exhibitors gain valuable exposure before and after the Fair, extending the value of their participation and generating immediate and measurable results."

Response to this new online planning tool has been overwhelmingly positive from both buyers and exhibitors. "The Online Catalog Gallery is the next 'power tool' for us to connect to buyers," said exhibitor Sunny Lim of The Homeport. "We already have received leads from potential overseas and domestic buyers who will visit us at the summer show. We definitely made the right decision in being part of this program."

"We are very pleased with the results of the Online Catalog Gallery, and we continue to receive leads week after week," added exhibitor Tom Zimmerman of Two's Company, Inc. "Best of all is that we can tell exactly what each prospective customer was looking for when they were inspired to contact us."

The Online Catalog Gallery uses the Active Merchandiser™ technology from Whereoware, enabling individual exhibitors to quickly and easily load their own catalogs directly to the NYIGF® website. Exhibitors can change or update their information in real-time making the Online Catalog Gallery the most up-to-date source of product information available.

NYIGF® is the nation's premier gift and home accessory marketplace, with 2,800+ exhibitors featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 38,000 buyers from around the world are expected to attend.

Press Contact: Cathy Steel, 203-340-9251, cathysteel@cathysteelassociates.com

New York Gift Fair takes exhibits to the Web
By Nancy Mann Jackson

Exhibitors at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) in August didn't have to wait until the show started to begin taking orders. In April, the NYIGF launched its first-ever Online Catalog Gallery, which let buyers view product assortments before attending the show and request information or face-to-face meetings with specific exhibitors. During the three months prior to the show and six weeks after, the online gallery, which featured 155 exhibitors, received more than 3.5 million page views and more than 5,600 information requests.

"The Online Catalog Gallery offers an expanded market beyond the five days of the fair," says Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF Show Manager. "Exhibitors have an opportunity to showcase their products before and after the show. Buyers can browse the catalogs to get an advance peek at what will be offered at the NYIGF, and create their own list of key products and vendors to see. They arrive at the show with scheduled appointments and a list of products they want to touch and feel." The benefits continue after the market, with the information remaining online for six weeks after the show, when the next show's catalog is posted.

To create the gallery, NYIGF partnered in a revenue-share arrangement with Whereoware, a Web-based technology provider with experience in the gift industry. The partnership keeps overhead costs low because Whereoware provides the systems and the technology, while NYIGF provides the customer base. The two organizations jointly sell the product, with Whereoware handling more global and list-based selling, while NYIGF deals primarily with current customers. New exhibitors at the show pay $495 to participate in the online gallery, or $425 when renewing their booth contract.

"We worked closely with Whereoware to develop the structure and category options for exhibitors, and then we pre-loaded some of the most popular searches and some key exhibitor catalogs," Falkenberg says. The catalog uses Whereoware's Active Merchandiser technology, which enables individual exhibitors to quickly and easily load their own catalogs directly to the NYIGF Web site. Exhibitors can change or update their information in real time.

NYIGF promoted the new online gallery on almost all attendee direct mail and e-mail communications, supplemented by e-mails devoted exclusively to the catalog. The gallery was also promoted heavily on NYIGF's Web site, with a link on every page of the site and a major splash on the exhibitor search page, which many buyers use to plan their visits to the show.

Falkenberg also sees the gallery as an attendance promotion in its own right. As with most shows, NYIGF attendees list new products as the No. 1 reason for attending. The gallery gives them a sneak peek at the new products to expect on site, and validates their reasons for attending.

"We were extremely pleased with the results the first time around and feedback from exhibitors has been similarly positive," Falkenberg says. "Visitor feedback was equally upbeat, especially with regard to the quantity and quality of products shown, and how the gallery helped them plan their visit to the show."

Almost all participating exhibitors plan to do so again for the upcoming Winter 2009 show. "We're very pleased with the results of the Online Catalog Gallery," says exhibitor Tom Zimmerman of Two's Company. "We received leads week after week, and best of all, we can tell exactly what each customer was looking for when they contacted us."


NYIGF's Strategy

GOAL: To expand the reach of the exhibit floor and make it easy for exhibitors to showcase their wares online while allowing buyers to browse products and make contacts prior to the show.
STRATEGY: Develop an easy-to-use Online Catalog Gallery, available to exhibitors at an additional fee, to facilitate pre- and post-show browsing and set appointments for the show.
RESULTS: With 155 exhibitors participating, the show's first Online Catalog Gallery yielded more than 3.5 million page views and more than 5,600 information requests.


Nancy Mann Jackson, a freelance writer and editor, writes for a number of associations and corporations. She has worked on the editorial staff of Convene and is a college writing teacher and marketing communications consultant. Contact her at nancy@writeshoponline.com.