So for 20 years (more actually) Suza, Bob, Rita and I have shopped Chicago Gift Show. We actually started by SELLING there!!! Back in the olden days when Beckman's Handcrafted Show was not even IN the Merchandise Mart Building but on the 2nd floor of the Mart Plaza Building, we sold brass jewelry, themed bears and hand painted gifts wholesale there.
We've come a long way baby!
Meet Mick Santiago, an incredible designer I met at the Chicago Gift Show. Each morning before the show started he taught how to create fantastic window displays and store displays. I learned a lot and he had us on the edges of our seats awaiting his next great tip, so much so that the women the row ahead of us actually fell out of hers!! So glad it wasn't me!
Mick's happy helpers!
Although this display isn't actually my taste, I loved the items he picked and how he used the color to catch people's eye. I thought using the round place mats on the floor to add color and interest was clever. Also, since it was the Chicago Gift Show he used the painting featuring Chicago zip codes and letters that was neat.
Here I liked the Alpha letters that you could have say anything in all sorts of colors. The bracelets are actually felt with a magnet clasp that are light weight, reversible and made from recycled materials.
The flowers are lightweight thumb tacks that just push into your wall. They came in dragonflies and butterflies too! Cool. The wall was a kind of styro board that comes in many colors from a company in Chicago. Again, lightweight, reusable and a quick change for a background when you can't paint.
Here Mick made a quick dramatic change by throwing a zebra rug down and covering the orange with fabric curtains. Lots of shiny surfaces to catch the eye. He merchandised the inside of the cabinets as well. Nice.
Designer Barb Gross
sold fantastic steel and rubber men's bracelets at her showroom Right Brain Enterprises. The Museum of Fine Arts is going to sell her new line so she is discontinuing this line to sell exclusively through them. LUCKY ME!
I bought her last 5 in the case at an amazing price! They normally sell for $150. We will be selling them for almost half of that at Simply Everything Boutique!!!
You'd better hurry because when they are gone, they are gone!
But I don't want you to think we were all work and no play!
This is Suza and Rita trying to figure out what to do with some of the new Christmas decorations they were showing this season. What do you think?
Suza was absolutely in hog heaven when she found her favorite popcorn shop!!
Yum! Lunch!
The show was really down in foot traffic which was great for us. We got in and out with no waiting at lunch or the showrooms. They are shipping our merchandise right away which means you'll have lots of fun new things to look at and buy very soon!
We've come a long way baby!
Meet Mick Santiago, an incredible designer I met at the Chicago Gift Show. Each morning before the show started he taught how to create fantastic window displays and store displays. I learned a lot and he had us on the edges of our seats awaiting his next great tip, so much so that the women the row ahead of us actually fell out of hers!! So glad it wasn't me!
Mick's happy helpers!
Although this display isn't actually my taste, I loved the items he picked and how he used the color to catch people's eye. I thought using the round place mats on the floor to add color and interest was clever. Also, since it was the Chicago Gift Show he used the painting featuring Chicago zip codes and letters that was neat.
Here I liked the Alpha letters that you could have say anything in all sorts of colors. The bracelets are actually felt with a magnet clasp that are light weight, reversible and made from recycled materials.
The flowers are lightweight thumb tacks that just push into your wall. They came in dragonflies and butterflies too! Cool. The wall was a kind of styro board that comes in many colors from a company in Chicago. Again, lightweight, reusable and a quick change for a background when you can't paint.
Here Mick made a quick dramatic change by throwing a zebra rug down and covering the orange with fabric curtains. Lots of shiny surfaces to catch the eye. He merchandised the inside of the cabinets as well. Nice.Designer Barb Gross
sold fantastic steel and rubber men's bracelets at her showroom Right Brain Enterprises. The Museum of Fine Arts is going to sell her new line so she is discontinuing this line to sell exclusively through them. LUCKY ME!
I bought her last 5 in the case at an amazing price! They normally sell for $150. We will be selling them for almost half of that at Simply Everything Boutique!!!You'd better hurry because when they are gone, they are gone!
But I don't want you to think we were all work and no play!
This is Suza and Rita trying to figure out what to do with some of the new Christmas decorations they were showing this season. What do you think?Suza was absolutely in hog heaven when she found her favorite popcorn shop!!
Yum! Lunch!
The show was really down in foot traffic which was great for us. We got in and out with no waiting at lunch or the showrooms. They are shipping our merchandise right away which means you'll have lots of fun new things to look at and buy very soon!
2 comments:
Ugh, I'm so jealous. I want to go to gift show and eat popcorn and spend money. Did you actually buy anything or just window shop? You know how I feel about window shopping. Yeccchhh, what's the point? If I see something cool, I want to take it HOME!!
Glad you had fun. Tell Sue and Bob I said "hi".
love this!
Let me know how the bracelets go!
Barbara Gross
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