 Touch, Feel, Smell, Learn, Profit
The annual gathering of the art material industry's most progressive and successful suppliers, reps and retailers is just weeks away - May 1-3 in Minneapolis. A variety of great program and product demonstration sessions are in place. Dozens of major exhibitors have created "Show Only Specials" which will save you money - lots of money - and you can only get these deals during this event. The exhibition show hours have been expanded and several special events are available to all attendees including the President's Opening Reception and a tour of Minneapolis' terrific sculpture garden. Plus Nicollet Mall and its wonderful assortment of restaurants and lounges for libation are right outside the front door of the headquarter hotel - The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. This special edition of NAMTA's eNewsletter has all of the information you need to plan your trip. See you soon in Minneapolis, one of America's great art supporting cities. If you have any questions contact NAMTA here: info@namta.org or 704-892-6244. |
 Educational Programs
Nationally known marketing gurus and frequent NAMTA program participants Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender headline an outstanding array of program and demo sessions designed by and for retail attendees of Art Materials World.
NAMTA asked retailers what are some of your biggest challenges and then it's retail program task force created sessions that address those important issues.
These sessions - all free to NAMTA members - will show you how to be smarter about your branding, how to identify the best marketing channels that are available to you and how to use your website more effectively to grow your business. Plus, there are sessions that focus on some of your core business operation issues like being smarter about how you purchase product and how to make your business a better workplace through effective management of human resource issues. Collectively, these program sessions are designed to save you money, make you money.
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 Pay For Your Trip With Show Only Specials
One of the most important and profitable reasons for attending NAMTA's Art Materials World is Exclusive Show Only Specials.
In Minneapolis almost 100 specials will be offered by exhibitors to those retailers in attendance. Whether it's a percentage off your order, free shipping or back dating, these offers are designed to save you money! But you have got to be there to save! |
 Enjoy Minneapolis Like a Local By Beth Bergman
Beth Bergman, this year's NAMTA Hall of Fame recipient and owner of Wet Paint in St. Paul, has been waiting a long time for NAMTA to bring its annual trade show and conference to the Twin Cities. She's watched the Minneapolis/St. Paul area evolve into one of the nation's leading art communities and now she's sharing this exciting metropolis with NAMTA members. What follows are her (and her staff's) recommendations for fun, entertainment and dining.
Click here for more > |
 Travel Discounts
Remember, as a NAMTA member you can take advantage of our discount programs for travel to Minneapolis for Art Materials World 2013. For car rental, check out the Budget and Avis discounts. Book your flight on Expedia and earn links from Achievelinks.
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 Hyatt Regency Minneapolis is the Place to Stay
The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, which completed a $25 million renovation last year, is this year's headquarter hotel and is just a short walk from the Convention Center. It is located at ground zero for evening activities along the city's hotspot -- Nicollet Mall - and it's large lobby and reception areas will be the place to be each evening for networking and meeting friends.
The cutoff date for getting the discounted NAMTA hotel rate is Monday, April 8...so don't wait too long to book your room. The Minneapolis Convention Center, where all exhibits and educational sessions will be held, is connected to the Hyatt by a convenient and covered walkway.
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 There's an App for That!
Everything you want to know before and during the conference will soon be available for you to download when NAMTA introduces its Art Materials World App in April. It'll be downloadable to your favorite phone and tablets and will contain a myriad of data about vendors, program sessions, events and much more.
Watch for NAMTA's special announcement in April! |
Expanded Show Hours
 In an effort to provide exhibitors and attendees more selling/buying time in Minneapolis the NAMTA Board of Directors agreed last week at its spring meeting to add a couple of hours to the exhibition and to eliminate the sectional meetings. Now, both the Thursday and Friday exhibition will open at 9 a.m. The new trade show hours will be:
- Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday, May 2, 2013, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday, May 3, 2013, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
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President's Reception for All Attendees
All attendees are welcome at The 2013 President's Opening Welcome Reception. The Mill City Museum is a Minneapolis landmark and a special place for the art material industry's social event of the year. At only $45 per ticket this is a wonderful way to network with friends while enjoying an array of hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Free bus transportation will shuttle between the headquarter hotel and the Mill City Museum. Plan to be a part of this event along the Mississippi riverfront.
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 Sculpture Tour
One of Minneapolis' landmark treasures is the Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center. NAMTA and the Walker Art Center will conduct a private, walking tour of the Sculpture Garden at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2. The 1.5 mile round trip walking tour will start at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.
Tickets must be purchased by Monday, April 15 and are $10 per person. To reserve and pay for your tickets call or email NAMTA's Karen Brown at 704-892-6244 or kbrown@namta.org. You will need to provide a credit card number and the purchase must be made by the April 15 deadline. No tickets will be available for purchase at the convention. You must purchase them in advance.
About 75 years ago, the area the Garden now occupies was called the Armory Gardens, which featured a large brick National Guard building and formal gardens. The building was torn down in 1933, but the elaborate garden remained under the management of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. In the late 1960s, Interstate Highway 94 severed the connection between Loring Park and the garden, and eventually the acreage in front of the Walker Art Center became a playing field. In 1988 the Walker and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board collaborated to turn that playing field into the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. In 1992 it was expanded from 7.5 to 11 acres, making it the largest urban sculpture garden in the country at the time. There are more than 40 works on permanent view. Additional temporary installations keep the Garden experience continually fresh.
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