FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OFFERS BUYERS ONE MORE CHANCE TO SHOP BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS
Attendees gain access to even more diverse resources at the concurrently running
Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™
CHICAGO (July 15, 2004) — Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) presents the Fall Chicago Gift & Home Market,™ Saturday, Sept. 18 through Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Scheduled between the July and January gift markets on four floors of The Merchandise Mart (12,13,14 and 15), the Fall Market offers buyers the opportunity to place orders for the first quarter and before the holiday rush. Attendees can also see the upcoming spring lines. This year’s Market features everything from decorative and garden accessories, collectibles and gourmet products, to stationery, bath and body, and even accent furniture.
Buyers gain access to thousands of best-selling lines in more than 300 showrooms totaling 650,000 square feet of resources. Additionally, a variety of unique seminars and lively networking opportunities are scheduled.
“This Market is an ideal opportunity for all buyers, particularly those who weren’t able to fit in all of their purchases at the July Market,” said Megy Karydes, director of marketing, MMPI. “The selection of products and newly introduced items is inspirational. Plus, the Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™ gives our buyers another 300,000 square feet of casual furniture products and accessories to add to the mix.”
CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CASUAL FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES MARKET™
This year’s Fall Gift Market runs in conjunction with the Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, Saturday, Sept. 18 through Wednesday, Sept. 22. Diverse selections of casual furniture and accessories in a variety of styles are available on floors 2, 8, 16 and 17. The Market also offers special events, award presentations and educational seminars. The Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is produced by MMPI and is co-sponsored by the Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association (SCFMA) and the Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR).
The combination of the Fall Chicago Gift & Home Market and the Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market offers attendees double the activities. Following are a few of the special events and seminars surrounding the Markets:
Market Parties
Welcome Party — Rock On!
Saturday, Sept. 18, 6-8 p.m.
South Lobby, The Merchandise Mart 1st floor
Back by popular demand — The Afrodisiacs!
Complimentary food and drinks will be provided.
Annual Market Party
Sunday, Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m.
Joe’s Sports Bar, 940 West Weed Street
Market badges are required for admission.
Free shuttle services available from the 1st floor, South Lobby of The Mart
Seminars
Leading experts in the casual furniture industry will present a series of complimentary, informative seminars during the Markets. Focusing on a variety of topics ranging from management techniques and selling to customer service, these valuable seminars will give retailers an edge and provide up-to-date industry information. Complimentary lunch will be served at noon before each presentation. All seminars are sponsored by the Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR). This year’s seminar topics are:
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004
Designing Out: The Home Lifestyle Report
Ted Gramkow, Garden Design magazine • Sponsored by Garden Design magazine
12:30–1:30 p.m. • Seminar • 8th floor, Conference Room E
This unparalleled study is the first to provide quantifiable results as to the impact of the “outdoor room” on consumer lifestyles. The Home Lifestyle Report is presented by Laneventure and Garden Design magazine.
Monday, Sept. 20, 2004
Outdoor Decorating: The New Frontier
Joe Ruggiero, Joe Ruggiero & Associates
12:30–1:30 p.m. • Seminar • 8th floor, Conference Room C
The popular outdoor room now becomes an opportunity for furnishings, fabrics and decorative accessories. Drawing on his experiences from travels throughout the world, Joe Ruggiero will discuss trends and design opportunities for decorating the great outdoors. Ruggiero is currently the executive producer, design director and host of home enhancement shows on the Home and Garden cable television network, (HGTV®) including "Homes Across America,” “Rooms for Improvement” and “The Best Of." Prior to joining HGTV, he was a design correspondent for the ABC-TV program "Good Morning America," and for the award-winning PBS series "This Old House." Ruggiero's furniture designs feature casegoods, upholstery for Norwalk, fabrics for Sunbrella® and casual outdoor furniture for Terra. The Joe Ruggiero Collection is the recipient of the prestigious Pinnacle Award and the American Furniture Award.
Auditioning for High Morale: How to Hire a Motivated Workforce
Carol A. Hacker, Carol A. Hacker & Associates
12:30–1:30 p.m. • Seminar • 8th floor, Conference Room E
Part of one’s job is to screen, interview and hire people with a built-in coach: those who take the initiative, get the job done and are committed for the long haul. This seminar is about doing just that. Guests will learn how to be a discriminating “buyer” and hire self-motivated people the first time around.
Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2004
Turning a Sales Flyer into a Sales Happening!
Tom Shay, Profits Plus Seminars
12:30–1:30 p.m. • Seminar • 8th floor, Conference Room C
The purpose of a direct mail piece is to increase traffic flow with new and repeat customers, while increasing the chances of selling merchandise that is not on sale. Attendees will learn the techniques necessary to bring the customers back time and time again, while selling both sale and non-sale merchandise. It’s not just a sales flyer – it’s a sales happening!
Why Are They Walking Out Without Buying? … The Art of Closing the Sale
Rick Segal, Rick Segal & Associates
12:30–1:30 p.m. • Seminar • 8th floor, Conference Room E
In this interactive session, attendees will learn tactics and techniques that will help them turn the “just lookers” into buyers. Attendees will leave this session with the following valuable tools:
• Ways to subtly gain confidence to painlessly close the sale
• Ways to reposition one’s self as the preferred supplier
• The best counters for every objection
• The seven best closes that work in almost every situation
TRAVEL
Attendees can make all travel arrangements by calling Mart Travel Services at 1-800-528-8700 or online by visiting www.merchandisemart.com, going to the Chicago Gift & Home Market page and clicking on the travel button. With discounted rates and the convenience that comes from booking hotel, airline, rail and rental car reservations through Mart Travel Services, travel arrangements are affordable and hassle-free. There are more than 15 local hotels in the area, many of which are available at discounted rates to accommodate retailers. Deadline for discount reservations is Aug. 31, 2004.
UPCOMING MARKETS
Nov. 9-10, 2004: Chicago Gift & Home Market Sample Sale
Jan. 19-26, 2005: January Chicago Gift & Home Market™
March 19-21, 2005: Spring Chicago Gift & Home Market™
July 20-27, 2005: July Chicago Gift & Home Market™
For more information about The Fall 2004 Chicago Gift & Home Market at The Merchandise Mart, please visit www.merchandisemart.com or call 1-800-677-6278 (MART).
The Chicago Gift & Home Market and the Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market are trademarks of MMPI. Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, Chicago Apparel Center, and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington, D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Joanna Mineau
Director of Public Relations
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
312.527.7074
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