business advice - Craft Focus Magazine

show news and reviews
Wendy Gardiner provides previews and news of forthcoming shows including CHA Summer show,
Home and Gift and Autumn Fairs
CHA SUMMER SHOW
Dates: 19-21 July 2011 (pre-conference
sessions from 18 th )
Venue: Donald E Stephens Convention
Centre in Rosemont, Illinois.
Web: www.chashow.org
CHA SUMMER CONFERENCE AND
TRADE SHOW
Exhibitors and visitors alike are looking forward
to CHA’s summer show. Last year it hosted
4,790 trade show attendees, an increase of
16.7 percent in the number of total attendees
and a 38 percent increase in total buyers over
the previous year. “Buyers came from all over
the USA, as well as 11 percent coming from
39 international countries including United
Kingdom, Australia, Spain, Brazil, Netherlands,
and Japan. There were 738 total retail
companies that attended the Summer Show
demonstrating that retailers are attending and
sending more buyers to the must-attend craft
and hobby industry trade event of the season”
explained the CHA.
Mixing it up
The theme of this year’s show focuses on craft
fusion – the selling power of mixed media.
Mixed media is combining different craft
materials in innovative and non-traditional
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ways, resulting in intriguing art, unique gifts,
spectacular fashion and other handicrafts. The
often dramatic effects achieved are being called
‘Craft Fusion’. “Mixed media is an opportunity
for the industry to collaborate on creative
products, projects, cross-promotion and crosssales,”
explained Steve Berger, President and
CEO, CHA. “We’re also adding three exciting
pavilions to the show floor, providing even
greater exhibitor and attendee opportunities
to experience the power of craft fusion and
mixed media.” The new pavilions will focus on
three areas: new exhibitors, needlecrafts and
jewellery and beading.
Education programme
To help exhibitors get the most from the
shows, the CHA has a new online resource
centre for trade show exhibitors. The new
Exhibitor Success & ROI Centre programme
was created in conjunction with Competitive
Edge, a leading trade show consultancy, to
quickly and easily provide users with free
tools and information on trade show-centric
information. “Succeeding at trade shows today
requires a lot more than just showing-up and
hoping things work out,” said President of
Competitive Edge Jefferson Davis. “Exhibitors
have to be a lot more strategic to get results.”
The ESRC is available at www.craftandhobby.
org/ESRC.
HOME & GIFT
Dates: 17-20 July 2011
Venue: Harrogate
Web: www.homeandgift.co.uk
HOME & GIFT
Perfectly timed for Christmas ordering, Home
& Gift is set to deliver the largest gathering of
brands and designers of any UK trade event
this summer. 900 exhibitors will be offering
visitors the chance to preview hundreds of
the newest lines in gifts, home, jewellery and
fashion, greeting cards and stationery. There
is a special ‘intro north’ area which will house
a host of exhibitors new to the trade show
circuit and a men’s gift area, new to Home
& Gift this year, which will be in the Majestic
Hotel. Featuring well-known brands such as
Zippo, this bespoke area will make it easier
for buyers to find products to suit traditionally
tricky customers. A comprehensive seminar
programme at the show also provides visitors
free business advice and there will be plenty
of opportunities to network at social events
around the show.
Home & Gift provides the opportunity to
buy for the Christmas market
AUTUMN FAIR
INTERNATIONAL
Dates: 4 – 7 September 2011
Venue: NEC, Birmingham
Web: www.autumnfair.com
AUTUMN FAIR INTERNATIONAL
As mentioned last issue, this year a brand
new hobby and craft show sector has been
introduced into Autumn Fair International.
“The sector will be located in a dedicated 800
sq m zone in hall five, where it is positioned
alongside toys and gadgets on the one side
and general gifts on the other, maximising the