MARKET HAPPENINGS

Time: All show hours

Location: Central Hub, Booth 934

Description: To celebrate the contributions of all our exhibiting brands, NY NOW’s Innovation & Impact Awards recognizes the creativity and ingenuity of select exhibiting brands and gives our community an opportunity to showcase their products.

Stop by the Awards Gallery to see the finalists for our Winter ’26 Market in each category:

1. Sustainability & Social Impact
2. Trailblazer
3. Emerging Brand

Hosts: 41 Madison & Tabletop Association Companies

Time: All show hours

Location: Home Lounge, Booth 440

Description: Catch inspiration from the table displays featuring tabletop brands from the Home Collection this season showcased in the Home Lounge. Featuring products from BE HOME and brands from the 41 Madison and Tabletop Association Pavilion.

Time: All show hours

Location: Booth 1029

Description: The NY NOW hit is back! Show your buyer badge to receive the cutest gift of the summer – a Bestie Bottle. Your BFF for walks, sports, raves, and the rest of your adventures together, Bestie Bottles are made of vacuum-insulated stainless steel, have a leak-proof character lid, and are 100% BPA free. Grab yourself an adorable, converastion-starting way to stay hydrated.

Time: All show hours

Location: Booth 1429

Description: Stop by Inked by Dani during the market and experience their high-quality, realistic faux tattoos firsthand. See the designs up close, try one on, and discover how easy it is to offer bold, commitment-free ink.

Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Location: The Reset Lounge, Booth 640

Description: Make time for mindfulness and book a session with Gayle Stacher, our resident Tarot Card Reader. Learn about your present and future during a break from buying to reset and recharge for the day.

Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Location: The Reset Lounge, Booth 640

Description: Learn about your best color story with a personalized session with, Rotem Bar Lev, our resident Colorist. Book a session and return back to your scheduled time to gain customized insight to your colors.

Time: 10:30 am while supplies last

Date: Sunday, February 1

Location: The Promenade

Hosted by: Square

Description: Buyers are invited to enjoy complimentary mimosas while discovering fresh finds, connecting with peers, and easing into a productive day on the show floor. A perfect blend of inspiration, community, and a refreshing start to your sourcing journey.

Moderator: Simone Waldron – President of VP Next

Panelists:

Robin Kramer

Tom Mirabile – Founder & Principal of Springboard Futures

More Panelists to come!

Time: 11:00 – 11:45 am

Date: Sunday, February 1

Location: Central Hub, Booth 944

Description: Today’s luxury consumer isn’t defined by income level, but by taste, intention, and emotional resonance. In this conversation, we explore how a new generation is redefining luxury through design, storytelling, mood, heritage, and mindful purchasing, often favoring pieces that feel considered, meaningful, and culturally fluent over simply new or expensive.

Moderated by Simone Waldron, this session brings together trusted industry voices to explore what today’s sophisticated shopper is seeking from home and lifestyle retail, and how retailers can translate these insights into smarter assortments, richer in-store experiences, and deeper customer loyalty.

Educators: The Square Team

Time: 12:00 – 6:00 pm

Date: Sunday, February 1

Location: Booth 833

Description: Discover how to power your business with Square at this hands-on demo station. Buyers and exhibitors can explore the latest Square tools—from seamless POS solutions to advanced analytics—and get personalized guidance from on-site experts. Stop by to test drive the technology, ask questions, and learn how Square can streamline operations, elevate the customer experience, and support growth in today’s retail landscape.

Moderator: Zoe Jakubowich – Fractional Chief of Staff + VHS Consumer Investor

Panelists:

Sophie Weill — Founder of Nude Nation

Lorenzo Benazzo, Founder, CEO of Clientela

Joy Fan — Founder, CEO of Retell

Time: 1:00 – 1:45 pm

Date: Sunday, February 1

Location: Central Hub, Booth 944

Description: Visibility in 2026 is about consistency, credibility, and connection—not volume. This session breaks down how retailers can use modern PR, community-driven storytelling, and Clienteling to build lasting visibility and loyalty. Panelists will share what actually works today and how to create sustainable visibility systems that support long-term growth.

