Gaylord Gift Show

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Wholesale gift show

A trade-only buying event where gift, souvenir and resort retailers place orders with manufacturers and reps for delivery later in the season. The Gaylord Gift Show follows this model, so buyers should bring resale documentation rather than expect cash-and-carry retail sales.

2

Linesheet

A vendor's one-page summary of a product line: item numbers, case packs, wholesale cost, suggested retail and ship dates. Collecting linesheets across the Treetops Resort show floor is the main job of a buyer at Gaylord.

3

Minimum order quantity (MOQ)

The smallest order a vendor will accept, often expressed in units or dollars. MOQs vary widely between souvenir, gourmet and decor vendors, so confirm them before you commit floor space to a new line.

4

Case pack / pre-pack

The fixed number of units a vendor ships per carton, sometimes pre-assorted by color or design. Case packs matter for small resort shops in northern Michigan with limited backroom space.

5

Keystone markup

Doubling the wholesale cost to set retail price, the traditional benchmark in gift retail. Vendors at Gaylord often quote wholesale cost and a suggested retail so buyers can check the margin themselves.

6

Show special

A written order incentive offered on the floor, such as free freight above a threshold, extended dating, or a bonus unit per case. Show specials usually expire at the close of the event, so capture the terms in writing.

7

Dating / extended terms

The agreed payment schedule for shipped orders, for example net 30 from ship date or seasonal dating that pushes payment into the peak summer or holiday selling period.

8

Ship window / in-store date

The date range a vendor promises to ship so goods land before a selling season. For resort giftware the critical window is late spring to early summer; for holiday lines it is early autumn.

9

Resort giftware

Merchandise themed to lakes, cabins, campgrounds and vacation destinations: ornaments, mugs, signs, apparel and photo frames. It is a core category in Gaylord because of the surrounding northern Michigan tourism economy.

10

Made in Michigan / Made in USA labeling

Origin claims that many independent gift retailers merchandise as a selling point. Vendors must be able to substantiate the claim, and buyers should keep the documentation on file.

11

Personalization and imprint

Adding names, initials, logos or destination text to an item, often through engraving, embroidery or print-on-demand. Personalization raises per-unit margin and is a common add-on for souvenir buyers.

12

Turn-and-earn

Measuring a vendor's sales per linear foot or per shelf position rather than total sales. Small-format gift shops use it to decide which Gaylord lines keep their shelf space after the season.

13

Immediate vs. future ship

Whether an order ships right after the show or is held for a later date. Buyers fill early-season gaps with immediate ship and reserve future ship for holiday and next-year programs.

14

Resale certificate

State documentation that lets a registered retailer buy inventory without paying sales tax at the point of purchase. Michigan-based buyers should bring it to the show; out-of-state buyers should confirm reciprocity with each vendor.