New Events Added to Creativation 2019 (& big AFCI news)
The holidays are over and now the AFCI Creativation show in Phoenix is suddenly just two weeks away! Where did 2018 go, anyway? Here's some last-minute things you need to know before heading to the show, including details on two new events recently added to the Creativation 2019 show schedule - and some big AFCI news.
[Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of AFCI and the Creativation 2019 show.]
Creativation Show logo
The first new event recently added for Creativation 2019 is the Tricky Tray Auction. Thirty five show exhibitors have donated prizes for this auction, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Kids in Need Foundation. Each show attendee will receive three tickets to "bid" on their favorite auction prizes. Additional tickets are available for purchase (cash only) at $1/each. To place your bids, visit booth 1334 (next to the main stage) during show hours on Saturday and Sunday. And don't miss the announcement of the winners during the Awards ceremony on the main stage from 5:00pm-6:30pm on Sunday evening - You must be present at the drawing to win that prize you're wishing for!
Another new event added for Creativation 2019 since my last show news update is the Project Embellish Challenge. The challenge is sponsored by Now That's A Jig as well as Beadalon, ImpressArt, Tierra Cast, Xuron, Craft Optics, Deflecto, and Beads Baubles & Jewels. Six designers will participate in the challenge, competing to see who can create the most beautiful piece of jewelry in only three hours. The theme of the 2019 Project Embellish Challenge is "charm & whimsy", and contestants will be required to use sponsors' products and a mystery item in their designs. To see the challenge in action, visit booth 925 on Sunday from 1pm-4pm.
If you fall in love with one of the Project Embellish Challenge projects you see being made, you'll be happy to know that the finished jewelry items are being auctioned off to benefit Beads of Courage. Visit booth #925 to participate in the silent auction. Winners will be announced on Monday, January 21st at noon!
Also don't forget an oldie but a goodie event, one of my favorites: the New Product Networking Event from 4:30pm-6ppm on Friday night on the show floor! It's a great chance to catch up with old friends, and make new ones, while you get a sneak peek of new products before the show floor opens on Saturday. Don't miss it! (Learn more here.)
And finally, don't forget one of the most under-appreciated events at the show. It's true that the AFCI Annual Business Meeting & Town Hall may not be the most fun event on the show schedule (and at 7:30am on Monday it's definitely one of the earliest in the morning). But this year it promises to be an immensely informative and important event for AFCI members to attend.
The AFCI Board of Directors announced in mid-December that it has decided to let go all of the association's current permanent staff and instead hire SmithBucklin, an association management firm, to run AFCI's operations. This shift will take effect on April 1st, 2019, and the Annual Business Meeting will be members' first chance to hear from the Board and others about what this means for AFCI going forward.
