Making a Plan to Be Market Ready

The weather is starting to turn cooler across the US, which means that preparations for the Winter 2026 gift, home and lifestyle trade show season should be heating up.

Having worked the Winter and Summer Market cycles for more than a decade, I firmly believe that Market planning is a year-round activity. Successful brands act on the learnings of the previous Market – the wins, challenges, opportunities and connections made – to impact the next staging. They are always looking forward and ready to respond to interested buyers and media.  

In an increasingly digital media age, it is hard for some brands to understand why deadlines seem “so early” for events that are months away. Beyond factoring the time to physically produce and distribute the Market materials that we all love, it’s allowing time for the creative process of the editorial teams who are producing the trend reports that will shape the buying habits of the industry for the year to come.

Brands that are connecting with the right journalists and content creators, have their publicity materials easy to understand and access, and can convey their unique point of view are most likely to be featured in this vital industry reporting.

The time is now to secure support in telling a brand’s story for Atlanta Market, Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, Las Vegas Market, Lightovation, New York Now and Shoppe Object. Let’s continue the conversation about how CP Bohannon can help your brand be Market Ready.