The Craft Fair Will Go On

By Caroline Infante
Wednesday - November 24, 2010

E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS

Del.icio.us | Share

By Caroline Infante
Owner, Caroline-Hawaii Craft Fairs Inc.

“Treat buyers like royalty because their support rules business.” This is rule No. 1 for me. As the owner of Caroline-Hawaii Craft Fairs Inc., it is my duty to create the best possible experience for both my shoppers and sellers at the craft fairs we produce and direct.

When we started our first Islandwide Christmas Crafts and Food Expo in 1987, we featured 150 artisans and drew 14,000 buyers. This Friday, we open the doors at Blaisdell Center for our 24th event and will showcase 400 crafters and expect to see more than 25,000 shoppers, making our event Hawaii’s biggest and finest craft and food festival.

The reason for our success is our dedication to giving every person who enters our show, whether buyer or browser, the royal treatment full of kind and attentive service, smiles and many thanks. Our highest priority is keeping our Christmas shoppers happy and satisfied.

Over the years, I have learned that our show’s popularity is built upon two main ingredients: outstanding customer service and excellent vendor support. We accomplish this by rewarding our buyers and helping our vendors succeed.

And with the recent state tax department crackdown on cash-economy businesses, we want to reassure the public that this year’s expo is still a go. We require that all participating crafters and vendors present and visibly display their current General Excise Tax (GET) license.

Hawaiian Wreaths by Norma was an exhibitor at a previous Islandwide Expo

Over the three-day Thanksgiving weekend, prize drawings will be held for cash, three Sony HD TVs and 20 honey-glazed hams. A total of $10,000 will be given away with a $100 winner announced every 15 minutes.

We assist our vendors through an intensive print and broadcast advertising schedule, customer-service training and display help. To free up parking space for shoppers at Blaisdell Center, we rent space at neighboring McKinley High School for our exhibitors.

If you’re looking for a unique holiday shopping experience, come join in the fun and excitement of the 24th Islandwide Christmas Crafts and Food Expo featuring more than 177 categories of affordable gift items and tasty Island treats offered by 60 food vendors.

It’s happening Friday-Sunday, Nov. 26, 27 and 28. Hours are: Friday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Learn more at islandwidecraftexpos.com.