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I have the opportunity to attend CHA and will be arriving Saturday afternoon and then to the event Sunday and half of Monday. I know...wish I could be there longer.
Anyway, since this is my first time attending CHA I would appreciate any tips on what to do and what not to do. Do you have a plan of attack on which booths you will visit? I see on many blogs that it's overwhelming and people don't always make it to see their favorites.
Take a small rolling cart of some sort. Last year my shoulder tote just about killed me. You tend to collect catalogs and various items throughout the day that weight you down.
Print out the map ahead of time and look through the vendor listing to see what companies you just can't miss then list them in numerical order by booth number. This will avoid criss-crossing the huge convention floor. Last year the first day was totally overwhelming and were all over the place. Then that night a couple of girls in our group made the numerical listing and the second day was so much more fun and productive!
Comfy shoes ARE a MUST! Your legs/feet will feel like they will fall off by the end of the day (can you picture ladies crawling along the floor..."must get MORE catalogs..." LOL!)
If you do end up with TOO many catalogs or brochures--will you have enough room for it all in your suitcase?? You may need to ship some back???
There is a "Buyer's Lounge" with complimentary snacks/beverage/quick bite to eat/check email.
There will be thousands of Attendees there--only a small portion are actual Store Owners there to place orders. You will almost forget that it is a Trade Show that covers many different Crafts & Hobbies--the Paper Crafting part almost dominates the floor and you feel like you are at a Scrapbook Show!!
Even though they say "No Cameras", bring one anyway. Sometimes there are photo ops with crafting celebs. I got a pic with THE Carol Duvall! Also bring a note pad so that you can write stuff down. You will see some many neat things and not quite remember what you saw where.
Even though they say "No Cameras", bring one anyway. Sometimes there are photo ops with crafting celebs. I got a pic with THE Carol Duvall! Also bring a note pad so that you can write stuff down. You will see some many neat things and not quite remember what you saw where.
They say "no cameras"? I had no idea. You do have to ask at each booth if it's ok to take pictures, but most booths said yes.
I'm still jealous of your pic with Carol Duvall last year Michelle!!! All I got was a pic of Martha Stewart before we go shoved aside by her entourage!:rolleyes:
They say "no cameras"? I had no idea. You do have to ask at each booth if it's ok to take pictures, but most booths said yes.
I'm still jealous of your pic with Carol Duvall last year Michelle!!! All I got was a pic of Martha Stewart before we go shoved aside by her entourage!:rolleyes:
Good thing they didn't confiscate your camera and delete the Martha pictures. ;)
I will be going to CHA, too. I'll actually be there for all 4 days and I am SO MUCH looking forward to it. Unfortunately I will not arrive in time for all the great workshops on Saturday. Or plane will not arrive before 6pm, but I still booked 4 other workshops for the following days. I'm really looking forward to the MySentimentsExactly class.
CHA is great. I have been there last time. The Anaheim Convention Center is HUGE!!! So if you travel with others, it is always good to bring a cell phone to find your friends again. Bring something to carry all your make'n'takes in. Best would be something with wheels, but not too big. It gets really crowded around the M'n'T tables. Cameras are officially not allowed, that is true, but no-one ever said anything to anyone, as long as you are respectful and ask before taking photos of samples etc. Drinks are provided at the show, there are machines where you can buy water etc. set up everywhere. Comfy shoes are a must! Your feet will be burning. So if the shoes are comfortable yet easy to take off, that's even better. Then you can slip out of them whenever you sit down for a M'n'T and give your feet a rest. Cooling foot lotion and a moisturiser for your face are a good thing to bring, too. The air inside is SO dry! Don't forget business cards. There will be lots of drawings going on and in most cases you have to put your card in a container to be able to play. But you will have to be at the booth for the drwing, or your prize will go to the next one. I've seen this happen to someone I know, a 500$ Prima Marketing basket, but there was nothing I could do. You have name tags around your neck and so there was no chance for me pretending I am her...
On my first visit last year my friend and I actually thought, we would just stay at CHA for two days and be done- Oh, we were so wrong. We stayed from beginning till end and still had the feeling we missed something. So I would say, split up on Sunday, then compare notes at night, so you can see what you missed and go there on Monday.
