NY Now Refreshes Brand, Adds to Team

The renowned gift, home, and lifestyle trade show – once known as the New York International Gift Fair – has announced new branding and new sales and marketing staff.

NY Now has appointed four industry veterans to its sales and marketing team, along with a refreshed brand identity designed to reflect the show’s evolving direction.

The updated brand identity brings a fresh visual look to NY Now while retaining the name that exhibitors, buyers, and industry partners have known for years. The new team and renewed brand reflect the show’s focus on strengthening relationships and improving the experience for those who participate.

Inspired by the landmarks that make New York City unmistakably itself,  the new brand mark translates one of the city’s most-recognizable shapes (the route emblems of the subway system) into a signature that carries the feeling that this brand belongs in the city that inspired it.

“NY Now and New York City both have deep roots as centers of connection, commerce and discovery,” said Dorothy Belshaw, CEO of NY Now. “The new branding leans into those parallels and reflects the City’s bold energy and iconic imagery.”

The brand refresh begins immediately and will culminate in a full environmental rollout at the August show.

NY Now has hired new team members with deep industry knowledge to drive the show’s growth with thoughtful and strategic direction. New team members include:

Ashley Ciofrone, senior manager, customer success

She brings 13 years of experience in the gift, home, and trade show industry and has been involved with NY NOW throughout her career, building and maintaining relationships with brands across a range of categories. She is focused on customer experience and brand support.

Michelle Karol, vice president, business development

She has more than 18 years of experience in the gift and home industry, with a background in handmade, gift, luxury, and kitchen & table categories. She has worked across several trade shows in business development roles, with a focus on cultivating exhibitor and buyer partnerships. She spent the last 11 years working on the Las Vegas Market and, prior to that, seven years at NY Now with specific oversight of the Handmade division.

Leanna Worrall, vice president, business development

She brings over 20 years of experience in the gift, home, and trade show industry, with a background that spans exhibiting, trade show sales and operations, and permanent showroom leasing. She was with Andmore/IMC for 12 years and, prior to that, worked seven years on the California Gift Show and San Francisco International Gift Show. She is known for a relationship-driven approach and a focus on helping brands navigate a changing industry landscape.

Sarah Zeigler, content and communications lead

She has more than eight years of experience in the gift and home industries working on the Atlanta Market with a background in marketing communications. She will lead content and communications for NY Now, with a focus on brand storytelling and audience engagement.

“We’re excited to welcome Ashley, Michelle, Leanna, and Sarah to the team,” said Belshaw. “They each bring deep industry experience and a genuine commitment to the brands and buyers in our community. In addition to their individual contributions, many of them have worked together previously so they create an immediate spirit of collaboration and camaraderie — essential elements of the team’s culture and an important foundation for effectively serving our customers.”

The upcoming NY Now show runs August 2-4 at Javits Center in New York City. Click here to register or apply to exhibit.