I've gotten a few questions about how CHA works, so I thought I'd answer them in brief as best as I can. Let me know if you have other questions.
The CHA Trade Show is an industry-only show. You have to have a retailer, manufacturer, designer, educator, press, or service provider badge to get into the show. There is a CHA Super Show that is open to the public. But it isn't a reveal of new products the way that this one is. It's a lot of shopping with big box stores like Michael's selling their wares. As for shopping at the Trade Show….
At the CHA Trade show the only people who can buy things are the retailers. And there is no product to buy right then and there. You simply place your order. For a detailed look at buying, please visit this post.
The focus at the Trade Show is definitely on showing off the new products and making sales. Most booths have make-and-takes or demos.
I always want to sit and do them all and learn about all the new stuff out there, but I'm also very conscious of not wanting to take up a seat if a retailer (who might buy) is there. After all the show is about selling, right? Selling and networking. There are side deals and meetings and parties and all sort of business that goes down at CHA. I can definitely say that attending CHA has changed my career in the industry. Not necessarily in the ways that I always wanted it to, but nonetheless, something interesting always comes out of my time there.
And now a few last thoughts…
Trends
Vintage: Now some of these companies always offer vintage. At some of these companies the styling was vintage. At some of these companies the projects had a vintage flair. But I chose a few photos that showed off the major vintage trend!
Accordion Fold Flowers: Some companies offered them as products. Many had booth samples that incorporated them. And a lot of booths simply decorated with them!
Mists: Mists were all over the place! Although, interestingly, not necessarily all over the project samples.
The mix and mend line from Sassafras is even pre-misted for you:
Ornate Frames: I love ornate frames. And apparently so does everyone else! There were plenty for sale (part of the vintage trend, I think) and even more used as set dressing on the walls!
There are also still a lot of dress forms. Off-the-page accessories like frames, chipboard shapes to decorate, etc. are still going strong. Shabby chic seems to be creeping in everywhere. Punches and die-cutting remain very strong. I noticed a lot more supplies that are specifically intended for colorants to be added to. I also noticed a lot of companies pairing up: Stamps from one company that match die cuts from another, so you can cut out your stamped image perfectly. Paint and ink from one company that coordinates perfectly with patterned paper from another company. I think in this economy cross-promoting and pairing up makes a lot of sense!
Top 5 Favorite Products
This was a ridiculously hard list to compile. There are a lot of things that I love and want and will buy. But here are my "want them right now" five:
Sassafrass Lass metal flowers:
Studio Calico opaque white mist:
Kaiser Craft Wooden Frames (upper right corner):
Prima/Donna Downey tall canvas album:
(I didn't get a photo of the blank version, so this is the sample I made.)
Basic Grey Curio Collection:
I hope you have enjoyed my perspective of CHA! Thanks for stopping by!
wow, thanks for the peek of the upcoming products…very cool!
wow, thanks for the peek of the upcoming products…very cool!
wow, thanks for the peek of the upcoming products…very cool!
wow, thanks for the peek of the upcoming products…very cool!
Thanks for sharing all these pics! Love the looks of the mists and Pink Paislee’s artisan elements.
Thanks for sharing all these pics! Love the looks of the mists and Pink Paislee’s artisan elements.
Thanks for sharing all these pics! Love the looks of the mists and Pink Paislee’s artisan elements.
Thanks for sharing all these pics! Love the looks of the mists and Pink Paislee’s artisan elements.
Thanks for sharing. It’s great to see all the lovely new stuff. I can’t wait to see what you do with the opaque white mist.
Thanks for sharing. It’s great to see all the lovely new stuff. I can’t wait to see what you do with the opaque white mist.
Thanks for sharing. It’s great to see all the lovely new stuff. I can’t wait to see what you do with the opaque white mist.
Thanks for sharing. It’s great to see all the lovely new stuff. I can’t wait to see what you do with the opaque white mist.
Wow! I’ve been following your blog this past week and think you win, hands down, for best CHA commentator. How nice to have you “take us along” on your trip. Love your work and can’t wait to see more when you get your chance to play with the new stuff.
Wow! I’ve been following your blog this past week and think you win, hands down, for best CHA commentator. How nice to have you “take us along” on your trip. Love your work and can’t wait to see more when you get your chance to play with the new stuff.
Wow! I’ve been following your blog this past week and think you win, hands down, for best CHA commentator. How nice to have you “take us along” on your trip. Love your work and can’t wait to see more when you get your chance to play with the new stuff.
Wow! I’ve been following your blog this past week and think you win, hands down, for best CHA commentator. How nice to have you “take us along” on your trip. Love your work and can’t wait to see more when you get your chance to play with the new stuff.
Great job on explaining CHA Julie! I had a pretty good idea of what went on but I love how well you explained it! Also loving your fav’s!!!
Great job on explaining CHA Julie! I had a pretty good idea of what went on but I love how well you explained it! Also loving your fav’s!!!
Great job on explaining CHA Julie! I had a pretty good idea of what went on but I love how well you explained it! Also loving your fav’s!!!
Great job on explaining CHA Julie! I had a pretty good idea of what went on but I love how well you explained it! Also loving your fav’s!!!
my question is… when is the stuff for sale?!??! i want it all!!! 🙂
my question is… when is the stuff for sale?!??! i want it all!!! 🙂
my question is… when is the stuff for sale?!??! i want it all!!! 🙂
my question is… when is the stuff for sale?!??! i want it all!!! 🙂
Thanks, Julie. Great tour and insight:)
Thanks, Julie. Great tour and insight:)
Thanks, Julie. Great tour and insight:)
Thanks, Julie. Great tour and insight:)
Julie, thank you for all the photos and insight about this years CHA. I think you’ve covered so much (if not all) of it very throughly. I hope someday to be able to attend, but for now I have to save my retail dollars for the products and not the trip.
Julie, thank you for all the photos and insight about this years CHA. I think you’ve covered so much (if not all) of it very throughly. I hope someday to be able to attend, but for now I have to save my retail dollars for the products and not the trip.
Julie, thank you for all the photos and insight about this years CHA. I think you’ve covered so much (if not all) of it very throughly. I hope someday to be able to attend, but for now I have to save my retail dollars for the products and not the trip.
Julie, thank you for all the photos and insight about this years CHA. I think you’ve covered so much (if not all) of it very throughly. I hope someday to be able to attend, but for now I have to save my retail dollars for the products and not the trip.
Thank you for sharing your view of CHA. I had no idea that the super show would not be a version of what the retailers see, but then it does make sense. I hope you had a chance to hang around CHI or the burbs and have some fun relaxing or what ever.
Thank you for sharing your view of CHA. I had no idea that the super show would not be a version of what the retailers see, but then it does make sense. I hope you had a chance to hang around CHI or the burbs and have some fun relaxing or what ever.
Thank you for sharing your view of CHA. I had no idea that the super show would not be a version of what the retailers see, but then it does make sense. I hope you had a chance to hang around CHI or the burbs and have some fun relaxing or what ever.
Thank you for sharing your view of CHA. I had no idea that the super show would not be a version of what the retailers see, but then it does make sense. I hope you had a chance to hang around CHI or the burbs and have some fun relaxing or what ever.
you have me drooling over here!! the new pink paislee looks AMAzING!
you have me drooling over here!! the new pink paislee looks AMAzING!
you have me drooling over here!! the new pink paislee looks AMAzING!
you have me drooling over here!! the new pink paislee looks AMAzING!