I guess that is the most important info Sorry this has been so long, but it only shows my excitement about going there again!!
__________________ Ramona in Germany My Blog
SU!-Demonstrator in Germany
Here's a question for those of you who have attended before...do we need to bring any supplies for the make & takes, or does the company supply everything (adhesive, etc)?
I'm a newbie here. What and where is CHA? I think that I had read that it is Chicago and is some type of "craft" show? My oldest daughter may be attending grad school in Chicago next year and this may provide a good opportunity for me!
Necessities:
• A few pairs of comfortable and supportive shoes that are already worn in.
• Aspirin/tylenol
• Band-aids, specifically the blister kind
• Lip gloss or chapstick. The convention center is DRY!
• Mints or throat lozenges. Your throat will thank you!
• Purell or Wash'n'Dry wipe-type things. Helpful to clean inky hands!
• Water
• Small snacks like trail mix, fruit, etc.
• Notebook and pen
• Business cards/address labels
• A plan of attack. The convention is huge, so it pays to be organized and know what you want to see and where it is.
• Cell phone and a list of your friends' cell phone numbers to make it easier to find each other when you get separated.
• Be polite and kind. You never know who is next to you in the restroom or at a make & take.
***Edited to add: It can't hurt to have your own adhesive, small scissors, and black pen. That way you don't have to wait for others to pass them to you and you also will have the adhesive and pen of your choice. Just remember to pack your scissors in your luggage so they don't get confiscated by TSA.
I'm a newbie here. What and where is CHA? I think that I had read that it is Chicago and is some type of "craft" show? My oldest daughter may be attending grad school in Chicago next year and this may provide a good opportunity for me!
Oh my gosh! You girls are the best! Thanks for all the useful tips. Comfy shoes, water bottle, camera, business cards and wheeled bag are on the list.
I am traveling by myself so if anyone is in need of a buddy or would like to adopt me I'd be thrilled to have the company. I'll be arriving early Saturday afternoon.
I am traveling by myself so if anyone is in need of a buddy or would like to adopt me I'd be thrilled to have the company. I'll be arriving early Saturday afternoon.
Cameras are allowed but make sure you ask vendors before you take pictures. Some do not allow them even if you do have a film pass (like I did this summer).
Definitely bring an extra bag or suitcase just so you can get everything back home.
Don't worry about wearing cute shoes. Dress for comfort. Your feet will thank you.
Have snacks on hand. I randomly stuck a box of poptarts in my suitcase and was sure happy that I did.
And bring 2 books for the plane ride. Especially when the first flight gets delayed 5 hours and you've already finished your 1st book and there's not much else to do at the Detroit airport at 10 at night.
Oh my gosh! You girls are the best! Thanks for all the useful tips. Comfy shoes, water bottle, camera, business cards and wheeled bag are on the list.
I am traveling by myself so if anyone is in need of a buddy or would like to adopt me I'd be thrilled to have the company. I'll be arriving early Saturday afternoon.
Thanks again!
Denise
Hi Denise--are you taking classes on Saturday? There were so many to chose from.
You'll run into a bunch of others who go to the CHA show solo too.
I was just looking over the list of classes. Of course, the one I really want (Tim Holtz) is all booked up. I will look over the list maybe get in on one or two classes. Any recommendations?
I was just looking over the list of classes. Of course, the one I really want (Tim Holtz) is all booked up. I will look over the list maybe get in on one or two classes. Any recommendations?
Tim's class usually sells out right away. For any Tim classes, you need to be on your computer the moment they open registration to take his class...this one and Maya Road sell out quickly.
I didn't look to see what else was still open. I'm sure there are still some good ones left.
I'll be attending 4 classes. I am so thrilled. The ones I chose are the Making Memories Tools class on Sunday morning, the My Sentiments Exactly! class and the Butterfly hinge book class on Monday and (saved the best for last...) the Maya Road class on Tuesday.
Actually, I think you can't even book the Tim Holtz class on the computer. If I remember correctly, you have to send in a registration sheet plus a statement, that you didn't take any of his classes at any CHA in the past 2 years, and then there will be a drawing for the seats in the class. This man really must be something! But even without taking the class you will most likely meet him. He will be in the booth presenting his new products most of the time.
