CHA and The Arts & Crafts Industry

What would you do with $650? Well, put your thinking caps on because this may be your opportunity to win!  Are you ready?

Organized by CHA Designer member and marketing consultant, Lisa Fulmer, almost 60 CHA members from around the world are coming together to help celebrate the CHA MEGA Show’s 75th Anniversary with a blog hop, Dec 7th thru Dec 11th.  Each day there are posts from CHA members about the show: new products, workshops, demos, make'n takes and, from me, a personal note about our industry - where it's been, where it's going and a little about my Life in the Craft Lane. 

I attended my first industry trade show, formerly HIA, in 1991. I was a professional crafter and had heard about a great show where manufacturers from all over the US and other countries exhibited their products.  To say it was overwhelming was an understatement.  My brain literally went into overdrive then froze from all the creativity I was exposed to.....  I haven't missed a trade show since.

So much has changed over the past 25 years. "How to" craft books and craft magazines have, for the  most part been replaced by internet tutorials, TV shows have become secondary to YouTube videos and designers now have the opportunity to brand and promote themselves thru personal blogs and self publishing via e-books.

The industry pendulum has swung from family crafts, to scrapbooking and is now focusing on home dec, mixed media and the makers who are bringing it all together.  The fact that Arts & Crafts is a billion dollar industry has not escaped the investment companies and over the past few years, many of the family owned businesses soon became part of these large dollar driven entities.  Many others have consolidated under one large company, but still retain their identity.

In a creative driven industry, change is inherent and each year, there is always something new to look forward to.  It never ceases to amaze me how many new companies exhibit at the show each year and it's always exciting to walk thru the doors on opening day.  For the past few years I have taken photos of exhibitor booths as a I walked up and down the aisles, then posted them here on my blog.  If you've never been to the show, you can walk the January 2015 show with me here:

 http://juliemcguffee.blogspot.com/2015/01/cha-2015-anaheim-ca.html

My craft business has grown and changed dramatically over the past 20+ years. I have graduated from professional crafter and decorative painting teacher, to author, managing editor, graphic designer, product developer, consultant for major companies, host of a national TV show for 15 years and manufacturer representative for popular shopping channels.  I'm currently working as Design Team coordinator for 3 industry manufacturers and author the Trending Thoughts column for Bella Crafts Quarterly, an online magazine.  The one constant is my passion for crafts and being creative.

There is always something new to learn and education is an important element of CHA. There are 2 days of workshops, demos and seminars before the show floor opens as well as during the show.  Not only for designer members, there is something for everyone.

Attending the CHA show each year is like a family reunion.  I look forward to seeing old friends, meeting new designers and oftentimes teaching seminars on things I have learned over the years.  Designers have a tremendous support system with constant contact thru Facebook groups, where they generously share information to help each other and grow the industry for us all.

Now let's get back to the $650.....  there are 3 steps to enter using the Rafflecopter widget below:

1. Leave a comment (mandatory) answering the question - "What is your favorite "can't live without" craft supply or tool?"
   
2. Tweet about the giveaway.  (Include #CHAshow and tweet daily for extra entries.)
   
3. Answer a multiple-choice poll about how often you "cre8time" for crafting - double entry value!

Anyone and everyone in the US and abroad is eligible to enter, even you and your team. CHA staff are the only folks who are not eligible.  This is day 4 of the blog hop, so don't forget to check out previous posts - tomorrow, Dec 11th  is the final day!

GOOD LUCK!  KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!  

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway