The promotion will coincide with CHA’s first ever Craft SuperShow – a consumer event – in Orlando, Florida. The Craft SuperShow is an exciting and interactive event where consumers will be exposed to a broad range of craft products and hand-crafted items. Consumers will enjoy top-notch workshops, make-n-takes, show floor demos, prize give-a-ways and more. They’ll learn, create and even buy at the Craft SuperShow; an event designed to inspire consumers to craft.

How? Easy! CHA has created this guide with timelines, project sheets for make-n-takes and more - all of the elements you need to help you coordinate your own Craft SuperShow in your store that will have your shoppers crafting till they drop!

The following manufacturers have graciously donated make-n-take project sheets for your use. Just click on the project name to download the project sheet:

» For more project ideas CLICK HERE

Craft Night- enjoy the benefits of crafting all year long

Starting this March the Craft & Hobby Association is challenging individuals, families and craft retailers to take the Craft Night Pledge of crafting one night a week with your friends and family. By participating in just one craft per week, people can enjoy the financial, social as well as the emotional and extrinsic benefits of crafting - including sense of accomplishment, memory keeping, relaxation, and spending time with friends and family.

CHA developed the Craft Night PR and Media Handbook to support retailers in this regard, as well as to help secure publicity for your business by promoting Craft Night. The handbook includes an overview of public relations, media tips, a template Craft Night press release, as well as suggestions on how to implement the Craft Night initiative at point-of-sale to build your business. With your creativity and determination Craft Night will be a huge success for months and years to come.

Click here to download the Craft Night PR and Media Handbook.
Click here to download the Craft Night Logo.

Click here for Trade Show FAQs and a recap of the open forum conference calls CHA held in late February and March 2009.

Be a part of the summer’s largest craft and hobby event! The CHA 2009 Summer Show is moving to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The dates of the event have been adjusted to avoid interfering with weekends and will run from Tuesday, July 28 through Thursday, July 30, 2009. By moving to this premier destination and adjusting the show days, we hope to build attendance and enhance exhibitor participation.

CHA will be debuting it’s first-ever consumer show, the CHA Craft SuperShow, on Friday, July 31 through Saturday, August 1, 2009, in Orlando, Florida. CHA is committed to promoting the growth of the craft and hobby industry and doing what we can to help your business succeed. While most consumer craft shows are focused on one or two segments of the craft industry, the new CHA Craft SuperShow is designed to educate and inspire attendees about a wide range of crafts. The goal is simple – to get consumers excited about crafting, drive more traffic to retail, and increase the frequency and amount of craft purchases.

Who Can Exhibit
All CHA members will be allowed to exhibit at the CHA Craft SuperShow. To avoid complexities and competition between retailers and manufacturers, exhibiting manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers will NOT be able to sell products for cash at the CHA Craft SuperShow. Other categories such as retailers, designers, professional crafters will be allowed to sell products at the show.

Make-N-Take Complimentary Booth Program
Educate consumers about your products! When you buy one or more booths and commit to hosting a Make-N-Take, you will get one additional 10 x 10 booth free. See the CHA Craft SuperShow Exhibitor Contract for more details on this program.

» CHA Craft SuperShow Exhibitor Contract
» CHA Craft SuperShow Floor Plan

For questions regarding exhibiting in either of the upcoming Summer Shows, contact Anthony Licata, Senior Sales Manager, at alicata@craftandhobby.org or 201.835.1203.

Crafting is currently an over $30 billion industry and the education market makes up a large part of it. Why? Because teachers know the educational value of teaching with crafts! The education industry spends $1.3 billion annually on craft supplies and teachers spend on average $250 a year of their own money on craft supplies. They know that hands-on assignments stimulate the imagination of their students and reinforce learning. As such, making your store “teacher-friendly” is an excellent way to build your customer base as well as develop positive community relations.

In 2002, the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) released the groundbreaking study, The Academic Value of Hands-On Crafts Projects in Elementary Schools. It was one of the first studies ever to investigate the impact of hands-on projects and learning. The findings confirmed what teachers have known for years, that through crafts, students retain more information and learning is made easier. It was then that it became quite clear that educators are important promoters of crafting and they need to be targeted and catered to.

In response to the study results, CHA began outreach to the teacher community. The first step was implementing www.teacherplace.org, a special online resource site developed just for educators. The site is chock-full of information including creative project lesson plans, craft tips, educational research, testimonials and information about how teachers can work with local craft retailers. The site is an invaluable resource in giving practical ways educators can incorporate crafts into the classroom.

CHA has published the Making the Connection to the Educational Marketplace booklet that outlines how retailers can effectively market to their local teachers and leverage the power of hands-on learning. This step-by-step guide offers CHA members a range of suggestions and practical advice to reach the education arena and increase sales. The booklet is complete with ideas for setting up a store environment, staff training for educator's needs, sample letters that illustrate ways to reach out to teachers, and promotions that help build teacher and administrator support. The Making the Connection to the Educational Marketplace is a wonderful guide for retailers who would like to tap into this specific market. CLICK HERE to download the booklet.

You may also use the step by step guides and "fill in the blanks" media aids provided below to effectively plan and promote your in-store promotions and cater to the education market. Leverage the power of CHA's "Teacher-Friendly" branding campaign by incorporating the "teacher-friendly" logoin your promotional material. Most importantly, as you get ready to head back to school, keep an ear open for your customers" needs; this will help drive teachers to your store and keep them coming back all throughout the school year!

Guides and Media Aids

• Promotion Idea Sheet
  (ideas for organizing in-store events)
• Making the Connection to the Education Marketplace
  (tips for planning your in-store promotion)
• Sample Press Release
• Sample Media Alert
• Sample 60 Second PSA
• Sample 30 Second PSA