Chicago Craft Mafia Seeks Sponsorships for DIY Craft Show At B'way Armory

The DIY Trunk Show, an event presented by the Chicago Craft Mafia, is one of the longest-running indie craft shows in Chicago, now in its ninth year.

An estimated 3,000 shoppers will attend the DIY Trunk Show to kick off the Holiday Shopping Season each year, to join the diverse gathering of creative talent to showcase, sell and promote handmade arts, crafts, goods, and endeavors of all kinds. The event included a juried show featuring unique, high quality yet affordable items. Using traditional techniques and nontraditional materials and ideas, these entrepreneurs make one-of-a-kind jewelry, stationery, housewares, accessories and body care products for consumers who don't want mass-produced products. The DIY Trunk Show has built its reputation by supporting the Chicagoland craft community, encouraging emerging artists and crafters, and helping to promote local nonprofits and small businesses. Admission is FREE.

WHERE: Broadway Armory Park (Edgewater), 5917 N. Broadway (at Thorndale), Chicago, IL 60660
CTA Accessible - Thorndale Red Line El stop and 36-Broadway bus; street parking; handicapped accessible
In this bigger location, the DIY Trunk Show can now offer on-site workshops and 50% more vendors than in past years.

WHEN: Saturday, November 19, 2011, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Conveniently timed for the weekend before Thanksgiving, the DIY Trunk Show offers fantastic holiday gifts before the seasonal rush "officially" begins, so you can complete your shopping lists with quality, handmade art created by local artisans.

SPONSORSHIPS: For the first time in our nine-year history, the DIY Trunk Show is seeking sponsors to cross-promote their businesses in conjunction with the show. Sponsorship levels include Golden Scissor ($1,000), Silver Shears ($600), and Safety Scissors ($250). For further information or to propose a sponsorship, contact Chicago Craft Mafia members Richelle Albrecht at richelle@girlmetro.com or 773-878-4475, or Beth Cummings at diffractionChicago@gmail.com Confirmed sponsors include Blue Buddha Boutique (Golden Scissors) and Gaper's Block (Silver Shears).

PARTNERSHIP: The DIY Trunk Show will partner with Wishcraft, a Chicago-licensed children's activity group, to provide a kids crafting area from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Other partners are slated to include the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce (http://edgewater.org/), and Local First Chicago (www.localfirstchicago.org/).

SUPPORT: The 2011 DIY Trunk Show is made possible in part by an Etsy Team Grant.
Buy and sell handmade or vintage items, art and supplies on Etsy, the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace - www.etsy.com

HISTORY: The Chicago Craft Mafia (CCM) is a collaborative and non-competitive organization of independent crafting business owners. CCM's quarterly networking and education programs are offered free of charge and open to anyone interested in starting or growing their own craft businesses.

Each holiday season, the CCM presents the DIY Trunk Show, an event organized by an all-volunteer, eight-member committee of craft business owners, which brings together over 100 local and regional crafters. All DIY Trunk Show proceeds are used to cover show expenses.

In order to showcase talented emerging artisans, the show ensures that 20%-30% of the spaces available go to first-time sellers each year. All goods are required to be designed or made by the people selling them at the show. Even during the global economic downturn, the crafting market remains strong, and CCM saw a 20% increase in vendor applications for last year's event.

Additionally, the show promotes several nonprofits and local businesses by offering free table space for them to interact with show attendees. Through the website www.chicagocraftmafia.com, CCM serves the crafting community by answering questions, promoting local events and businesses, writing articles on the business of crafting, sharing artisan-related media and publishing RFPs, and showcasing inspirational photos and stories.

CCM works together to both foster individual entrepreneurship and support the greater crafting community. Members of the familia pride ourselves on the design, integrity and workmanship of our products and the ethics of our business practices. CCM's goal is to increase these businesses retail and/or wholesale exposure, by abiding by a DIY code of ethics. CCM's collective knowledge covers wholesaling, retailing, publishing digital and traditional media, licensing, teaching, graphic design, marketing, product photography, and website development. CCM organizes quarterly Craft Rackets: free business-oriented workshops open to the public on a variety of subjects such as Pricing Your Crafts and How to Apply for an Arts Fair.

The DIY Trunk Show Craftifesto: The Power is in Your Hands!
By co-founders Amy Carlton and Cinnamon Cooper

The DIY Trunk Show is an annual event that brings the best of the Chicago area's alternative craft community to the people. We believe:

Craft is powerful. We want to show the depth and breadth of the Chicago crafting community. Anything you want-clothing, jewelry, art, music-you can probably get from a real live person here in Chicago. And buying handmade, one-of-a-kind goods from your neighbor kicks the ass of buying mass-produced, slave-made corporate stuff.

Craft is personal. To know that something was made by hand, by someone who cares that you like it, makes that object much more enjoyable. And it makes you feel less lonely when you realize that you know the name of the person who made the bar of soap you use, the earrings you wore when you met that special someone, or the scarf that kept you from freezing while you waited for the train.

Craft is political. We're not just trying to sell stuff. We're trying to change the world. We want everyone to rethink corporate culture and consumerism.

Craft is possible. Everybody can create something-you don't have to be an established business to make stuff. The DIY Trunk Show encourages new crafters by giving them a place to sell their work for the first time. We hold workshops to teach people how to make things. And we're creating friendships and connections between crafters - being a small business owner doesn't mean you have to work in isolation.

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