Windy City Shopping

CHICAGO GIFT & HOME MARKET
July 21–28
Temporaries
July 24–27
The Merchandise Mart
200 World Trade Center
Chicago 60654
(312) 527-4141
www.merchandisemart.com
Show Producer:

Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI)
Show Hours:

Permanent showrooms, July 21–23, 25–27, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. July 24, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. July 28, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Gift temporaries, July 24–26, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. July 27, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Beckman's Handcrafted Gift Show Chicago, July 24–26, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. July 27, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Travel Arrangements:

Mart Travel Services, (800) 528-8700
Special Events:

• Silent Auction. July 23–July 27, and at the Block Party. Art Pillows auctioned to benefit Gift for Life.
• Shop Late Til 8 — Mexican Fiesta Day. Saturday, July 24, 6–8 p.m. Permanent showrooms, floors 12–15.
• Summertime Block Party. Sunday, July 25. 6–8 p.m. South Drive of The Merchandise Mart. $20/person or $70/four. Food, drinks, entertainment. Proceeds benefit Gift for Life.
• Purchasing Power Plus Day. Saturday, July 24. Hospital gift shop network meeting. Cocktail party, 6–8 p.m. For more information, call Carrie Puckett, (407) 268-4444.
• NALED Day. Sunday, July 25. National Association of Gift & Collectible Dealers meeting and 25th anniversary. For more information, contact Sharon Harper, (770) 537-1970.

Seminars
Unless otherwise noted, all seminars are free and held in suite 800, 8th floor Conference Center.
Thursday, July 22

• How to Shop The Mart: Your Roadmap to Success. 10 a.m. Speaker: Dianna Mosley.

Friday, July 22

• Growing Your Retail Business Using Direct Mail Marketing. 9 a.m. Speaker: Larry Bird
• Home Decor Trends. 11 a.m.
• Image is Everything. 1 p.m. Speaker: Diane Lynch. Sponsored by Bags & Bows.
• Sell What's Selling … Turning Data Into Revenue-Driving Intelligence. 3 p.m. Speaker: Rick Segal. Sponsored by Microsoft Business Solutions.

Saturday, July 24

• Color & Lighting: Design Elements That Sell. 10 a.m. Speaker: Deborah Burnett, ASID. Sponsored by Water Wonders.
• Super Sales with Bags, Boxes, and Bows. 12:30 p.m. Speaker: Shirley Frazier. Sponsored by Nashville Wraps.
• Fall into Holiday Gift Baskets. 2 p.m. Speaker: Shirley Frazier. Sponsored by Nashville Wraps.

Sunday, July 25

• PR/Marketing Tips. 8 a.m. Speaker: Larry Bird.
• Extreme Makeover: More ROI From Your Web Site. 10 a.m.
• Speakers: Cori Dunn, Neil Capel, Marvin Hosif.
• Surviving in a Difficult Economy. Noon. Speaker: Carol L. Schroeder, columnist, Gifts & Decorative Accessories

  magazine, and author of Gift Shop Retailing.

• Image is Everything. 1:30 p.m. Repeat of Friday.
• Low-cost Christmas Displays. 3 p.m.

Monday, July 28

• Red-Hot Christmas Merchandise & Marketing Trends. 9:30 a.m.
• Tips, Tools & Trends. 11:30 a.m. Sponsored by ART.
• Lifestyle Trends. 1 p.m. Speaker: Carol Schalla.