MERCHANDISE MART PROPERTIES, INC. NAMES KRISTIN PETERSON
DIRECTOR OF MARKET SUITES SALES FOR THE CHICAGO GIFT & HOME MARKET
Chicago Gift & Home Market celebrates major expansion in January 2005
CHICAGO (Nov. 29, 2004) -- Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) announces the appointment of Kristin Peterson to director of Market Suites sales for the Chicago Gift & Home Market. Peterson reports directly to Joan Ulrich, vice president of gift leasing and marketing, MMPI. In her new role, Peterson will be responsible for selling the Market Suites, as well as supervising and managing the Suites’ sales team.
“We’re excited to bring aboard Kristin, who has an impressive background in the gift industry as well as invaluable retail experience,” said Ulrich. “We take pride in the fact that our sales team can spot changing trends and understand the importance of bringing key resources to Chicago Gift & Home Market buyers. Their expertise benefits both manufacturers and retailers involved in our market.”
Peterson’s most recent position was with Ivan Bloom and Associates/OneCoast Midwest’s Merchandise Mart showroom as director of sales, where she managed the showroom and developed sales strategies for road representatives, in addition to tracking sales and generating the budget, which saw annual increases during her six-year tenure. She also procured new merchandise for Ivan Bloom and Associates/OneCoast Midwest through extensive research, analysis and customer feedback.
Prior to Ivan Bloom and Associates/OneCoast Midwest, Peterson served as department manager for the gourmet foods and house wares department of Bloomingdale’s on Chicago’s famed Michigan Avenue. Her responsibilities included hiring, training and managing the staff with an emphasis on sales techniques, client-building and visual displays. Peterson spent the first 14 years of her career at Crate and Barrel, starting as a department manager at a downtown Chicago location and working her way up to store manager of the 5,000-square-foot Woodfield, Ill., store. While at Crate and Barrel, Peterson gained comprehensive creative merchandising and sales knowledge.
CHICAGO GIFT & HOME MARKET: JANUARY 2005 EXPANSION:
Peterson’s appointment comes in conjunction with the 100,000-square-foot expansion on floors 7 and 8 at the January 2005 Chicago Gift & Home Market, Jan. 19-26, 2005 (with temporary exhibitors and Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show™ Chicago held Jan. 22-25). The total dedicated square footage of the Market is now 1,150,000. The expansion includes an even larger Home section as well as the relocation and growth of Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show Chicago to the 7th floor. The existing 8th-floor temporary exhibit space has been completely refurbished to feature an improved floorplan and updated look. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 7th and 8th floors will take place Saturday, Jan. 22, at 11 a.m. (floors open by 9 a.m.). Buyers will be treated to upbeat music, complimentary mimosas and appetizers as the nearly 1,000 exhibitors are welcomed.
For more information about MMPI and the January 2005 Chicago Gift & Home Market, please visit www.merchandisemart.com. A photo of Kristin Peterson is available upon request.
The Chicago Gift & Home Market is a trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). 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 and 7 W. 34th Street 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 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. (MMPI)
Phone: 312-527-7074
E-mail: jmineau@mmart.com
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