Another advice is to go and check on the schedules for the m'n'ts and the drawings at the different booths. Nothing worse than missing something because you are a few minutes late. I actually will take a timetable with me this time to mark all the important things I don't wanna miss.
__________________ Ramona in Germany My Blog
SU!-Demonstrator in Germany
I signed up to be on the CHA Focus Group for new members that joined in 2006 and 2007...is there anything you would like to see CHA offer or do for their future New Members that you would find helpful. Taking notes here!;)
I signed up to be on the CHA Focus Group for new members that joined in 2006 and 2007...is there anything you would like to see CHA offer or do for their future New Members that you would find helpful. Taking notes here!;)
A quick orientation for first time attendees helping us to determine what is important to see/take part in our first time there. Tips & tricks kind of thing, or special things going on that day only - celebs in da house. (lol -not a stalker, really!) Perhaps this could begin about 30 minutes before the floor opens on the first day...or maybe even each day of the event (for those who don't get there on the first day). They may even have something like this already, but since it's my first time, I'm unaware of it.:rolleyes:
Now, in general, and not specific to CHA Convention...perhaps a video tutorial of all that's offered on the site, the educational programs and how to find them, etc.
Good ideas Lynn. It is a bit overwheming on the WEB site. The vendor list is incredible and I am making my list of booths to visit but I know that I will get side tracked along the way.
Does anyone know off hand if there is a UPS/FED EX shipping booth in the lobby? I thought I read about one--but, can't confirm it. (I'll email the folks at CHA).
I am thinking I may need to ship back some stuff, so I don't weight down my suitcase too much (I ended up bringing an extra suitcase back FULL of STUFF when I went to Summer CHA!)
[SIZE=3][COLOR=Magenta] I am thinking I may need to ship back some stuff, so I don't weight down my suitcase too much (I ended up bringing an extra suitcase back FULL of STUFF when I went to Summer CHA!)
Um..... what did you get that filled an entire suitcase??
Um..... what did you get that filled an entire suitcase??
Oh, thats easy! All the catalogues and make and takes. Believe me, when I went back home last year, I had an extra suitcase filled AND still had to ship a box home.
Oh, and yes I am pretty sure there was some kind of FedEx or UPS service available. There also were computers for the visitors to use with Internet connection (and they were free)
__________________ Ramona in Germany My Blog
SU!-Demonstrator in Germany
Um..... what did you get that filled an entire suitcase??
Yes, catalogs, samples, samples, samples, did I say SAMPLES? Sadly I had to leave many catalogs and magazines (yes, magazines! So, don't run out and buy that new issue, because they have copies of most Scrapbook mags at the show...complimentary) behind...that stuff can get heavy! The UPS Store wasn't even open early in the morning for me to ship stuff back...
This time, I have my Fed-Ex Account# and I'm packing a folded shipping box in my suitcase to ship stuff back...
Yes, catalogs, samples, samples, samples, did I say SAMPLES? Sadly I had to leave many catalogs and magazines (yes, magazines! So, don't run out and buy that new issue, because they have copies of most Scrapbook mags at the show...complimentary) behind...that stuff can get heavy! The UPS Store wasn't even open early in the morning for me to ship stuff back...
This time, I have my Fed-Ex Account# and I'm packing a folded shipping box in my suitcase to ship stuff back...
Wonderful idea about taking a fed-ex box in your suitcase...I just grabbed one so I will make sure to pack it!
I will be there again this year (nice to have friends who are CHA members!). We will only be there Monday - Wed. due to a workshop I had scheduled for Sunday. Hope to see all of you who will be attending. It is just mind boggling!!
Got my comfy shoes! Now I need a cute comfy outfit which will be hard considering it is below zero here!!! Lots of winter clothes in my closet. Oh well just another excuse to go shopping. Capri pants should do the trick...not too hot...not too cold. Oh and I am looking for a rolling bag. Any suggestions on a good bag to take?
I found out that Sarah Moore from Craft Critique is on my flight! Yeah....so cool to be meeting an SCS'er that I swapped with on more than one occassion. It would be fun if there was an SCS gathering Saturday night.....not that I am inviting myself or anything like that. Tee-Hee.
CHA first timer tips
