Showroom and Exhibitor Events

January 2009 Events

Shoroom and Exhibitor Sponsored Events

Event Title

Enter for a chance to WIN $500 this January!*

Company

Sponsoring Showrooms:
Aldik, suite 1423 | Anne McGilvray & Co, suite 1465 | Bette C. & Co., suite 1461 | Caroline Carlson & Co., suite 14-103 | Crystal Clear, suite 1471 | B&R Neighborhood, suite1472 | Design Ideas, suite 14-117 | DNA, suite 1426 | Duncan & Co., suite 1490 | Encore, suite 14-105 | Excelsior Marketing, suite 1491 | Franzen, suite 13-604 | Ganz, suite 13-140 | Gift Box Corp, suite 1487 | GKI / Bethlehem Lighting, suite 1494 | Ira Jones, suite 1415 | Joseph Warren, suite 1460 | Kurt Adler, suite 1481 | Mary Meyer / Mayeroff Marketing, suite 1486 | Molly ‘n Me, suite 1431 | Patti White & Co., suite 1485 | Raz Imports, suite 1475 | Roman Inc, suite 1423 | Sarm & Nastovski, 13-203 | Sullivans, suite 1418 |

Date, Time, Location

Enter any time during the January Market
Enter at one of the showrooms listed above

Event Details

Stop by any participating, sponsoring showroom to enter to win one of four $500 showroom gift certificates good towards product purchase. Registered buyers can enter once at each participating showroom.
*Contest limited to those 18 years or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds depend on the number of applicants who participate, one entry per applicant in each participating showroom. Value of each prize is $500. Participants may enter at a participating showroom during the January 2009 market. Participants may enter at a participating showroom during the January 2009 market or by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to: The Chicago Giftware Association $500 contest, 1490 Merchandise Mart, Chicago IL 60654; by 11:59 p.m. January 10, 2009. Rules are available upon request.

Event Title

Eye-Catching Retail Displays That Generate Multiple Sales

Company

Peterson Associates, Inc.

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, January 17, 2009
at 9:00 am, and again at 5:00 pm
suite 13-126, in the Oddity-Root area

Event Details

See how easy it is to create eye-catching displays using Oddity Home Accents and AI Root Candle Company fragrances. Designer, Rodney Miske will not only create, but fascinate you while he instantly designs seasonal and everyday ideas that you will be able to create in your retail store. He will also share a multitude of "quick how-to tips" including "how to freshen up" candle rings and wreaths, "how to select and combine more than one product to instantly transform them into one fabulous look and why "layering" products and fragrance is essential in today's retail market. He will also share some insider secrets like why glass vases are essential to gorgeous home accents and why it is important to design store displays that customers can easily replicate in their homes.

Event Title

I think I am in a Holiday Display Rut!

Company

Peterson Associates, Inc.

Date, Time, Location

MONDAY, January 19, 2009
9 - 11 am
suite 1520

Event Details

Sound familiar? Does your display this year look very similar to last years? Come learn how, with just a few changes, you can make your displays look great and enjoy multiple sales from a variety of products. Cross merchandise for the Holidays, and enjoy a wonderful seminar presented by Kevin Day, a Buyer from Transpac. He will show you how to turn a ho-hum display into Holiday sales!

You'll hear how to make a display look fresh and inviting with the added bonus of having it last more than five minutes! Kevin will show you how to merchandise for all price points, allowing your customers an easy and enjoyable shopping experience. If you have ever thought to yourself after returning from a market, "I buy such beautiful things, but can never make them look nice together" or if you just need a little Holiday boost- come join us for a great and informative event that will help you to leave your rut behind.

Market Sponsored Events

Event Title

Trend/Countertrend with Past Target VP Robyn Waters
Can you do good and make money in today’s economy?

Date, Time, Location

MONDAY January 19, 2009
3-4pm followed by a Meet & Mingle complimentary hors d’ouevres and drinks
Room 1520

Event Details

Trend/Countertrend is presented by Robyn Waters – Trend Master, Former VP of Trend, Design & Product Development at Target. Learn what’s important, what’s next and how it will be impacted by the economy; can a commodity be a luxury? How can you make something old “brand” new?.

— Followed by a Meet & Mingle with Robyn and complimentary hors d’ouevres and drinks
● Be sure to pick up a copy of Robyn’s latest book, The Hummer and The Mini or The Trendmaster’s Guide from A to Z.
— RSVP by Wednesday, January 14th to cschmitt@mmart.com

Event Title

Shop Late Night

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, January 17, 2009
4-8 pm
Floors 13, 14 & 15

Event Details

Enjoy complimentary food from participating showrooms as you rock out to a different DJ on each floor while benefiting from some late night shopping.* Look for the blue balloons!
*Attendees only; buyer badges required.

Event Title

Fashion Show

Date, Time, Location

SUNDAY, January 18, 2009
Fashion Show: 3-4 pm
8th floor, Light Atrium

Event Details

Enjoy a fashion show featuring hot gift and home product and apparel!

