To Be or Not to Be ...at Charlotte |
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(1998 INRG Charlotte Needlework Market / July 29th - Aug. 2nd)
To Be or Not to Be ...at Charlotte |
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Well, the 1998 INRG Charlotte show was... um ....interesting. It was a different experience entirely from that of the INRG Nashville show. Three hundred national and international exhibitors and 14 aisles of walking (compared to Nashville's 109 exhibitors and only three floors). It was HUGE! Peter & I concluded that it was not what we had expected it to be, but did agree that we had learned a lot! |
We learned that we prefer a smaller, more intimate venue. We learned that we're getting better at driving long distances, (15 hours from Chicago to Charlotte, NC). We have a much better booth display than at previous shows. And, we are both becoming more comfortable with the "gypsy" way of life; packing up our business and taking it on the road, setting up, tearing down and driving back home. It is a strange, but adventurous existence. One of the things that makes it so much fun is being reacquainted with fellow "gypsies" at each show, and making friends with new ones! Meeting Judy & Dan Evans from ThreadBear Creations, Tink from Tink Boord-Dill Needlepoint, Nan Baker from Purrfect Spots by Nan, and Jennifer from Dragon Dreams made the trip much more enjoyable. Charlotte is about making contacts, connections, and friends! If you have a distributor, do not expect many direct sales. Most shops prefer to place their orders with the distributors at the Charlotte Market. |
We heard from some fellow exhibitors that attendance was low this year compared with previous years. And that they were worried about being able to break even for the costs of exhibiting. This advice is based on our minimal experience exhibiting at shows: If you are a designer thinking about exhibiting at Charlotte, talk to designers who have been there! What are their opinions about costs versus benefit of attending? |
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What has been their experience? Do they plan to continue exhibiting? Everyone has an opinion. Find out what their's is. We would like to thank the designers mentioned above for their friendship & exchange of ideas, Jack & Marilyn Andert from Marilyn's Needlecraft & Gift Gallery for their incredible generosity, Hoffman media and Just Cross Stitch Magazine for their remarkable timing and talented staff, and for all of the shop owners attending Charlotte who placed orders directly with the designers exhibiting there!
Thank you, too, to:Alec (Ho Chunk) The Cornett Family Marcia Manning Sharion Cox |
Beth's Stitch & Frame