Exclusive sales agency services bring Italian companies to America’s premier gift and home marketplace
Universal Marketing and Rockview Management Group have announced an agreement whereby Universal shall provide exclusive sales agency services in Italy for NY NOW. Universal Marketing will organize the participation of Italian companies, organizations, and associations in NY NOW, the twice-annual business-to-business marketplace held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City serving the gift, home, lifestyle, jewelry and accessories industries.
With more than a century of history, NY NOW connects brands and buyers in one of the world’s most dynamic retail capitals. Buyers come from bigger specialty chains and independent specialty retail, particularly independent gift stores.
The first NY NOW participations organized by Universal will be for the Winter edition, January 31, 2027 through February 2, 2027, and for the Summer edition, August 1 through 3, 2027. For Italian companies wanting access to American buyers at scale, these dates mark two distinct opportunities to reach the right people in the right place.
Rockview acquired NY NOW in April 2026 and has reorganized the floor layout into three unique sections, each designed to serve a specific buyer need and merchandise category.
GIFT & LIFESTYLE is the largest and most diverse section on the floor, where buyers go to build a well-rounded assortment of gift, novelty, fragrance, personal care, jewelry, fashion accessories, stationery, publishing, floral, baby, toy, and more. This is where the width of merchandise lives, where a single buyer can source across dozens of categories in one stop.
HOME defines how people live with products from tabletop and housewares to textiles, decorative accessories, garden, and area rugs. Spanning aesthetics from classic to design-forward, this section is built for buyers curating a home assortment with range. It is a deliberate marketplace for suppliers and buyers focused on how domestic space is actually lived in.
HANDMADE is a curated division within NY NOW organized into two distinct collections. Designer-Maker spotlights independent designers and craftspeople producing small-batch, hand-made work across all categories. Global Design brings together makers and design-forward brands rooted in distinct cultural and regional traditions, with an emphasis on authentic sourcing and provenance. Selection is led by an external committee of designers, retailers, and industry tastemakers resulting in an independent editorial viewpoint.
Dorothy Belshaw, CEO of Rockview Management Group, spoke to the significance of this Italian partnership. “We are excited to collaborate with Universal Marketing to bring a curated selection of premier Italian companies to the US gift and home marketplace. This strategic partnership combines our market infrastructure with Universal Marketing’s connections to Italian industry.”
Donato Cinelli, CEO Universal Marketing, expressed the enthusiasm of the Italian side. “We are very happy to start working on this new project with Rockview Management Group. This partnership opens significant opportunities for Italian companies to establish themselves in the American gift and home market, and we are committed to bringing the best of Italian craftsmanship and design to American buyers.”
The Universal Marketing team has been impressed with the thoughtful planning and investments of the Rockview team to reinvigorate NY NOW and are eager to present the opportunity to Italian companies. The US gift, home and lifestyle sector remains robust and an excellent export market for Italian brands to generate visibility and sales.
For Italian companies, this partnership positions them at a growing tradeshow in one of the most significant trade show venues in North America, The Javits Center. This combined with the support of a dedicated agency partner who understands both the Italian manufacturing ecosystem and the American retail buyer landscape is the difference between showing up and being shown to the right people.
The Show has recovered momentum under Rockview’s ownership. The reorganization of the floor, the curation of sections, and the focus on bringing the right exhibitors and buyers together have all contributed to renewed vendor confidence. For Universal and the Italian companies it represents, the Winter and Summer editions of NY NOW 2027 represent a structured entry point into a marketplace that has defined American gift and home retail for generations.
ABOUT UNIVERSAL MARKETING
Universal Marketing Srl, headquartered in Rome, organizes and manages the participation of Italian companies, institutions, and trade associations in the most important international trade fairs and exhibitions reserved for specialized operators. For more than 25 years the company has served as exclusive agent for Italy for leading international show organizers across sectors including food and beverage, hospitality and foodservice equipment, giftware and home accessories, design, furniture, fashion, jewelry, tourism, and leisure, coordinating Italian pavilions and collective participations at more than 40 international events each year. Its reference markets include the United States, Canada, Brazil, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the United Arab Emirates. Under the leadership of CEO Donato Cinelli, Universal Marketing supports Italian exhibitors before, during, and after each show, from stand design and logistics to buyer engagement and follow-up, so that clients can focus on their business and on building lasting relationships in new markets. For more information, visit www.universalmarketing.it.
ABOUT NY NOW
NY NOW, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group Inc., is a twice-annual wholesale tradeshow serving the gift, home, lifestyle, jewelry and accessories industries. With more than a century of history, the show connects brands and buyers in one of the world’s most dynamic retail capitals. Guided by renewed investment and experienced leadership, NY NOW is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for discovery, connection, and business growth across the retail industry. For more information, visit www.nynow.com.
