Curated show sessions
Show sessions are private, invitation-only events we run for qualified buyers. 10-30 attendees per session, 2-4 hours, focused on one product category. The factory doesn't have to be present in person: we present the goods, answer questions, and process orders.
What a show session is
- Venue - meeting room, hotel suite, or one of our showroom network locations.
- Format - curated product display, buyer walks the room, Q&A with the presenting side (us or the factory rep).
- Duration - 2 to 4 hours typically.
- Attendees - invited off-price / discount chain buyers, importers, and US-based sourcing agents.
- Cost to factory - per-session quote, lower than a trade show booth.
- Cost to buyer - free, by invitation only.
Why show sessions exist
Trade shows are expensive for the factory (booth cost $5,000-30,000 per show) and time-costly (5+ days away from the factory). And the buyer at the show sees hundreds of factories - hard to stand out.
Show sessions flip the dynamic:
- Buyers come to us (not the other way around)
- Curated selection means we're showing 10-15 factory groups at a time, not 500
- The session is focused on that buyer's category, not a generic show floor
- Factory doesn't fly in - we bring the goods, we represent the factory during the session
When to use show sessions vs. trade shows
| Trade show | Show session | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to factory | High ($5k-$30k) | Lower ($500-$3k) |
| Time cost | 5-10 days | 1 day (for us to run it) |
| Buyer reach | Many, but low curation | Few, but pre-qualified |
| Conversion rate | 2-5% follow-up rate | 10-30% same-week conversion |
| Best for | Brand visibility, broad reach | Targeted category sales |
When to do both
Most factories do both: trade shows for brand visibility and pipeline building, show sessions for converting specific categories.
Show session calendar
Our sessions run roughly monthly in major US buyer markets: Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago. Some run with US show timing (around ASD, IHA, High Point dates) to leverage the show-week crowd.
For specific upcoming dates: email us. The calendar is updated monthly as venues confirm.
How to participate in a show session
As a factory
- Email us with your category and available inventory.
- We propose 1-2 upcoming sessions where your product fits.
- You ship 2-3 samples to our regional office (or we pick them up from your existing US warehouse).
- We represent your goods at the session, take orders, send you the buyer's contact and order details.
- You fulfill the orders direct to the buyer (or via our warehouse service).
As a buyer
Show sessions are by invitation only. We add buyers to the invitation list based on:
- Category fit with the session's theme
- Volume / channel fit (off-price, dollar, discount, importer)
- Geography (we run regional sessions)
Email us if you want to be added to a session list. We add ~5-10 new buyers per month.
Categories with high session activity
- Home decor / accent furniture
- Kitchen and dining
- Lighting (decorative, not commercial)
- Bedding and bath
- Storage and organization
- Holiday and seasonal (Q4)
- Outdoor and patio (spring)
What we don't run sessions for
- Sustainable/eco claims without substantiation (buyers will ask)
- UL-listed electrical without a UL report
- Branded main-line product (we have a separate channel for that)
- Items with known recall history
Cross-references
- Storage showrooms - what happens to your inventory between sessions
- Show ROI - whether to attend a trade show at all vs. just sessions
- Contact - email us about participation