Creative Leisure News - Designing Perspectives

The industry as seen by top designers.

CHA To Launch Designer Education Day for 2007 Summer Show

And expands License and Design Section for the Winter Show.

by Staff Report (June 4, 2007)

The Craft & Hobby Assn, will host Designer Education Day on Monday, July 23, 2007, the day after the Summer Show, at the convention center in Rosemont, IL. The full-day program will make it more convenient for designers to participate in the show's comprehensive educational opportunities. From trade show tips and trend spotting to copyright protection, licensing, and marketing, the full-scale program roster addresses timely topics and new business opportunities for designers of all skill levels.

"Designers spoke and we listened," explains CHA CEO Steve Berger. "These designers are swamped during our shows � working in booths, teaching classes, and providing demonstrations on the show floor. So there's little time for their own professional development. By hosting this full-scale program a day after the show, we're giving these talented industry members the chance to take advantage of the same level of quality programming we offer during the shows."

Scheduled from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., the Designer Education Day registration fee is $125 for CHA Designer Members and $175 for Designer Non-Members (includes continental breakfast and lunch). The Schedule of Events includes:

Continental Breakfast -- 7:30 am

Protecting What Is Yours - Copyrights, Trademarks & Patents

8:00 am - 9:15 am. Speaker: Tammy Browning-Smith, Attorney, Browning-Smith, P.C.

This seminar will take a look at the many options a designer has available in protecting his or her work and maximizing the profit from the work. Browning-Smith, an attorney who works extensively in the craft and hobby industry, will share her insight and present tools that participants at any level of designing can use to help maximize a design's protection and potential.

Trade Show Presentations for Designers

9:30 am - 10:45 am. Speaker: Kirsten Peters-McGrath, Kirsten Peters McGrath Illustration and Design

This program will help designers take the guesswork out of their next (or first) trade show. With more than 15 years of experience, Kirsten will provide attendees with the tips, tools, and techniques for maximizing their trade show experiences.

Trend Spotting for Designers

11:00 am - 12:15 pm. Speaker: Marie Browning, Professional Designer, Marie Browning Creates

This seminar will provide designers with the tools and techniques to be able to improve their trend-spotting skills. A bonus feature will be a report given by members of the CHA Designer Section identifying upcoming trends and the latest and hottest products in the following areas: quilting/knitting; sewing/needle felting; general paper crafts; home d�cor; jewelry; beading; decorative painting; and general crafts.

Networking Lunch -- 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Licensing and Cross-Marketing Product Presentations

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm. Speaker: Cheryl Phelps, Licensor, Cheryl Phelps

Every Licensor has the potential to license their intellectual property on all kinds of products. Generating long term income from existing archives and the new work created is the goal. To help reach this goal, the basics of licensing will be covered in this two-hour presentation.

For more information on the Designer Education Day, as well as a complete schedule of all programs and events, exhibitor listings, travel discounts, visit www.chashow.org.

CHA To Expand License and Design Section for the 2008 Winter Show

Anaheim, CA February 10-13, 2008 Edition to Offer New Marketing, Business Growth Opportunities for Designers

CHA unveiled plans to significantly expand and strengthen the License and Design section of its 2008 Winter Show Feb. 10-13 in Anaheim.

"After we identified the growing trend in art licensing, we wanted to explore new ways the trade show could help support our designer members and give our exhibiting manufacturer members access to trend forward design options," explains CHA CEO Steve Berger. "Our Winter Show offers a virtually untapped community of buyers from all segments of the craft and hobby industry who use licensed art, including art buyers and designers from scrapbook, sticker, rubber stamp, fabric, needlework, books, and countless other types of craft companies."

In 2005, manufacturers paid $5.952 billion in licensing royalties in the U.S. (up 1.8% from 2004), according to a study commissioned by the Int. Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). The estimated licensing royalty revenue for art reached $175 million in 2005. While art licensing has been an important part of the CHA shows since 2005 when the association first launched a dedicated section, the new 2008 initiative marks a dramatically expanded sales and marketing strategy for Licensing and Design.

"I see great improvements CHA has made to its focus and attention to the License and Design exhibitors," says Alan Korsgaden, VP, Laurie Korsgaden Watercolors LLC. "I am looking forward to participating and having a great show in Anaheim."

"License and Design offers an excellent and convenient opportunity for our product development team to see a significant number of established designers, as well as a chance to meet new designers," adds Jim Scatena, President/CEO of FloraCraft. "The License and Design section will be a high priority for us to formalize some new relationships and to purchase new designs."

New initiatives for the 2008 Winter Show.

1. Expanded Show Hours. Results from past CHA Show exhibitor surveys pointed to strong demand for longer show hours for this section. In response, CHA will feature special pre- and post-show hours, including snacks and beverages, designed to give CHA's manufacturing exhibitors and members the chance to explore the License and Design section.

2. Central Location on Show Floor. The License and Design section will now be centrally located. To help communicate the new location, a floor plan highlighting the section will be sent out to all CHA members in advance of the show.

3. Art Director VIP Invitations. License and Design exhibitors will be invited to nominate Art Directors from other industries. CHA will choose 10 from the list of submissions and offer these individuals an all-expense paid trip to the Winter Show to explore the License and Design section offerings.

4. Specialized Pre-Show Marketing Campaign. CHA will launch an aggressive marketing campaign featuring a number of new initiatives and strategies designed to increase awareness of the enhanced License and Design section. Among them, a new Licensing and Design tab on the CHA show website, www.chashow.org, featuring complementary listings of exhibitors, including designer and/or company biography information, photo samples of work/style, booth numbers, and website links. Other promotions include email campaigns featuring descriptions of artwork, special mailings, and more.

5. Task Force Support. CHA has assembled a special task force to help provide input and direction leading up to the 2008 Winter Show. Task Force members include Peggy Jo Ackley, Peggy Jo Ackley Designs Inc ... Joanne Fink, Lakeside Design ... Alan Korsgaden, Laurie Korsgaden Watercolors ... John Haesler, MHS Licensing ... Jim Marcotte, Two Town Studios ... Mary Sher, Bentley Licensing Group ... Andrea Tachiera, Andrea Tachiera Design & Illustration.

6. On-Site Promotions. Special previews of the work of License and Design exhibitors will be showcased in the show's exhibitor and buyer lounges, as well as during the popular "Dine OC" event. In addition, all show exhibitors will receive a License and Design exhibitor preview in their booths highlighting the section's new location and expanded offerings. License and Design exhibitors will also have a specially designated area in the show press room for attending press members to review their press materials and work samples.

6. Enhanced Turnkey Booth Package Priced Significantly Lower Than Other License and Design Industry Events. Priced at $1,425 for a 10' x 10' hard wall and hardwood floor booth, the License and Design package is more than $2,000 less than other industry-specific events. As part of the full turnkey package, exhibitors will also receive a free lead retrieval system, complementary website listing, mailing labels, and customized mail/electronic invitations sent to other exhibitors and attendees, CHA yearly membership discount. and much more.

For more information on exhibiting in the License and Design section, contact Anthony Licata, Senior Exhibit Sales Manager, at alicata@craftandhobby.org or 800-822-0494, ext 201. For attendee information, visit www.chashow.org.

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