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Industry Thought Leaders to Share Expertise Regarding Current Retail Trends, Consumer Preferences, Product Sourcing, Branding, and the Future of Retailer AI
New York, NY (July 8, 2025) –
Independent and specialty retailers are looking forward to gaining insights from thought leaders across various retail sectors at the upcoming NY NOW 2025 Summer Market B2B tradeshow scheduled for August 3-5, 2025, at NYC’s Javits Center. Educational displays, speakers, panel discussions, demonstrations, tours, and more, over the entire three-day schedule will make up the insightful and content-rich programming for NY NOW’s Marketing Happenings which is open to all attendees.
“NY NOW is renowned for bringing together the best and brightest to share the latest on everything that impacts many aspects of specialty retail and across all sectors that are the focus of this one-of-kind trade event,” said Matthew Mathiasen, Show Director of NY NOW. “And the programming scheduled for our Marketing Happenings at this summer’s show is sure to not disappoint and is tailored specifically to be on trend for helping both buyers and suppliers drive the future success of their business.”
NY NOW Summer 2025 Marketing Happenings Overview
Every Day of the Show, August 3-5
Display: Oprah Daily Editor’s Picks
Will spotlight the standout NY NOW products and lifestyle essentials loved by the editors behind Oprah’s trusted brand, from everyday game-changers to feel-good finds.
Display: Nelly Rodi Trend Gallery
Expert strategic consulting agency for the creative industry NellyRodi will share their vision and actionable direction for Spring/Summer 2026, a forward-looking exploration of the season’s key trends in color, material, lifestyle, and consumer behavior.
Display: NY NOW 2025 Awards Gallery
As a preview of NY NOW’s Summer Market 2025 Innovation & Impact Awards, the nine finalists will be on display for each of the award categories: Sustainability & Social Impact, Trailblazer, and Emerging Brand. All attendees can participate in the “People’s Choice Vote” and thereby help choose the winners to be announced at the event.
Ongoing Show Experiences
DIY Stations, food & beverage sample stations, tarot card readings, custom calligraphy, tablescape installations, board games and darts by Gentleman’s Hardware, live painting, and more soft seating for mid-show rest stops than ever before.
Sunday, August 3
Community Chat, 11 am: The Content Connection – Making Social Media Work for You
Owners of Famous in Oregon Tanner and Erika Mitchell, the creative minds behind one of today’s most beloved plant and lifestyle brands, will share expert insights on building an engaged online community through storytelling, video strategy, and authenticity in this interactive session.
Demonstration, 12 pm: Unlocking Unified Commerce with Shopify POS
Shopify experts Neilson Flemming and James Greco will show how to harness the power of Shopify POS to elevate in-person retail experiences through streamlining operations, unifying online/offline sales, and driving customer loyalty.
Community Chat, 1 pm: The Luxury Experience Edit – Story, Space & the Future of Selling
Luxury executives Simone Waldron and Paul Schneider will moderate a panel of visionary retailers on the future of selling as the industry enters an editorial era where what you sell still matters, but how you sell it matters even more.
Tour, 2 pm: The Artisan’s Path – A Global Journey of Heritage and Innovation
Retail strategist Helen Joffe will guide attendees on a curated and sensory journey through NY NOW’s Rising Artisans and International Pavilions that is designed to be an immersive experience blending heritage, innovation, intention, storytelling, and sustainability.
Fireside Chat, 2:15 pm: Finding Your Shoppers – Unlocking the Full Power of Digital Marketing
Chelsea Gladden, CEO of Everything Branding, will reveal how retailers can maximize their digital footprint by effectively using marketing channels that complement each other to reach targeted consumers.
Fireside Chat, 3:30 pm: The Every Channel Marketing Strategy – Driving Sales Through Social, Email, and Text
In this fast-paced and actionable session, OneShop founder Nick McHenry will share how to strategically link your social media, email, and text marketing into a seamless system that drives real results.
Happy Hour, 4 pm: Game Time Happy Hour
Hosted by DesignWorks Collective in collaboration with BV by Bruno Visconti and friends. Buyers can enjoy drinks at the Game Lounge in the Gift & Lifestyle neighborhood.
Monday, August 4
Community Chat, 9 am: Ask the Experts – Fresh Insights. Real Talk. Retail Ready.
