As some of you may know, the Craft and Hobby Association hosts two trade shows each year. The summer show is usually held in Chicago and is relatively small in comparison to the winter show in Los Angeles every January. The Winter show is the premier craft and hobby event where hundreds of manufacturers set up booths bursting with their “latest and greatest” products and tools. Designers come to display their work as well, setting up tables at the Designer Showcase. Each designer purchases table space showcasing their best work, in hopes of attracting manufacturers, publishers and editors requiring their design services to create projects for trade show samples, packaging, books and magazines or even ideas for new product.
During the show, there is a lot going on behind the scenes. Classes and workshops are being taught to store owners so they can take ideas home to their customers, business seminars are being conducted, meetings are in progress, friends are reuniting, demos, make and takes, giveaways and contests are going on. People in booths are busy writing orders, books are being signed: basically, the show energy is crackling with creativity.
