ExhibitorInfo.com Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™

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The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market,™ September 15-18, 2008, attracts key editors and writers from the casual and outdoor furnishings industry, home furnishings industry, pool and spa industry, hearth products industry and garden industry as well as consumer and feature writers from major newspapers and magazines. It is important that exhibitors utilize these press opportunities to your advantage before, during and after the Market.

In an effort to provide the media with comprehensive information about the Market, we invite you to display your company’s press kits, brochures, etc., in the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market Press Room, located on the 8th Floor of The Merchandise Mart, Room 8A.

Before Market
The Merchandise Mart invites the media to attend the Market, including all special events, and to tour the various show floors to review the hundreds of products displayed during Market. We recommend that you call or write to press members and inform them of your products or services prior to Market. To obtain the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market press list, please e-mail Claire Weingarden at cweingarden@mmart.com. We suggest sending your information to the members of the press list by the beginning July to mid-August, depending on the publication deadline for editorial.

Additionally, the media wants to know more about your new products at Market, and we invite you to be a part of our new products press release! If you are introducing a new product or showing products for the first time at the 2008 International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, please click here to fill out the Public Relations New Product Request form. Please return this completed form by Friday, August 15, 2008 to cweingarden@mmart.com. Please be sure to write “CASUAL NEW PRODUCT” in the subject line.

How to Prepare a Press Kit
It is important that you present your product and/or services to the press. Some commonly asked questions about press kits include:

What is a press kit?
A press kit is an important packet conveniently assembled for the media to review. Most public relations professionals use simple tools to compile a press kit, starting with a two-pocket folder, plastic envelope, or even a paper envelope.

What goes into a press kit?
A press kit usually consists of the following:

Press release(s)
CD with high res images and descriptions
Company brochures
Company fact sheet/brief company history
Related company news

What is a press release?
A press release is a brief announcement that contains newsworthy material. Explain the innovative aspects or the benefits of your product. A release is written in the style of an article (in the third person). This means that part of – or the entire – release could be used word for word in a publication. It can conclude with a paragraph about your company’s background. On the first page, always include the date, the appropriate contact’s name and professional title, phone number and e-mail address for people to call for more information. Press releases are usually one or two pages in length.

Is it necessary to put our company’s name and booth number on the cover of every press kit?
Yes. If an editor or reporter picks up your kit, wants to stop by and readily sees the booth number on the press kit, he or she saves time by not having to look up the location in the show directory.

Does every photo on the CD need to be identified?
Yes. Again, an editor will be more inclined to work with a manufacturer who is organized and presents an array of choices.

Should past articles be enclosed in the kit?
If your company was written up in a major newspaper or magazine, you may wish to add a copy of the article, but it is not an essential component for your press kit.

Is a business card necessary in a press kit?
No. A business card may be enclosed but it is not necessary. The contact name, telephone number and e-mail address on the press release should be the person whom the press calls for more information.

At-Market
How to use the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market Press Room
The 2008 International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market press room will be located in The Merchandise Mart on the 8th floor throughout the course of the show, September 15–28, 2008.

We recommend that you send 20 press kits that include a press release, CD with product images, product descriptions and other valuable information you would like to publicize. Please clearly mark your company name and Showroom/Market Suite number on each item. It is important to place your location on the cover of your press kit so the media will know where to reach you. Send all materials to the address below by Friday, September 5, 2008 to:

Claire Weingarden
Public Relations Manager
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Suite 470, The Merchandise Mart
Chicago, Illinois 60654
Phone: 312.527.7790
E-Mail: cweingarden@mmart.com

IMPORTANT: If an outside public relations firm is handling your media relations, kindly forward this information.

Please pick up your remaining press kits by noon on Friday, September 19. Remaining press kits will be discarded after 6 p.m. if they are not picked up.

We look forward to working with you to maximize your publicity opportunities!