American Craft Council Participates in San Francisco's Gift & Home Furnishings Week

Furniture World Magazine

The American Craft Council, a national nonprofit educational organization promoting understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft celebrating its 30th annual San Francisco Wholesale Show, announced its involvement in San Francisco’s Gift & Home Furnishing Week. The Council, The San Francisco Furniture Market and The San Francisco International Gift Fair® have developed a promotional campaign, which allows retail buyers to gain access to all three shows with a single badge. In addition, the cross-marketing effort includes a complimentary shuttle service between the Gift Fair at the Moscone Center and the Council’s show at Fort Mason on Wednesday, August 10. With overlapping days of the San Francisco Furniture Market (August 3-6), The San Francisco International Gift Fair (August 6-10), and the American Craft Council San Francisco Wholesale Show (August 10-11), buyers can experience thousands of one-of-a-kind products and vendors – everything from trend-setting gift items to beautiful furniture and accessories to unique handmade craft. "The Council is pleased to join forces with the San Francisco Furniture Market and The San Francisco International Gift Fair to create this wonderful offer for retail buyers," stated Reed McMillan, director, marketing and communications for the American Craft Council. "We understand that the fourth quarter is quickly approaching and that buyers are searching for the most unique items. The Council envisions this cross-marketing initiative as an opportunity for buyers to experience and purchase the finest handmade crafts, gifts and furniture." Craft artists from around the country will return to San Francisco for it 30th Wholesale Show from Wednesday, August 10 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to Thursday, August 11 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at the Fort Mason Center for the Council’s 30th annual San Francisco Wholesale Show. As the largest and most respected craft show in the West, the show will feature more than 300 of America’s top contemporary craft artists. Work exhibited at the show includes jewelry; clothing and accessories; furniture; quilts; and sculptural and functional objects in clay, fiber, glass, metal and wood. The Council will offer registered buyers the opportunity to participate in lectures and walking tours, which highlight new marketing ideas and ways for buyers to work with a "living with craft" theme. Another first for the San Francisco Show is an interactive website (www.craftcouncil.org/sfw) promoting exhibiting artists that includes an image of their work, links to e-mail and website addresses as well as contact information. About the American Craft Council (www.craftcouncil.org) Founded in 1943, the American Craft Council is a national, nonprofit public educational organization promoting understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. As the nation’s leading authority on contemporary craft, the Council’s programs include the award-winning bimonthly magazine, AMERICAN CRAFT; two annual juried wholesale shows in Baltimore and San Francisco and six annual juried retail shows in Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, San Francisco, Sarasota and St. Paul, presenting artists and their work; a specialized library and archive on contemporary craft; and the Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honoring excellence in craft. Membership is open to all. For more information, please contact the American Craft Council at 1-800-836-3470 or visit www.craftcouncil.org