The Winter 2016 Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show, otherwise also known as the Philly Candy Show, celebrated a successful collocation with the Philadelphia Gift Show.

The two shows, run by the Retail Confectioners Association of Philadelphia (RCAP) and Urban Expositions respectively, operated independently while utilizing a single cohesive floor plan at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. The collocation allowed ready access to both events and received positive feedback.

"Our collocation with the Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show definitely created a buzz on the show floor — with buyers and exhibitors from both events enthusiastically embracing the crossover business opportunities they saw," says Dean Russo, group show director, Urban Expositions. "Our retailers were excited to see so many fresh new offerings — in so many categories — all under one roof and so close to home. And, our exhibitors were delighted with the uptick in gift buyer traffic, as well as the new candy retail accounts many of them opened, too."

Usually held in Atlantic City, N.J., the 133rd Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show was brought back to the suburban Philadelphia location this January to offer new cross-market business opportunities.

Retailers were able to explore the offerings at the show, including the latest in candy, chocolate and gourmet specialties, candy-making equipment, packaging, and more. They also had a chance to attend seminars, from panel discussions on candy-making to social media, marketing, visual merchandising, web design, and more.

They could also take advantage of the all-category Philadelphia Gift Show, which featured gifts, souvenirs, artisan designs, home accents, and more.

Paul Esposito, president of the RCAP and owner of Victoria's Candies, says the return to the Montgomery County area of suburban Philadelphia was everything he'd hoped for.

"Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback we've received from our own buyers and exhibitors, and the great feedback Urban has received from the gift show audience, we know we're off to a promising start and look forward to reuniting again for winter 2017," he says.

The 134th Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show will return to the Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, N.J., from Sept. 11-13 of this year. In 2017, it will once again collocate with the Philadelphia Gift Show from Jan. 6-9.