Signatures Events

Event Title

SIGNATURES: The Wedding Book

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, January 17, 2009 .
2-3 pm
13-616

Event Details

Stop by for a complimentary book signing! Get a signed copy of The Wedding Book: The big book for your big day, and meet author Lisbeth Levine. (This is an attendees only event; buyer badges required.)*
*first come, first serve

Event Title

SIGNATURES: Handmade Nation

Date, Time, Location

SUNDAY, January 19, 2009 .
11 am - Noon
8th floor, Light Atrium

Event Details

Meet Cortney Heimerl, the author of Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design. Be the first to get your free signed copy of this fascinating book about the 19,000 mile journey to document what has emerged as a marriage between historical techniques, punk culture, and the DIY ethos. (first come, first served).

Event Title

SIGNATURES: Domino: The Book of Decorating

Date, Time, Location

MONDAY January 20, 2009 .
1-2 p.m.
Suite 1510

Event Details

Stop by for another compliemtary books signing with snacks and drinks! Get a signed copy of Domino: The Book of Decorating which cracks the code to creating a beautiful home, bringing together inspiring rooms, how-to advice and insiders' secrets from today's premier tastemakers in an indispensable style manual. (This is an attendees only event; buyer badges required.)*
*first come, first serve

Event Title

SIGNATURES: eat.shop chicago

Date, Time, Location

MONDAY, January 19, 2009 .
11 am - Noon
8th floor, Light Atrium

Event Details

Stop by for another complimentary book signing! Get a free signed copy of eat.shop chicago, your guide to local restaurants and innovative stores, and meet author Anna H. Blessing. Other city editions are available for purchase. (This is an attendees only event; buyer badges required.)*
*first come, first served

Happy Hours/Wine Bar

Event Title

Cocktail Happy Hour!

Date, Time, Location

FRIDAY, January 16 - MONDAY, January 19, 2009
4-6 pm
Floors 13, 14, & 15

Event Details

While you're on the showroom floors, take a minute to relax- grab a $2 drink and mingle with fellow buyers.

Event Title

Rockin’ DJ’s and Happy Hours… Bringing Music to the Showroom Floors

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, January 17, 2009
DJ's: 4-8 pm
Happy Hours: $2
Floors 13, 14, & 15

Event Details

Enjoy the tunes that these DJ's will be spinning all night long!

Event Title

Cocktail Hour!

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, SUNDAY and MONDAY, January 17,18 and 19, 2009
3-5 pm
Floors 8 & 12

Event Details

Stop by for a cocktail and networking at the temporary floor bars.

Event Title

Wine Bar

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, January 17 - TUESDAY, January 20, 2009
10 am - 3 pm
8-9044A

Event Details

Enjoy a complimentary wine tasting.

Interactive Demonstrations

Event Title

Interactive Window Storefront Display

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, January 17 - MONDAY, January 19, 2009 .
9 am
First Floor Center, near elevator banks

Event Details

Watch as Mick Santiago, the Living and Giving resident interior designer, demonstrates for buyers how they can build eye-catching window displays in their stores by cross-merchandising. Buyers can talk with Mick and ask him questions as he builds a themed, life-size window storefront in under an hour using a different category each day. Each day will specialize in one theme to include either Holiday, Gift or Lifestyle, and tear sheets will be provided for buyers to replicate the same vignettes in their stores!

Event Title

Beckman's Handcrafted Artist Demonstrations

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, January 17 - TUESDAY, January 20, 2009
Times TBD
8th Floor Light Court

Event Details

Artists will share their skill, art and technique on a more personal level with the Beckman’s Handcrafted audience in the demonstration area on the show floor — The Beckman’s Stage! These special demonstrations will occur in 20-minute sessions.

Power Lunches

Event Title

Power Lunch Seminars

Date, Time, Location

SATURDAY, SUNDAY or MONDAY, January 17, 18 and 19, 2009
Noon -1pm | suite 1520

RSVP Required

Click here to RSVP: http://gw.vtrenz.net/?JLOGFXJIIL

Event Details

Attend one, or all three, of these educational seminars!

SATURDAY: .
● Revitalizing Retail: How La-Z-boy launched a brand revolution and the 4 steps you can take to launch your own.
SUNDAY: .
● Speed Networking with NEW-to-market vendors! Get the scoop on the latest in product directly from the vendor.
MONDAY: .
● HOST THE PARTY! How to get more customers at store events, show them a better time, and keep them coming back for more—purchases that is!

Trend/Countertrend – Can you do good and make money in today’s economy?

Robyn Waters – Trend Master, Former VP of Trend, Design & Product Development at Target

Monday – 3pm to be followed by a Meet & Mingle with Robyn and complimentary hors d’ouevres and drinks

Description – Learn from the Trend Master what’s important, what’s next and how it will be impacted by the economy; can a commodity be a luxury? How can you make something old “brand” new?.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Robyn’s latest book, Hummer and The Mini or The Trendmaster’s Guide from A to Z.

RSVP by Wednesday, January 14th - Corrine, can WOW add their rsvp info here so they can track it?