A few weeks ago, our FaveCrafts team packed their bags and headed for sunny Phoenix, Arizona for the annual AFCI Creativation trade show. The goal of this show is for the top companies in the crafting industry to showcase their latest and greatest products to top buyers, designers, and bloggers. For the past six years (and counting), we have hosted the annual Prime Networking Event, a wonderful event that brings together the industry’s top crafting companies with the biggest bloggers, designers, and authors in attendance. The result? A fun-filled evening of networking, fun, and free swag.
A Little Background on the Party
Each year the team here at FaveCrafts and Prime Publishing LLC attends the annual AFCI Creativation trade show. In addition to walking the show floor and talking with exciting new companies and bloggers, our team hosts a networking event that serves to connect some of our favorite crafting companies with top bloggers. In order to attend, bloggers must have an active blog with recent posts within a month of applying for the event. This year, 168 bloggers from all over the world attended; we had folks from America, Canada, England, and even Australia in attendance!
Bigger, Better, Craftier!
Compared to our first year, this event has grown impressively every year, quickly becoming the go-to event for bloggers and designers looking for new opportunities. In fact, since our first event in 2013, attendee numbers have more than doubled from 64 bloggers to 168 bloggers, designers, and authors this year.
The Prime Networking 2018 Event was held in the main ballroom of the Renaissance Phoenix hotel. 168 bloggers, designers, and guests were treated to free drinks, yummy appetizers, swag, and an opportunity to make connections with other bloggers and companies alike.
“This is the MUST-ATTEND event at Creativation for both bloggers and companies,” says Marly Bird, knit and crochet designer of Marlybird.com. “Having the opportunity to discuss collaborations with professionals in the industry in such an energetic setting is priceless. The connections I’ve made at the blogger events have helped me both professionally and personally, and I know that I am not alone in that statement.” Marly is also the National Spokesperson for Red Heart Yarns.
PLUS: Our super talented bloggers and designers now have the chance to show off their skills using swag they received at the event in our 2018 Best Blogger Contest! Submissions open March 1, 2018 and run through April 1. Stay tuned for additional details on how to enter and what you can win (besides bragging rights, of course!)
This year’s event was sponsored by: Deflecto, Leisure Arts, LoveKnitting/LoveCrochet, Marvy Uchida, Plaid Enterprises, Premier Yarns, Polyform, Prime Publishing, Red Heart Yarn, Sakura, ShareAShale, Spinrite Yarns, and Testors.
Look out below for photos of the event!
Thanks!
The editors and staff at Prime Publishing LLC are so incredibly grateful to be working with such brilliant, fun, and creative bloggers and companies. Working in the crafts and creative industry is a blast and a new adventure every single day. This party, FaveCrafts, or anything else we do would not be made possible without our cherished blogger network. We hope you had fun at the event and hope to see you (and plenty of new faces) next year!
What are some crafting trends you’re excited about for 2018?
- Printable Flowers for Spring: 11 Free Printables - May 27, 2020
- Going Vintage: How to Distress Furniture - April 2, 2020
- Printable Flowers for Spring: 11 Free Printables - February 18, 2020
Love the event every year, wouldn’t miss it! 🙂 Thanks for hosting!
This was a great event and I loved participating!! Great sponsors, lots of blogger friends to reconnect with and loved seeing Jenny again!!
This was an excellent event. Thank you so much and I loved participating. The connections and networking were great for our blogs and sponsors. I hope to see you in 2019!!!
I really appreciate this event and the chance it gives me to connect with brands and blogger friends. Thanks!
This is one of my favorite events of the show! Thank you Prime Publishing and the amazing sponsors!