Whether you're an online retailer or you have a brick and mortar store, whether you're selling

home and gift or children's or women's apparel, whether you've been in business for years

or you're just getting started, you have found out that the lifeblood of your business is inventory.

So in this two-part series, we're going to take it all the way back to where that inventory comes from. Let's talk about markets. Let's talk about trade shows. In our first session, we're going to be breaking down the trends that are happening with the actual trade shows themselves. What are we seen as far as the cadence of shows, the things that they're offering, and how can you make a plan to go to the show that's going to get you the very best product.

In our second part, we're going to be jumping into the trends of the actual products themselves.

I'll be covering things that you need to know, whether you're selling apparel, home and gift,

children's, even men's. These are trends you don't want to miss. Let's dive into it.

All right, so let's talk about trade shows. There have been so many changes in

our industry in the past few years when it comes to markets and trade shows. In 2025, my team and I

personally attended over 25 shows. What that tells me and what tells you is there's not a lack of

opportunity to attend a trade show if you're interested in going

to one. We know that there's lots of options from East Coast to West Coast. It seems like there's a

new trade show popping up every time you turn around. Now, as a retailer, it's important for you to

consider which show is going to be the very best for you. Now at the boutique hub we have created a

document called the trade show calendar and we list all the major and market shows that are

happening across our industry, whether it's apparel or home and gift. We've got those all listed

there for you with dates and locations as well as categories. So first steps, look at the calendar,

let's make a plan. Now, let me give

you some insider information about what I'm hearing happening in the trade show space. Over the

past few months, I've been talking to all my contacts at the major shows and asking their opinions on

where are we going in 2026 with trade shows. My team and I have been looking at the data. We pulled all of our

numbers from the past four years and said, what are the trends we need to notice in the cadence of

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