The 2024 Greater Cincinnati House and Outdoor Living Show at the Sharonville Convention Center in
August was a great success. Thousands of people were able to get a glimpse at the latest trends in all-
things home improvement. Attendees had the opportunity to talk directly to experts and get advice on how
to make their dream home a reality.

This comprehensive 3-day expo was filled with innovative displays showcasing the latest in design and
product offerings. The most knowledgeable remodeling and building experts were made available to
attendees whom wanted to spruce up their home.

We were happy to accommodate the comprehensive showcase that is the Greater Cincinnati House and
Outdoor Living Show and delighted to be able to provide this event to all those who did not want to miss
out on it this year.

HorrorHound is making another stop at the Sharonville Convention Center from September 13-15 to
celebrate 15 years of horror in Cincinnati, and it promises to be the largest iteration of HorrorHound to
date.

Year in and year out, HorrorHound Weekend delivers. The experience provides fans with ample
opportunities to meet their favorite horror stars, get autographs, participate in photo-ops and costume
contests and check out panel discussions including an audience. Fans will get the chance to meet
some of the biggest names in the genre including Robert Englund, Cole Sprouse, Kathryn Newton, Skeet
Ulrich and a roster of more than 30 horror luminaries.

Fans can shop for the newest (or rarest) horror toys, t-shirts, posters, VHS/DVD/Blu-rays, masks, and
other assorted goodies from 100-plus vendors representing film studios, filmmakers, toy companies and
DVD distributors. Movie premieres and screenings are included with every show via the HorrorHound
Film Festival. After hour events include concerts from John Christ and Zombeast, movie screenings, live
stage events and parties.

For more information about HorrorHound Weekend, click this link to see the full roster of celebrities, the
full itinerary of events and to purchase your tickets!

Dear Friends,

Among the many benefits we expected as a result of our $24 million expansion – more food and
beverage options, better event flow, user-friendly technology – one of the most important was being able to accommodate groups that would have been lost to Hamilton County during the renovation of the Duke
Energy Convention Center.

To date, more than a dozen events have done exactly that. They include Holiday Marketplace, Urban League Annual Gala, American Heart Association Heart Ball, NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner, Comic Expo, Men of Honor, Black White Cancer Survivor Ball, Wendy’s Bridal Show, Bridalrama, Platinum National Dance, Cure Starts Now Gala and Breakthrough T1D Gala (previously JDRF).

This is great news for our County and shows how cooperation truly works. We fully expect that most if not all of these events will return to Duke when it reopens in early 2026. Either way, the Center will have
delivered on its promise.

Hope to see you soon!
Jim

HorrorHound Weekend, one of Sharonville Convention Center’s most popular events, returns September 13-15. Fans will get the opportunity to see Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) in the flesh, as well as Cole Sprouse, Kathryn Newton, Skeet Ulrich and a roster of more than 30 horror luminaries.

Fans will have ample opportunities to meet their favorite horror stars, get autographs, participate in photo-ops and costume contests and check out panel discussions including audience Q&A. Fans can shop for the newest (or rarest) horror toys, t-shirts, posters, VHS/DVD/Blu-rays, masks, and other assorted goodies from 100-plus vendors representing film studios, filmmakers, toy companies and DVD distributors.

Movie premieres and screenings are included with every show via the HorrorHound Film Festival. After hour events include concerts from John Christ and Zombeast, movie screenings, live stage events and parties.

For more information about HorrorHound Weekend, click this link to see the full roster of celebrities, the full itinerary of events and to purchase your tickets!

If you’re looking for new ideas for the inside and outside of your home, make plans to attend the Greater Cincinnati House & Outdoor Living Show August 23, 24 and 25. You’ll not only see the latest trends. You’ll have the opportunity to talk to talk directly with local experts and get the advice you need to help you with your home improvement projects. 

This comprehensive 3-day expo is filled with innovative displays showcasing the latest in design and product offerings. The most knowledgeable remodeling and building experts will be available for questions and advice about executing projects to update and maintain your home. The show includes kitchen and bath remodeling, roofing, home security, insulation, windows, exterior products and much more. You can check out the Show’s website here.

We look forward to seeing you at the show, where convenience and expertise combine to offer homeowners the best opportunity to find the solutions needed to make their dream home a reality.

Dear Friends,

As you may have heard, the 2024 Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market will be held at the Sharonville Convention Center this November. This is one of the most popular events in the region, and we’re proud and excited to host it. You’ll be hearing a lot more about this in the coming days and weeks.

In addition to the excitement of hosting the Holiday Market, I’m equally pleased that our center is delivering on one of the key elements of our recently-completed, $24 million expansion: helping keep convention and event business in Hamilton County during the renovation of the Cincinnati’s Duke EnergyConvention Center.

Holiday Market is not the only event the Sharonville Convention Center has been able to accommodate during Duke’s renovation.Our Center has been able to shore up a multitude of other events for the County, including the Urban League Annual Gala, American Heart Association Heart Ball, NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner, Comic Expo, Men of Honor, Black White Cancer Survivor Ball, Wendy’s Bridal Show,  Bridalrama, Platinum National Dance, Cure Starts Now Gala, and Breakthrough T1D Gala (previously JDRF). We are continuing to work with others.

This is what partnership looks like. And we’re proud to play our part.

Sincerely,

Jim

1. Plan environmentally friendly events 

Whether you’re planning a wedding, a corporate retreat or your kid’s end-of-school party, making environmentally friendly choices can create an inspiring atmosphere that everyone can feel good about. 

Here’s the key: make it easy for guests to be green! Things like clearly labeling recycling, compost and trash bins and providing examples for each take the guesswork out of where people’s scraps go. Opting for plastic-free and compostable tableware is another great option! There are endless ways to make green swaps, it just takes a little time to research and implement! 

Offering environmentally friendly options to clients elevates your look and offerings and allows clients to make choices they feel good about. With one simple suggestion of green alternatives, you’ve made the event a force for good and something even more meaningful for guests. 

2. Create mini-events throughout the entire larger event

This little trick keeps the night moving and keeps guests comfortably entertained during setups and potentially long transitions. 

Cocktail hour? Consider adding live music to liven it up! Set up photo-ops and games at doors open before the event officially begins. Setting up “memorable moments” throughout the event creates a sense of movement and energy and allows guests to connect and make personal memories beyond the larger event. 

Creating these mini-moments can take the pressure off of the larger event and can set your clients at ease. It can also make the planning portion more digestible and fun for the client. Thinking about one large event can be overwhelming, but breaking down the evening into bite-sized bits makes the client feel more in control, empowered and helped by you! 

3. Niche-down and do it well 

Doing what you do loud and proud puts your clients at ease and gives you an edge as an event planner. Whenever businesses, brides, schools or tired parents are planning their first event, they rely on their event planner to think of everything they’ve missed and take care of elusive details. 

One of the best things you can do for your clients is to clearly communicate everything that’s in your brain so they can feel at ease that you’ve truly thought of everything. If you’re working with a new bride, getting her preferences and ideas and then adding what you’ve seen work best can create a beautiful partnership that can give her peace of mind on her big day. 

Anyone you work with doesn’t know what they don’t know. When you fill in the gaps, trust is built and you’ll stand out! 

Following these three simple tips can help make 2023 your best year yet! Let us know how implementing these strategies works for you!  

Stitch Convention

Don’t miss a chance to visit your one-stop-shop for all things cross stitching this month! Stitch-Con is the premiere ‘FlossTubers & Fans’ cross stitch retreat that highlights the FlossTube Community, both video creators & viewers alike. We’re proudly co-hosting this event with Keepsakes, a needlework shop in Cincinnati, owned by Barbara Hils. We’re just a few weeks away from Stitch-Con 2022 and we’re beyond excited to see all of our wonderful attendees back here in Cincinnati! Each weekend hosts 300 stitchers from all corners of the stitching community!

Once again, we’re having TWO back-to-back weekends of Stitch-Con:

Stitch-Con A will be June 9th – June 12th, 2022

Stitch-Con B will be June 16th – 19th, 2022

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means many of you are preparing to host a meaningful gathering with family and friends. The holiday season is always stuffed full of planning and logistics. There are grocery lists to make, invites to send, decorations to buy, and crudites to fuss over. In all the hustle and bustle around the “things” that make a great party, don’t forget about the human beings that will fill the party. They deserve preparation too! As Priya Parker notes in her book, The Art of Gathering, “Your gathering begins the moment your guests first learn of it.” Here are some tips on how to prime your guests before they show up around your table:

Include Your Expectations

When you send out your invitations, be sure to include an essence of the evening you imagine. If you imagine a house full of raucous activity with lots of people and kids laughing, maybe host a buffet-style football kind of Thanksgiving and send a text message invite with notes like “bring your favorite beer” and “kids are welcome.” Your friends will know exactly what to expect with an invite like that. They won’t bring a bottle of wine, get a babysitter, or wear a nice blouse. What if you envision an intimate gathering that is cozy with a touch of formality? Send out paper invites with the aesthetic you imagine, like plum and antique gold. Include details about “carefully selected guests” and “a moment to honor those you’re grateful for.” These details give your guests a sense of what you expect out of the evening and what kind of expectations they are allowed to have too.

Send Special Instructions

Along with your invites, ask your guests to bring something special. It could be a stack of thank you cards to trade with other guests or a poem about something they are particularly grateful for this season. They could bring a song that helped define their year or a unique dish that tastes like home. Sending special instructions gives your guests the opportunity to co-create the evening with you and sparks deep conversation. In this way, your guests will already feel welcomed, included, and even inspired before they arrive at your warm, glowing house. 

Send Texts and Build Trust

Reinforce your connection with each guest by sending personal text messages, emails or making individual calls. Give your guests a sense of what the evening will be like and who they will meet. If you haven’t been in touch in a while, ask them about their personal lives and share with them what you hope they can take away from the gathering–rest, connection, new energy, or new ideas! Also emphasize why you are excited to have their presence and energy in the space. 

We hope these tips make your Thanksgiving extra meaningful this year. No matter who is around your table or what kind of food you serve, a primed guest is a doorway to the gathering of your dreams.