THE BEST OF THE BEST NAMED IN LA

In a press release issued today, CHA announced the CHA Show award winners.  See the release below.  Congratulations to all the winners.

 

THE 2011 CHA WINTER SHOW AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 31, 2011) The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) today announced the award winners of the 2011 CHA Winter Conference & Trade Show, including the Innovations Showcase, Golden Press Kit, Designer Press Kit, Exhibiting with Excellence Awards as well as the two new innovations awards the Innovation in Retail Award and the Most Innovative CHA Designer Award.  Each award was presented at the 2011 CHA Winter Convention & Trade Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California.

These coveted awards represent the industry’s most prestigious recognition for product innovation, trade show exhibition, retail innovation and press kit design. Judged by CHA staff and a celebrity panel of judges including Deborah Norville (Premier Yarn & Inside Edition), Candy Spelling (CHA Craft Ambassador), Craig Nakano (The Los Angeles Times), Terri O (Super Simple With Terri O TV), Julie McGuffee (Scrapbook Memories TV), and Jenny Barnett-Rohrs (CraftTestDummies.com).  CHA member companies were recognized for their outstanding contributions to craft and hobby industry.

 

INNOVATIONS SHOWCASE WINNERS
The Innovations Showcase brought together the newest ideas and most innovative products from exhibiting companies. Retailers, CHA members, CHA consultants and members of the press attending the show voted and selected the best products of the Show, as well as the “Overall Best Innovation.” The winners are:
 

- CHA INNOVATION AWARD WINNER – Lesley Riley’s Tap Transfer Artist Paper by C&T Publishing

 - HONORABLE MENTION – deCOULARANT by Kandi Corp

 - HONORABLE MENTION – Creatopia by Xryon

EXHIBITING WITH EXCELLENCE
The CHA Exhibiting with Excellence Awards were presented to companies whose dynamic displays, merchandising techniques and inviting staff enhance the overall atmosphere of the Show floor. Voted on by members of the press, consultants, and CHA staff, the judging criteria included use of floor space, visual appeal of exhibitor booths, and overall presence and friendliness of staff. Three winners were chosen:

 - EXHIBITING WITH EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER – GCD Studios

 - HONORABLE MENTION – Plaid Enterprises

 - HONORABLE MENTION – BottleCap Inc. 

PRESS KIT AWARD COMPETITION WINNERS
Several exhibiting manufacturers vied for top place in the Golden Press Kit competition, which awards the design/content, creativity and thoroughness of each company’s press kit. CHA Designer members also had a chance to display their press kit innovations as part of the Designer Press Kit competition. Members of the press selected the following winners:

 - GOLDEN PRESS KIT AWARD WINNER – Diamond Tech

 - RUNNER-UP– Sizzix

 - HONORABLE MENTION– Fabscraps

 - DESIGNER PRESS KIT AWARD – Beadphoria by Suzann Sladcik Wilson

CHA INNOVATIONS AWARDS

This year CHA introduced two new awards to recognize excellence in craft project design and innovation in craft retail.  The winner of the 2011 CHA Innovation in Retail Award is presented to the Crop Shop in Rockland, MA.  The Most Innovative CHA Designer Award was presented Jenn Cushman for her “A Bird in the Hand Project.”