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Heather Gooch, Gooch & Gooch LLC
330-723-3539, heather@goochandgooch.com
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TNNA events enjoy successful 2013

Positive vendor sales were reported for both the Winter Trade Show and the Nashville Market, boding well for the Summer Trade Show in June.

ZANESVILLE, OH — It’s been a great show season for The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) so far in 2013, and all signs point to it continuing throughout the coming months.

Both the February Winter Trade Show in Long Beach, Calif., and the Nashville Needlework Market last week posted overall positive vendor sales, according to TNNA Executive Director Patty Parrish. Class sales were strong, a trend first noted last year at the June Summer NeedleArts Trade Show in Columbus, Ohio.

"It’s great to be able to report that attendees are coming in search of products, and the sales numbers show they are finding them,” Parrish says. "It’s also been wonderful to see our members taking the opportunity to meet with one another and exchange ideas and product innovations in person.”

The Winter Trade Show boasted a highly successful Retailers Luncheon panel, which focused on using social media to promote business; as well as the hotly anticipated Spring Fashion Show, the "FanAtical Friday Night” events (Sample IT!, Meet the Teachers, Needlepoint Showcase, Manufacturer Rep meetup, live music and hors d'oeuvres), Super Bowl "Tailgating” parties and more. The Yarn Group’s Great Wall of Yarn was on display, and The Spinning and Weaving Group did a "Daily Dose of Fiber” demo/display throughout the weekend. A record 22 exhibitors participated in the Needlepoint Showcase, sponsored by the Needlepoint Group.

In addition to a variety of classes, the cash-and-carry Nashville Needlework Market featured the Great Model Giveaway by the Counted Thread & Embroidery Group—a fun event that allowed winners to take home samples and prize packages back to their shops.

The Winter Trade Show was the second TNNA event for Molly Carlson, owner of The Urban Sheep in Sacramento. She notes that the shows provide great opportunities for her to better her business.

"They’re always so educational, in every way,” Carlson adds. "Classes, the show floor, the ability to see and try new things at Sample IT!—and especially the chance to meet new people and get new ideas. It’s been well worth my time, effort and money to attend.”

TNNA’s events for the remainder of 2013 include the Summer NeedleArts Trade Show (June 22-24 in Columbus, Ohio) and the Fall Needlecraft Market (Aug. 24-25 in St. Charles, Mo.). TNNA will also be represented by a booth at several Maker Faire events throughout the year.

About TNNA
TNNA is a non-profit trade organization established in 1974 and is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of needle arts, through trade shows, educational seminars, special events, public relations and professional programs that continue to meet the needs of the industry. For more information, visit www.tnna.org.

New Designer Program coming to TNNA, sponsored by the CTE group!

As a needlework designer, have you debated about bringing your counted thread or embroidery designs to a trade show? You know how important it is to be visible, but aren't sure how to get started. Well, the Counted Thread & Embroidery Group (CTE) of The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) is giving you a chance to WIN an opportunity to exhibit at the Winter 2012 National NeedleArts Trade Show.

TNNA's CTE group will be awarding scholarships to five new counted thread/embroidery designers to exhibit at the January 2012 Phoenix trade show. This New Designer Program is a way to help new counted thread and embroidery designers with creative ideas and irresistible excitement reach national and international retailers.

Scholarship includes exhibit space, plus electricity, carpet, material handling, basic booth furniture (if needed). Designers winning the scholarship will share this exhibit space. This scholarship does not include transportation or lodging. However, a stipend to help defray expenses will be provided to each recipient. Winners will be determined by a juried process: a committee of TNNA/CTE members will be looking for quality design, presentation, and originality.

Don't delay; your portfolio is due by November 1, 2011. You have the ideas and talent, now let's get you to a major industry trade show. For a complete list of rules and application process, email CTE.TNNA@gmail.com.

January 13, 2011

Media Contact:

Patty Parrish, ExecutiveDirector

The National NeedleArts Association

Sherry Mulne

Business Directions inc
614-237-0700

bdirect@columbus.rr.com

New Products, New Exhibitors, New Programs Illustrate Strength of the Specialty Needlearts Industry

ZANESVILLE, OH — The National NeedleArts Association’s Winter Trade Show in Long Beach CA this past weekend was a testimony to the innovation and creative spirit of our members and our industry.

With twenty-three new exhibitors and a New Product Display boasting one hundred-sixty-eight new items from over one hundred companies, it was evident TNNA’s members continue to see, and seek opportunities within this challenging economy.

Friday evening hosted a "biggest ever” Sample-IT!, the Teacher Meet & Greet, as well as the new Needlepoint Group Showcase, complete with an array of finely finished products. The Yarn Group Fashion Show, emceed by Doreen Connors of SOHO Publishing and Kathy Morrow of The Yarn Studio, capped off the evening. Spirited, new models, strutting along a new diamond runway, showed off the sparkling new yarns and spring/summer knit and crochet patterns from over 65 of TNNA’s foremost designers.

TNNA’s educational curriculum continues to develop, embracing different venues to better serve our members. Both the TIPs program and on-floor mini-sessions, initiated in Columbus last June, were again well received. The Retail Council is currently in the process of creating a totally new approach to providing members with the knowledge they need to better manage their businesses.

During the Special Interest Group meetings on Sunday evening, as well as the Annual Meeting, India Wood of Hart Business Resources announced a new Business Innovation Award being offered by her company in partnership with TNNA.

The Annual Meeting started off with a short video highlighting the Top Stories of TNNA 2009 – 2010, starting out with Stitch N’ Pitches achievement of setting a new Guinness Book of World Records for the most crocheters stitching at the same time at Citi Park NY during the past summer. The entire video will be posted on TNNA.org.

The PiPN Internship program also announced the addition of Mississippi State University as a second hub. University of Akron in Akron OH had been the only college in the PiPN Scholar program. MSU, through Dr. Phyllis Miller, offers a complete needlearts class as part of their Textiles curriculum.

Even TNNA trade shows are changing. Although Columbus will still host the Summer Needlearts Market on the 11^th of June, this fall’s Needlecraft Market is moving to Baltimore MD, and will take place August 13-14. Next January’s trade show is slated for Phoenix AZ from the 21^st through the 23^rd.

Although both exhibitor and attendee numbers were nearly exactly the same as last year, activity was up and many vendors expressed satisfaction with show sales. Exhibitors also noted they were happy to be able to connect with other vendors to develop new products or marketing promotions.

For more information and discussion on TNNA’s new programs, check out our TNNAblog.com or log onto TNNA.org.

About TNNA
TNNA is a non-profit trade organization established in 1974 and is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of needle arts, through trade shows, educational seminars, special events, public relations and professional programs that continue to meet the needs of the industry. For more information, visit www.tnna.org.