Dealer Benefits
Celebrating its fourth fall show and held every April since 1998, The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair will feature an exceptional range of antiques and fine art—ranging from antiquities to mid-century modernism—as Chicago’s design season shifts into high gear.
With a dealer-first approach, MMPI understands that the future of the Fair lies in the hands of the dealers who participate. Investing heavily in the Fair’s future, we appreciate the guidance of participating dealers to build a show with effective promotions, outstanding customer service, and superior operations. Chicago—like no other city—embraces its cultural events to attract the attention of the world, and we are committed to satisfying the needs of dealers, collectors and antiques enthusiasts alike.
The Fall Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair
• Attracts more than 20,000 curators, collectors, designers and affluent consumers to The Merchandise Mart.
• Will host the premier run of Emporium —an eclectic mix of urban antiques. Shoppers will discover cool and unusual finds from dealers specializing in 19th and 20th century genres and styles, including mid-century Modernism, vintage furniture, found items, salvage and reclaimed work, folk art, vintage clothing and jewelry and much more!
• Runs concurrently with Experience Design Weekend at The Merchandise Mart, the epicenter of high-end design and style. During this weekend only, The Mart will host a premier line-up of exciting events attracting a targeted audience who loves one-of-a-kind antiques and luxury design. Highlights include:
Thousands of affluent, designoriented consumers will tour more than 30 luxury kitchen and bath showrooms while enjoying special celebrity guest lectures, cooking demonstrations, complimentary gourmet hospitality and music
Top designers and their clients will be on hand to tour the ultimate design resource with 150 showrooms and 2,500 product lines of luxury furnishings
• Produces an aggressive and synergistic marketing program combining:
- Direct Mail
- Complimentary Ticket Program
- Newspaper Inserts
- Multi-Media Advertising
- Street Banners
- Internet Marketing
- Partnership Marketing
- Multi-Media Press Coverage
• Produces premier Special Events and amenities including:
- Preview Night Opening Charity Event attracts 1,000 people from the Chicago social scene
- Keynote Presentation (Spring 2010 is designer Thomas O’Brien; Spring 2009 was media maven, Martha Stewart)
- Docent Program—Tours of The Fair provided by well-known Chicago designers
- Designer On Call—Designer Consultation Program
- Vignettes—Mixing the new with the old
- Lecture Series for Veteran, New and Curious Collectors
• Private Events
- Collector Home Tours
- Curator-led Museum Tours
- Designer Breakfast
- Architectural Tours throughout the City of Chicago
- Booth Talks
- VIP Amenities and Events
• Provides a very smooth move–in and move–out process
• Offers a highly competitive booth rates as compared to those of other national fairs
• Will be the center of a series of design events, including the LuxeHome open house, our luxury kitchen and bath showrooms, and special events at The Merchandise Mart Design Center, the world’s largest wholesale design center.
• Attracts 100+ top exhibiting dealers including a large number from the U.S., U.K. and France, as well as those from Canada, Africa, Italy, Japan and Turkey
• Is the leading antiques fair in the Midwest, hosted at the historic Merchandise Mart and produced by MMPI
Exhibiting Information
For exhibiting information, contact Laurette Lutiger at 312.527.7069 or llutiger@mmart.com
