ELMWOOD PARK, NJ (July 27, 2011) - The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) announces "The Power of Community: Build Locally, Drive Socially" as its theme for CHA's 2012 Winter Conference & Trade Show. To demonstrate the power of community building, CHA's board of directors voted to approve removing membership requirements for CHA Trade Show exhibitors and attendees. Beginning with the CHA 2012 Winter Conference & Trade Show, non-member companies are welcome to exhibit, shop the show floor and experience the craft industry's premier trade events first-hand. Opening the CHA Trade Show floor to non-member exhibitors and attendees represents a major shift in community building within the craft, hobby and other related creative industries.
"While remaining focused on our core business, we recognize there is a tremendous opportunity to grow the Show and industry by offering an affordable way to experience the CHA Show and attracting a more diverse group of exhibitors and buyers," says Tony Lee, acting president and CEO of CHA. "CHA's partnership with the Hobby Manufacturers Association (HMA) demonstrates that CHA can expand the range of products at the Show while offering a marketplace for all things creative."
Over the next several Shows, CHA staff will work with carefully identified groups for greater exhibiting and attendee promotions. All non-member exhibitors and attendees must qualify to participate by providing valid business credentials. Non-member attendees will have unrestricted buying access to the entire show floor and may upgrade to CHA membership onsite in order to participate in the CHA Conference program, which includes business seminars, product technique workshops, networking and special CHA events. Non-members may now exhibit at the industry's premier CHA buying events, expected to result in a wider selection of products being available at upcoming Shows.
CHA invites the entire industry, regardless of CHA membership, to participate in the CHA 2012 Winter Conference & Trade Show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., January 29 through February 1, 2012, and witness the "Power of Community." Contact Anthony Licata, senior sales manager at CHA, at 201.835.1203 or alicata@craftandhobby.org for enrollment in these new exciting programs.
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