In this new NY NOW educational series Crystal Vilkaitis, Founder of Rooted in Retail, will moderate this panel where top minds from across the NY NOW community share straight-to-the-point insights on what’s shaping the retail and brand landscape right now, including trend forecasting, visual merchandising, digital marketing, sourcing, AI, in-store innovation, and more.
Community Chat, 11 am: Knowing Your Numbers: Creating Your Scorecard for Success and Profit
Dane Cohen from Boutique Hub shares the 6-layers of retail to craft the retailer scorecard for success where attendees can join fellow buyers to learn and share ideas that build profit and community.
Community Chat, 1 pm: AI Now – Real Strategies for Retail Success
Crystal Vilkaitis will bring together a panel of industry leaders who are actively using AI technology in their businesses to demystify AI and provide actionable, real-world insights.
Fireside Chat, 2:15 pm: How Retail Trailblazers Scale: Lessons from Shopify and NetSuite
Join Shopify and NetSuite experts as they dive deep into how retailers like Hammit are achieving explosive growth by leveraging the ultimate commerce and ERP power combo.
Fireside Chat, 3:30: NellyRodi Trend Presentation
Presenter Jacqueline Rumohr will unveil NellyRodi’s bold, data-driven vision for Spring and Summer 2026 offering exclusive insights into the colors, materials, cultural shifts, and consumer behaviors that will shape the season’s creative landscape.
Happy Hour, 4 pm: Summer Celebration
Celebrate the season with Cozy Earth, JK Adams and friends with specialty cocktails, beer and wine while enjoying multi-brand table scape installations, sampling food tastings and viewing the new collections of the season.
Tuesday, August 5
Community Chat, 11 am, Accessories & Handbags for Modern Retailers
Join leading voices in the industry for an inside look at what’s next in accessories and handbags while offering insights on strategic buying. From shifting consumer preferences to trend-driven innovation, this conversation will explore how today’s most forward-thinking retailers are curating their assortments to stay relevant and drive sales.
Fireside Chat, 1:15pm, More Margin, Less Mayhem: Your Retail Profit Wake-Up Call
With rising costs, shifting customer behavior, and the impact of new tariffs looming over the industry, protecting profit is more urgent than ever. In this fast-paced, high-impact session, retail expert Cathy Donovan Wagner will show you how to plug margin leaks, make smarter buying decisions, and take control of the bottom line.
For more information on NY NOW or to learn about upcoming events, visit www.nynow.com.
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About NY NOW:
Powered by Emerald Expositions, NY NOW is the leading gift, home, and accessories wholesale trade show in New York City, where brands, buyers, and designers come twice per year to make the game-changing connections that supercharge their businesses. NY NOW and online wholesale marketplace partner, Bulletin, connects 5,000+ independent brands with 50,000+ U.S. and international buyers from independent stores, museums, department stores, bookstores, galleries, general gift shop, art & entertainment venues and many more.
With three core sections across 35+ product categories, NY NOW encompasses home décor and tableware, gifts, accessories, jewelry, and so much more. Attendees can explore an extensive range of offerings, from stationery, eclectic gifts, and trending home décor to aromatherapy and fragrance, lifestyle accessories, skincare, wellness, and fine jewelry. The show embraces the unrivaled thrill of in-person connection and endless discovery, alongside NY NOW Online, the integrated wholesale platform, making ordering a breeze for thousands of buyers in attendance. It’s a true hybrid wholesale experience.
About Emerald:
Emerald Holding, Inc. is the largest U.S.-based B2B event organizer, empowering businesses year-round by expanding meaningful connections, developing influential content, and delivering powerful commerce-driven solutions. As the owner and operator of a curated portfolio of B2B events spanning trade shows, conferences, B2C showcases and a scaled hosted buyer platform, Emerald also delivers dynamic solutions across leading industries through its robust content and e-commerce marketplace. Emerald is a trusted partner for its thousands of customers, predominantly small and medium-sized businesses, playing a pivotal role in driving ongoing commerce through streamlined buying, selling, and networking opportunities. Powered by an experienced team, Emerald is fostering impactful engagement and delivering unparalleled market access with a commitment to driving business growth 365 days a year. For more information, please visit: www.emeraldx.com