Hi there! My name is Kerri Wickersheim and I’m the marketing director for SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L™. I’ve worked in the scrapbooking industry for many years and am excited to be here today as a guest blogger for CK. Since this is CHA Week, I’d like to tell you a little story about my experience at the first ever CHA Craft Super Show (the consumer side of CHA).
It’s a bit after 9am on Friday morning, July 31. There was quite a bustle of excitement as I walk into the Orlando Convention Center, where just yesterday I was working, to now observe the 1st ever CHA Craft Super Show. Women, children & men (more than I’ve ever seen at a craft show) crowd around and line up, anxiously awaiting entry.
Shortly before the doors open, CHA Board Chairman Michael McCooey and the Orlando Mayor open the ceremonies with a welcoming speech. I can feel the crowds’ excitement as their conversations drown out the speakers.
The doors open and bright and smiley faces are quickly flowing through the entrance. The line almost looks endless from the glass doors at the end of the long hallway. As I enter the show, I’m happily greeted by an area that looks like a craft café along with aisles of Craft vendors lining the hall. The first sign I see is the chart of events that happen at Craft Boot Camp, hosted and taught by CHA Spokesperson, Terri Ouellette.
That’s just the way my day began at the CHA Craft Super Show. “Super” is definitely an accurate description.
We, as exhibitors may be used to seeing cameras and productions crews all around, but these craft convention goers are more accustomed to small booths and cashiers collecting their money for everything from scrapbooking embellishments and ribbon to jewelry kits and quilting notions. But this show is different. CHA has set up the floor to really excite our crafting consumer. Besides offering a one-stop-shop for crafters of all mediums, they also experience free make ‘n takes (which was a welcome surprise to most), demos from their favorite manufacturers, inflated jumping castles, face painting and kid friendly crafts in the Kid Friendly Zone. In between all the activities you can enjoy capaccinos, pizzas, hot dogs and all other fun foods even while you’re watching special craft demos in the craft cafes!
Some big box craft chains like Michaels & A.C. Moore were front and center, offering many tables to teach and inspire the crafter with talented designers. There were even TV shows being filmed where you could join an audience watching Jo Pearson from Michaels teach some of her favorite tips & tricks!
I also stopped by the Pioneer Press & Zutter Tools booth where I found Donna Salazar, seasoned designer extraordinaire. Her newest endeavor is a line manufactured by Pinecone Press called Vintage Nostalgia and Winter Wishes. I asked Donna what the Craft & Hobby Super Show means to her. “I’m excited about doing make ‘n takes here because it allows me to speak one on one with the crafter who is actually using my product, that immediate feedback is an invaluable opportunity,” she replied.
I meandered up and down each aisle running into big name designers and some new found friends such as Lauren Ferguson, Margot Potter, and Kathy Cano-Murillo (The Crafty Chica). Upon leaving the hall mid afternoon, I was surprised and happy to see the registration area still filled with newcomers excitingly waiting to get their tickets to the Super Show, Education Workshops and Seminars.
Here’s a shot of the lovely and talented Lauren Ferguson at the CHA Craft Super Show.
CHA planned this out perfectly to ensure no crafter would be left wondering what they should do next. Any visitor’s day would surely be filled from morning to evening and be the new standard of what a Craft Expo should be.
Even after I left, more than an hour after I had arrived, I still saw cars flowing into the parking garage as I was wondering how there was still room in there to fit any more cars! So good job CHA, I think the 1st CHA Craft Super Show is an amazing opportunity for all of us in the Craft & Hobby industry and a catalyst for even more successful and inspiring shows in our future.
-Kerri Wickersheim, Marketing Director, SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L™
Thanks, Kerri. We love reading your view of this crafty extravaganza. For more from Kerri and SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L™, check out their Facebook page, their website and Kerri’s blog.
GIVEAWAY
Did you attend the CHA Craft Super Show? If so, we’d love to hear what you thought of it. If not, we’d like to know what you’d like to see most from a craft show. As is our theme this week, we’ll pull a winning comment to receive a CHA prize package.
I have never attended a show, but I would love to go see all the ideas and inspiration.
I would love to go and I think I’d just love to stare at the booths. They look so creative.
I would have loved to attend….I like to see new and exciting techniques for using oldproducts, lots of make & takes & examples and of course fabulous new products to purchase!
I’m not sure I would be able to take it. I’d probably think I had died and gone to heaven.
I have never attended CHA, but the make and takes sound like fun. Especially free ones!
I did not get to go. I would have loved all the example shown for the new products. Definitely would the inspiration a jolt!
I did not go…what a dream trip it would be though! I would love to see new products…jsut a little peek??
i did not attend – would love to, though – i would have some much fun doing make and takes
i didn’t get to go but i would just love to see all the new products AND to see the best designers demo’ing the products!
Oh, I can’t believe how cool that all is! I’d love to attend a show like that… It should have demo’s, examples (pages & mini books & stuff) and giveaways! There’s nothing like an event with a giveaway
(BTW: Thanks CK Blog! Hope I’m one of those lucky winners!)
I didn’t attend but hope to travel to the US to attend one day. Thanks for all the footage. I love seeing all the new stuff and techniques. Also love all the off the page stuff.
I’ve never been to a CHA but it’s in my plans to attend one someday. I think I most look forward to the new products but also the people who are just as excited about this industry and what it stands for as I am! It’s got to be a great feeling being surrounded by all that inspiration…I bet it does wonders for one’s creative mojo.
I have never attended a CHA show, but would LOVE to some day. I’d just like to see it happen at a location a little closer to me!
I haven’t had the opportunity to attend a craft show, but I think classes with scrapbooking celebs and giveaways would definitely make one a stand out event.
No I didn’t go. I think the excitement of seeing all the new lines and products would be awesome.
I would love to attend CHA but I’ve never been able to go. I’m sure I would enjoy all the giveaways and wonderful ideas for scrapbooking. I’d be like a sugar-crazed kid in a candy store!
No I havn’t been one of the fortunate people to attend one of these shows
But would love to! I think they should do
these shows one on each side of the coast then maybe I could attend one!
I’d be excited to see all the new products, demos, and love to do some make n’ takes with new stuff!
I’ve never been able to go to a show, but man, I’d love to. I just love looking at the posts of the new stuff, so I know I’d love it even more in person.
I attend as many CK Conventions in my area as possible. I am anxiously awaiting Glendale, AZ, Oct 1-3. I love to see new ideas and techniques. I love make-n-takes too. Thank you for sharing CHA with us!
Oh my, love to be able to attend this one day!
Thanks!
Alison
I didn’t attend. Sounds like heaps of fun though. From a show I would love to see new & innovative products to simplify the process or add another dimension to our projects. Also, seeing demonstrations of new or different ways to use existing products.
Is there a new show coming up in 2011?
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