Early Bird Registration is almost over for the Brands and Bloggers Summit!

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I'm so excited to be heading to Chicago this summer for the Midwest Moms Media Brands & Bloggers Summit!  I want as many bloggers as possible to come to this one day event, so I want to make sure everyone who reads Table for Five knows about a great opportunity to save on registration. What it is: A power-packed summit full of the Midwest's (and beyond) most influential mom bloggers and brands marketing to women and families. Why you should register by March 31st: Early-Bird Blogger Registration gets you a Full Ticket including Breakfast, Lunch, Sessions, Coffee Break, and Exhibition Hall for only $98.00 plus a $3.44 fee. After March 31st, the price raises to $150.00. When it is: Saturday, July 16 2011 from 9:00-6:00 CT. Where it is: DoubleTree Hotel Magnificent Mile, Chicago Illinois Hosted by: City Connect Media, Inc. / Chicagonista (a/k/a the fabulous MJ Tam!) Who can go: EVERYBODY! How to register: Go to the Midwest Moms Media Brands & Bloggers Summit … [Read more...]

Highlights of the Home and Housewares Show

JohnMcLemore

Last week, I went to the IHA International Home and Housewares trade show in Chicago for the second time. It's only open to buyers, writers for magazines and newspapers, and a few members of the "Internet Media". Lisa Martin and I were honored to be invited back for a second year! The Housewares Show is booth after booth after booth of everyone from major brands like KitchenAid and Hoover to inventors looking for buyers for their brilliant new product. I must have said "why didn't I think of that?" about 50 times over the two days I was there.  Last year, Lisa and I had to explain over and over again what product review bloggers did and why we were there. This year, almost everyone we talked to said "oh, bloggers! We love bloggers!", and that's a great thing to hear from people. I sort of felt like a rockstar everywhere I went, getting invited into the booths for private tours, shaking hands with company presidents, being one of the only people allowed to take pictures.  It's a … [Read more...]

I Went To The International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago!

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Holy cow, it's been a long time since I posted!  I have a good reason though, I've been out of town having quite an adventure!  Last Saturday morning, I packed up and drove 4 hours to Oak Lawn, Illinois, where my friend Lisa lives. The next morning, we drove together into Chicago to attend the International Home + Housewares Show at McCormick Place downtown. We spent eight hours Sunday walking up and down the aisles of one and a half buildings, visiting probably 300 vendors displaying everything from cleaning products to coffeemakers.  When our feet couldn't take another step, we went back to her house to collapse, then got up Monday morning and went back! After another half a day of walking, networking, shaking hands, passing out business cards, accepting free samples, and pitching my services as a review blogger, I got back in my car and drove the four hours home. And left my laptop in Lisa's living room. Oh yes I did.  Try to imagine the panic I felt last night in the few … [Read more...]