Guide: Helen Joffe

Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Date: Sunday, February 1

Location: Meet in the Central Hub

Description: Join retail strategist Helen Joffe for a curated journey through NY NOW’s Rising Artisans and International brands. An inspiring look at craftsmanship shaped by heritage, culture, and contemporary design.

In Rising Artisans, you’ll meet emerging makers whose work blends sustainable practices with expressive storytelling, offering a fresh perspective on the future of craft. Then explore our International brands, where country-led showcases highlight time-honored techniques alongside modern interpretations of global creativity.

This tour is designed to spark discovery, connect you with distinctive makers, and provide insight into the artistry shaping today’s conscious retail landscape.

Moderator: TBD

Panelists: TBD

Time: 3:00 – 3:45 pm

Date: Sunday, February 1

Location: Central Hub, Booth 944

Description: This panel brings together leaders in Cultural Retail and Heritage Retail to explore how today’s most influential institutions curate products that reflect mission, identity, and narrative. From exhibition-driven assortments to artist collaborations and craft-focused buying, these cultural tastemakers will share the universal curatorial principles that inspire consumers everywhere, offering retailers new ways to think about storytelling, purpose-driven merchandising, and the role of culture in shaping demand.

Hosted by: DesignWorks Collective with HERE’S HOW, PADDYWAX & GENTLEMEN’S HARDWARE

Time: 4:00 – Until supplies last

Date: Sunday, February 1

Location: Gifts and Game Lounge, Booth 1007

Description: Join us for a Day One celebration with cocktails, mocktails & beer at the Gift & Game Lounge, sponsored by DesignWorks Collective. Enjoy music by Gracie Lou and sample delicious beverages with HERE’S HOW, play games by GENTLEMEN’S HARDWARE and enjoy the end of your first day at NY NOW Winter Market.

Educators: The Square Team

Time: 12:00 – 6:00 pm

Date: Monday, February 2

Location: Booth 833

Description: Discover how to power your business with Square at this hands-on demo station. Buyers and exhibitors can explore the latest Square tools—from seamless POS solutions to advanced analytics—and get personalized guidance from on-site experts. Stop by to test drive the technology, ask questions, and learn how Square can streamline operations, elevate the customer experience, and support growth in today’s retail landscape.

Moderator: TBD

Panelists:

Joy Fan – Founder & CEO, Retell

Michelle Larivee – Founder & CEO, WTHN

Raquel Alvarez – Experiential Brand Manager, Dagne Dover

Time: 11:00 – 11:45 am

Date: Monday, February 2

Location: Central Hub, Booth 944

Description: With ongoing economic pressure and rising costs, retailers must build more durable revenue models. This session explores how brands are diversifying income through shop-in-shop partnerships, micro-events, and strategic use of physical retail—while maintaining strong cash flow and operational discipline. Panelists will share practical approaches to structuring partnerships, financing growth, and using retail space as a revenue driver, not a liability.

Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm

Date: Monday, February 2

Location: Booth 136

Description: Join us for intimate, high-impact Roundtables where brands and buyers connect through scheduled, curated meetings. These focused sessions are designed to spark new partnerships, deepen relationships, and create meaningful business opportunities. Seating is extremely limited and RSVP is required—secure your spot for this exclusive NY NOW experience.

Moderator: Dondrill Glover

Time: 3:00 – 3:45 pm

Date: Monday, February 2

Location: Central Hub, Booth 944

Description: Entertaining is evolving from intimate micro-gatherings to the rise of the “at-home restaurant,” as consumers reimagine how they host in ways that are deeply personal, intentional, and design-driven. This conversation brings together leading voices from the tabletop and home categories to explore the key shifts shaping tabletop in 2026 — from global influence and mixed materials to sustainable craft, sensory experiences, and the growing desire for fewer, better, more meaningful pieces. Together, we’ll unpack how today’s hosts are setting the stage for a new era of dining and celebration.

Time: 4:00 pm – While supplies last

Date: Monday, February 2

Location: Home Lounge, Booth 440

Description: Relax on Day 2 with a beer and a buddy at the Home Lounge Happy Hour. After your long day of buying, take a well deserved break on the show floor with bubbles and networking. Explore The Gallery and additional Home brands around the party.