Nov 13, 2007

New Artists, Product Trends Mark Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show

Chicago – This January, Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show, the renowned brand of shows for handcrafted and artisan products, will excite buyers with its showcase of new artists and product trends that meet growing consumer demand for distinctive and one-of-a-kind gifts and home decor. Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show runs exclusively during The Chicago Market: Living and Giving from Saturday, January 19 through Tuesday, January 22.

From functional home accessory pieces that complete the look of any home to whimsical gifts that take recipients on faraway journeys, retailers will find an unmatched selection of the unique products that shoppers crave during Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show. Among the approximately 50 new exhibitors debuting in January, notable resources include:

• Alec Reid Design. Contemporary studio furniture blends the beauty of nature with modern form in pieces that can integrate into multiple living spaces.
• Denault Studios. Kiln-formed glass accented with sterling silver take the shape of home accents and jewelry handcrafted by artist Michael Denault.
• Glass Harbor Jewelry. By working in harmony with the flow of glass in flame, Dawn Harbor sculpts the intimate elements of her graceful, engaging jewelry collection.
• Habersham Candle Company. Handcrafted, scented candles and accessories in favorite styles and new design trends from Habersham Candle Company can be incorporated into any home’s decor.
• Language Arts. Using professionally printed photos of signs, architecture and other objects that take on the form of letters, Greg and Dilynn frame and arrange series of photos to create words and custom names in ready-to-hang artwork.
• London House Publishing. An untraditional bookmaker, London House Publishing uses fictional artifacts such as old photographs, train tickets, fabrics and more to create a multi-sensory and unparalleled experience for the reader.
• Mudpuppy Clay Studio. These functional and decorative tiles are individually handcrafted using a process that maximizes the color and detail printed on each piece of tumbled marble, glass and ceramic.
• Timber Creek Collection. Rustic log furniture has rugged charm and ingenuity, carefully designed to complement the natural character of cedar, log, metal and mica.

Exhibitors have been screened using a strict application process to create a high-end and distinctive market. Among the exhibitor participation criteria, exhibitors must be the maker, designer, creator and producer of their work, using little or no prefabricated materials. All work must be original, and there can be no use of commercial kits or molds. Finally, to create personal experience onsite for buyers, artist’s presence is required during the Market.

“It’s becoming increasingly important for stores to set themselves apart from the competition with the unusual and one-of-a-kind products found at the Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show,” says Ann Fruland, director of marketing for The Chicago Market: Living and Giving. “Today, shoppers can purchase almost any mass-produced item from their desktops, so hard-to-find merchandise is an important tool for driving traffic to stores.”

For more information, please visit beckmans.com. The Chicago Market: Living and Giving is a trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show is a registered trademark 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 and 350 West Mart Center 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 New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owners 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.