artists benefits

The Chicago Market: Living and Giving^® has a dedicated Buyer Relations Manager, whose sole responsibility is to outreach to your buyers!

The main goal for the Buyer Relations position is attract new buyers and maintain relationships with existing buyers who attend The Chicago Market including Beckman's Handcrafted Show. In addition, the Buyer Relations Manager provides any and all services for buyers that helps make market-time visits, as well as day to day visits, as enjoyable and productive as possible.

The buyer relations program includes:

• Retail Excursions-In Chicago and throughout the Midwest networking with retailers!
• Bi-Monthly Retailer Appreciation Days at The Mart
• Daily phone calls and emails
• Written Communication
• Monthly meetings with showroom managers and principals
• Premier Buyer Program
• Red Tag Parking Program
• Buying Group Partnerships, i.e. Hospital gift shops, Ace Hardware, Purchasing Power Plus
• School Partnerships to promote future opportunities, i.e. Columbia College Art Competition
• Local, regional and national art and design associations, i.e. A.S.I.D., I.I.D.A., M.S.A., ArtFair Calendar, N.A.I.A. and many more
• Retail Support Groups, i.e. Retail Speaks, Greater Northern Michigan Avenue Association, Local First Chicago along with several others

If you're a sales representative or exhibitor and you'd like to have Sara Hall, buyer relations manager, contact your VIP retailers to discuss opportunities or if you're a buyer and would like more information, please email shall@mmart.com or call 312.527.6448.

The Chicago Market: Living and Giving^®

As part of a comprehensive package, Beckman's Artists receive:

Hard walls | Materials Handling (drayage) | Dual outlet | 1 x 4 light fixture | Chair & waste receptacle | Carpet | Reciprocal web link | Booth Signage | Photo Gallery exposure | Alphabetical and Product Category Directory Listings | Eligibility for Living & Giving^® Green and Lake Living category promotions | Plan Chicago – the online product locator | "I'm the Artist" ribbons | Admission to The Chicago Market events, including Signatures Book Signings, Power Lunch Seminars, and appearances by guest speakers

ALL new-to-Chicago Artists will receive $750 in free Marketing & Promotions!

FACTS

• Illinois ranks sixth among the states in percent of national retail sales and the Chicago area ranks first among metropolitan statistical areas in retail sales.*
• The median household income for downtown Chicago is $63,837, giving consumers in this affluent community 44 percent more money to spend than the average American consumer.**
• 88 percent of buyers believe that, relative to other major cities, Chicago is the most inexpensive to travel to.
• 95 percent of buyers find the temporary floors manageable and easy to walk.
• 97 percent of buyers cite Chicago as the most convenient market to shop because everything is under one roof.
• Chicago is UNIQUE—88 percent of temporary exhibitors say they service customers in Chicago who they do not see at other markets.

*According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
**According to 2004 estimates by Claritas

CHICAGO: THE CAPITAL OF THE MIDWEST

While drawing a wide geographic audience of buyers each market, Chicago has long been the preferred destination for the lucrative audience of Midwest retailers.

Exhibitors

“We’ve had some dynamite leads and sales have been great…we’re thrilled to death with this show!”
–Charlie Cheek, City Paper Company

“We were so busy the line out of our booth was blocking the isle”
–Mary Hallas, Lightstone, Principal

 “We just had our biggest July Show—Ever!"
–Dennis Nemcek, president, DNA Sales