Billed as “the most powerful craft & hobby buying event in the second half of the year,” the CHA trade show will feature hundreds of suppliers and vendors displaying their wares to scrapbook and hobby-supply retailers. The CHA trade show is not open to the public; rather, it is an industry trade show for documented crafting professionals. This summer’s show is divided into sections, displaying the participating suppliers’ diversity. Sections will include art materials and supplies, fabrics, general crafts and scrapbooking.
Mouse Memories has been attending the CHA trade shows since 2005, when the association was formed (resulting from the merger of the Hobby Industry Association [HIA] and the Association of Crafts & Creative Industries [ACCI]). Since 2001, Mouse Memories had attended the two former associations’
Barbara Bennett, one of the owners of Mouse Memories, said she and her husband Brian look forward to this enormous, twice-yearly CHA event. “There’s also one in early February. We attend both of those shows. These are the major shows for the scrapbooking industry,” she explained, adding, “There are literally hundreds of suppliers there on the floor!”
The Bennetts have scheduled appointments with all their current suppliers; they’ll also enjoy prime opportunities to meet new suppliers during the show. Barbara said this is key to Mouse Memories’ ongoing success. She added that major scrapbooking suppliers introduce their new products at the CHA show – and that’s how they manage to stay current on new product offerings.
It promises to be a busy – but productive – three days for Barbara and Brian Bennett.
“Most of the industry’s new suppliers will be there and we’ll visit with all of them,” Barbara said. “It’s fun to stumble upon a new supplier that has something that’s just fantastic – that happens almost every show.”
While the show is scheduled to run July 18-20 at the Stephens Center, Thursday, July 17 is set aside as a training day, with workshops and educational programs for merchants and suppliers. The trade show begins in earnest at 9:00 on Friday morning and runs through Sunday, ending at 5:00 each day (show closes at 4:00 Sunday). As a special bonus, Barbara said, on Saturday and Sunday, they can gain early access to the facility with their floor reps before the show opens for the day.
She said the CHA shows allow Mouse Memories to stay up to date with the latest products – and get them in stock for their customers quickly. In addition, the suppliers often seek show attendees’ input regarding items they’d like to see introduced at upcoming shows.
“We’ve developed an excellent rapport with our suppliers and even have some input as to what the [new] product is,” she said. “It allows us to keep abreast of what’s happening in the industry.”
