Creative Leisure News - Business-Wise

Mike's often irreverent, thought-provoking analysis of the industry-- with an occasional guest columnist.

Update: CHA Summer Trade and Consumer Shows

So much to do, so little time.

Staff Report (July 20, 2009)

ORLANDO BUZZ.

There is a lot of media attention about CHA coming to Orlando, attention that will boost crafts' image across the country. CHA spokesperson Terri O will be on WFLA-TV in Tampa on July 27 and that will be broadcast to over 100 stations across the U.S. On Tuesday, Terri will be on the Daily Buzz national TV show talking about crafts and the SuperShow in 250+ markets. Also on Tuesday the local FOX-TV station will be broadcasting four live craft segments from the trade show.

Also, the SuperShow was rated in the top 10 shows and conventions in Orlando by Examiner.com, and the Summer Show was rated in the Top 200 Shows by Tradeshow Week magazine. Governor Crist declared July 26 � Aug. 1 as Craft and Hobby Week across Florida and Orlando Mayor Richard Crotty declared July 31 � Aug. 1 as SuperCraft Weekend in Orange County.

Prior to the show, CHA members will participate in many give-back events across Florida:

1. The Orange County Commissioners Back to School Back to Health Event (Kathy Peterson, www.CraftForHealth.com).

2. A Kids Craft Session at the Orange County Public Library (FloraCraft, GlueArts, Terri O)

3. A charity crop & auction to raise money for the Miami-based Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation (Scrapbook Royalty, Art Institute Glitter, Inc., Beacon Adhesives, Blumenthal Lansing Co., Copic Markers, Canon USA, C&T Publishing, Clear Bags, Crafty Chica, Creative Impressions, Faber Castell, Fancy Pants Designs Inc., Fiskars, FloraCraft, Flowersoft, Glue Arts , Imaginisce Jesse James & Co. , Liberty Scrapbook Supply , Maya Road, Me and My Big Ideas, Petersen-Arne, ProvoCraft, Sizzix , Soft Flex , Stampington Publications, Quick Quotes, Ultra Pro, and Unity Stamp Company.)

TRADE SHOW UPDATE.

There are 50+new exhibitors. Pre-registered buyers are down by about 3% from last year, while exhibit space is down by more than 20%. Execs expect overall attendance to be lighter than last year, due primarily because exhibitors will not be bringing as many staffers, a trend that was common at other industry-related trade shows this year..

The Great Treasure Chest Giveaway.

CHA is sponsoring an opportunity for show attendees to win a treasure chest full of products from participating exhibitors. Only available to show attendees, the treasure chest will be located on the 2nd level concourse near the entrance to the show floor. One winner will be pulled at the end of each day. Attendees need to drop off a business card for a chance to win. Treasure Chest product donations will be promoted during the show, and the winners will be featured with their gifts following the event.

CRAFT SUPERSHOW UPDATE

Pre-sale ticket sales are over a thousand and expected to be about 2,000 by next week when local radio ads start today. There will be 65+ workshops available on a broad array of craft techniques, plus various make-it/take-it opportunities and numerous demos. Tickets are $14 for two days, $10 for one day, with children under 10 free with paid admission. For more info on hours, special discounts, a list of crafting celebrities, workshop classes, and show events, visit www.craftsupershow.com.

A recently added feature: Patrick Murillo, Mark Montano, and Tandy Leather Factory will be guide attendees through Free "mantastic," hands-on, make-it/take-its designed for, and inspired by men. Attendees will also have the opportunity to test drive and win a Brother Sewing Machine, a deluxe Leathercraft Kit from Tandy Leather Factory, copies of the recently released book, Popular Mechanics Man Crafts, and other craft books from Sterling Publishing � all in booth #2215 Friday and Saturday from 10 am - Noon and 2 pm - 5 pm.

The Crafty Caf� in booth #1811 will feature a variety of demos:

Friday, 11: 00 am: German Die-cuts and Dresden Foils Demo with Candice Windham, sponsored by: Andreas Hamm and E.F. Scraps.

Friday, 1:00 pm: Jewelry Making Techniques and Trends with Jill MacKay. Author, designer, and consultant Jill MacKay will demonstrate and share tips on interpreting and translating color and design trends from fashion jewelry into the materials and techniques of jewelry-making.

Friday, 3:00 pm: Author Kristal Wick will sign her book Fabulous Fabric Beads, which is filled with a combination of beading, scrapbooking, fiber arts, and mixed-media techniques. See Kristal's projects from the book in person - stunning jewelry that can be created with inexpensive and readily available supplies and tools described in her book.

Friday, 4:00 pm: Free knitting lessons from Craft Yarn Council of America (CYCA) experts.

Friday, 5:00 pm: Free crochet lessons from CYCA experts.

Saturday: 10:00 am: Free knitting lessons from CYCA experts.

Saturday: 11:00 am: Free crochet lessons from CYCA experts.

(Note: The knitting and crochet lessons are each limited to the first five attendees, picked on a first-come, first-served basis.

Saturday: 12 noon: "Meet & Greet" with award-winning artist, designer, and author Lisa Pavelka

Saturday: 1:00 pm: Book signing with Matt and Shari, authors of Real Decorating for Real People and Great Weekend Projects. (Books will be available for purchase.)

Saturday: 2:00 pm: Crafty Storytellers: Inspiring, Comical & Entertaining Tales as told by full-time Craftaholics. The speakers, some of the industry's most popular craft bloggers, include

Kathy Cano-Murillo (thecraftychica.blogspot.com), Margot Potter (margotpottertheimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com), Lauren Ferguson (www.everythingaltered.com), and Claudine Hellmuth (claudinehellmuth.blogspot.com).

Crafting World Records.

CHA members will attempt to set two world records at the SuperShow:

1. CHA will partner with member Scrapbook Royalty to host the World's Largest Crop. The crop will feature product giveaways, goodie bags for each participant worth more than $50, door prizes, and a charity raffle. Celebrity scrapbookers who will attend include Terri O, Ana Cabrera, Cheryl Waters of Fiskars, and Paulette Jarvey of Hot off the Press.

All attendees are automatically entered to win A Scrapbookers Dream! door prize worth about $1,000. It's a completely stocked, professional-grade, two-part stacking wire rack system that stores and displays 25 sheets each of 48 packs of beautiful Paper Accents� cardstock. The prize is offered by Paper Accents, which is distributed by Petersen-Arne.

CHA members supporting the crop include: Art Institute Glitter, Beacon Adhesives, Blumenthal Lansing, Copic Markers, Canon, C&T Publishing, Clear Bags, Crafty Chica, Creative Impressions, Faber Castell, Fancy Pants Designs, Fiskars, FloraCraft, Flowersoft, Glue Arts, Imaginisce, Jesse James, Liberty Scrapbook Supply, Maya Road, Me and My Big Ideas, Petersen-Arne, Provo Craft, Sizzix, Soft Flex, Stampington Publications, Quick Quotes, Ultra Pro, and Unity Stamp.

The record-setting attempt is scheduled from 5:00-11:00 pm on Fri., July 31 and will benefit the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, a Miami based non-profit that helps caregivers impacted by memory disorders and other chronic illnesses. Tickets can be purchased for $20 at www.craftsupershow.com.

2. The second world record attempt is, "PhotoPearls Big Picture," the brainchild of CHA member Peter Stambeck, CEO of Munkplast (PhotoPearls). Together with Today�s Creative Home Arts magazine, Scrapblog.com, CHA, and 1,000+ fourth graders from the 50 states, they created an iconic image of President Barack Obama. Measuring 9 ft. tall x 11.5 ft. wide, the beaded mosaic will be certified as a world record in Orlando during the Craft SuperShow on July 31, prior to the Presidents� birthday on August 4. The beaded mosaic will be on the display in the PhotoPearls booth at the trade and consumer shows.

Kids Zone.

The Kids Zone at booth #1839 will include craft projects, a bounce house, balloon twister, caricature artist, and other surprises. (All children must be accompanied by an adult.)

xxx