Marketing

The Chicago Market: Living and Giving^®

is promoted continuously throughout the year. Markets and day-to-day buying events are promoted through an advertising and direct mail campaign, aggressive public relations efforts, an e-blast campaign and through our Web site.

UNPARALLELED MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS

• Advertising across key trade publications
• Direct mail campaign of more than one million pieces sent to buyers and prospects each year
• Association outreach
• Editorial coverage in key industry publications
• E-mail campaign targeting buyers dozens of times a year
• Public relations campaigns
• Telemarketing campaign to VIP retailers
• Comprehensive Web site, providing Market details, travel and registration information and much more!
• On-site displays and signage

Plan Chicago

PLAN CHICAGO—The Chicago Market’s exclusive Product Locator Tool— brings buyers and exhibitors together with ease, before, during and AFTER Market!

Don’t miss out on a single sales opportunity—Begin generating leads for Market as soon as you sign your contract!

Only at The Chicago Market: Living and Giving^®.

Through Plan Chicago, you can:

• Search our hundreds of showrooms, exhibitors and lines on Floors 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 (by category, location or company name).
• See special offers and incentives, including discounts on orders, free gifts and free freight—made exclusively for Chicago buyers.
• Save a list of companies you want to visit while at The Chicago Market!
• Print out your list—including a floor plan map with your search results highlighted—to help you navigate your way through Market!
• Start all over—and make a new search (as many times as you want)!

YOU NEED A SUCCESSFUL SELLING SEASON! The Chicago Market: Living and Giving^® BRINGS:

• Buyers who own or purchase for 1–5 retail stores.
• Major retail outlets, each bringing approximately 1–3 buyers per company.
• Buyers seeking NEW products and resources to provide to their discriminating customers.
• Loyal buyers! 85% of our buyers return to Chicago with their representatives, place orders with existing sources as well as source out new lines to add to their merchandising.
• MORE ORDERS—91% of our retail buyers who come to Market place orders.

NEED-TO-KNOW 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. Chicago is a convenient, affordable world-class city! If you target Midwest buyers and beyond, your presence at The Chicago Market: Living and Giving is a must!

HERE’S WHAT OUR TENANTS AND BUYERS ARE SAYING:

Buyers

“The seminar was really informative, especially since I have a neighboring boutique.  We are looking to get involved in a community where our retail neighbors respect us and our company. 

–Trisha London, owner of Zella Brown, Chicago, IL

“Market Square is a great resource to get inspired, you walk around, see the best of all the product and you wan to run back to your store and replicate it all! Market Square is interpreting style in a way that other markets lack. I am very excited to see The Chicago Market set themselves apart with the depth of product and the ease of shopping Market Square; you actually see the big picture when you are there!”

–Gail C. Michel, accessory buyer, Wickes Furniture Company, Inc.

“You do more for the buyers than any other Market.”

–Paul Boyle, president, Home and the Holidays

“Many of the showrooms look better than ever. Change is a good thing—as a retailer, I have to change out my displays every 45 days or so, so it’s helpful to see fresh, new ideas at Market.”

–Lisa Kapp-Schaut, owner, Taylor Creek, Green Bay, WI

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

 “The Starting Gate display has been the most successful advertising we have ever done. We will never not participate in this sponsorship.”

–Mary Hallas, Lightstone, Principal

 “We just had our biggest July Show—Ever!"

–Dennis Nemcek, president, DNA Sales

“We were so busy the line out of our booth was blocking the aisle”

–Mary Hallas, principal, Lightstone

“We’ve had some dynamite leads and sales have been great…we’re thrilled to death with this show!”

–Charlie Cheek, City Paper Company

Promoting Day to Day Buyer Traffic

Focused marketing programs draw buyers to the incomparable Chicago Markets’ special events and valuable daily resources, generating excitement among buyers that is critical to our exhibitors and showrooms—during Market and every day.

2008 FIRST TUESDAY EVENTS

Learn firsthand from industry professionals as they share tips and insights. Complimentary boxed lunch will be provided.

FEBRUARY 5 | APRIL 1 | JUNE 3 | AUGUST 5 | OCTOBER 3 | DECEMBER 2

To find out more about our marketing campaigns, contact Ann Fruland, director of marketing, at 312.527.7608 or e-mail her at afruland@mmart.com.