CHA Media

CHA 2007 Summer Convention and Trade Show Educational Program to Feature Special Track on Digital Scrapbooking

Elmwood Park, NJ, USA; May 23, 2007 —Responding to the rapidly growing popularity of digital scrapbooking, the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) will host a number of educational programs designed to help retailers tap its sales and marketing potential during the July 20-22, 2007 CHA Summer Convention and Trade Show in Rosemont, IL. From learning about in-store kiosks and printing services to merchandising and marketing, attendees will find a number of seminars offering simple, yet profitable ideas for capturing today’s digital customers.

“More consumers are using digital cameras and technology to capture and share their memorable moments, and now they’re looking for ways to combine these digital tools and techniques with traditional scrapbooking methods,” explains Sandy Ghezzi, Vice President, Marketing, Member Services and Education, CHA. ”We’ve put together a strong line-up of marketing, merchandising and trend programs designed to help retailers get a jump on this virtually untapped market.”

CHA Summer Show digital scrapbooking programs include:

Capture New Profits From Digital Images, Thursday, July 19, 3:00-4:15 p.m. (Event #S104)
Speaker: Kelsey Anderson, Vice President of Scrapbook and Craft Development, Lucidiom, Inc.
Anderson will share countless ways to turn digital images into lasting memories for customers. Retailers who attend this interactive session will learn a profit program that encompasses education, environment and entertainment – and take away role-playing exercises they can use with their staff to drive more business and profits. The program will cover ideas to help consumers make stories and art with their photos; combining digital and paper arts to reach crafters of all abilities; and how to connect with customers in the store, at home and online.

Digital Scrapbooking: What It Is and How You Can Grow Your Business, Friday, July 20, 2:00-3:15 p.m. (Event #S108)
Speakers: Randy Benson, President/Co-founder, pcCrafter; Angel Brown, Senior Marketing Manager, Adobe Systems Incorporated; Barbara Kotsos, Senior Marketing Manager, Scrabooking Solutions, Epson America, Inc.; Margie Lundy, CEO, Digital Scrapbook Place, LLC; Linda Malek, Principal, LJM Associates; Beth Mauro, Editor-in-Chief, CNA Magazine, F+W Publications, Inc.; Linda Sattgast, President, Scrapper's Guide; and Jessica Sprague, Contributing Editor, Creating Keepsake Magazine
This seminar will introduce what digital scrapbooking is, who is doing it, and the various opportunities available. Learn why it’s important that our industry be paying attention to those consumers who are utilizing technology, along with traditional methods, to preserve precious memories and share experiences with others. Explore this blend of scrapbooking and learn ways to easily incorporate it into your business.

Making Your Business a "Digital Destination", Friday, July 20, 3:45-5:00 p.m. (Event #S112)
Speakers: Yvonne L.V. Busdeker, Design Team Manager/Digital Designer-Instructor, WorldWin Papers; Kerry Hill, CEO & Founder, Lasting Impressions for Paper, Inc.; Jeanie Jones, President/Owner, The Scrapbook Pad; Margie Lundy, CEO, Digital Scrapbook Place, LLC.; Linda Malek, Principal, LJM Associates; Molly Newman, Associate Editor, Digital Scrapbooking Magazine; Ashley Smith, Partner, Polka Dot Potato; Angie Svoboda, Owner/Pharmacist, Good Life Photo, Digital Scrapbooking Magazine
Ten years ago, owners of traditional photo labs couldn't have imagined the impact of digital cameras. Fellow retailers and manufacturers have embraced the opportunities - and dealt with the challenges - of digital scrapbooking and turned it into additional profit streams. Highlights of the discussion will include: making simple changes to marketing, merchandising and inventory to make the store a "digital destination"; understanding who customers are and determining the best way to service them; marketing traditional scrapbook products/services to digital consumers - and vice-versa.

How to Introduce Digital Without Losing Traditional Sales, Saturday, July 21, 2:00-3:15 p.m. (Event #S118)
Speaker(s): Linda Sattgast, President, Scrapper's Guide
Discover how to incorporate digital scrapbooking into your business in a way that is profitable for you and exciting for your customers. Experience a class in action as Linda Sattgast, Adobe's scrapbooking expert, demonstrates tips and tricks for making fun and creative scrapbooks that combine digital techniques with traditional products.
The digital scrapbooking educational track is just one segment of the tremendous line-up scheduled for the CHA Summer Show. Retailers can choose from more than 50 hands-on workshops to learn the latest techniques in home decor, art materials, card-making and gift-giving. There will also be 20 business seminars addressing marketing and branding, industry trends, and the latest market research findings on the Hispanic market. Workshops and seminars will begin on July 19th and run throughout the show.

To pre-register for any of these programs and to learn more about the upcoming 2007 CHA Summer Convention and Trade Show, including a complete schedule of all programs and events, exhibitor listings, travel discounts and other key show highlights, visit www.chashow.org. As the largest summer trade show for the craft and hobby industry, the July 20-22, 2007 edition returns to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL with the newest introductions for the holidays, special occasions and year-round sales from 460-plus exhibiting companies. In addition, buyers can choose from an unprecedented line-up of educational programs, buyer services and events, including a special keynote address by Trading Spaces Designer Genevieve Gorder.

The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) is a not-for-profit organization consisting of 5,500 member companies engaged in the manufacture, distribution and retail sales of products in the $30 billion craft and hobby industry. The Association offers a broad range of member services, including market research, education and consumer branding initiatives, as well as operates two annual trade show events, the CHA Winter and CHA Summer Shows that attract industry professionals from all over the world.

Craft And Hobby Association, 319 East 54th Street, Elmwood Park, New Jersey 07407 USA
phone: 201.794.1133 fax: 201.797.0657 email: media@craftandhobby.org