- Meet your suppliers and distributors: This is your chance to meet face to face with many of the folks you talk with on the phone or know by name. The framing industry is a tight community and making those personal contacts can help your business for years to come. Also, it’s a chance to share your ideas! Whether it’s a new product idea, new size, new packaging, even grievances, this is your chance to talk to many of the decision makers and product development teams that can turn your ideas or feedback into a solution. Some of Crescent’s best new product ideas have come from discussions with framers on the show floor.
- Pick up new literature: Product lines change and specifiers get dog-eared. New products are often launched at the show. Take advantage of the fresh new product information set out just for the taking. At Crescent, we aim to bring ample supplies of the most current specifiers, sell sheets and trend sheets. Please help yourself! Did you know that Crescent ONLY makes “chipped” matboard specifiers that feature an actual swatch of each matboard surface? With one exception (International Whitecore and Decorative Matboard Specifier) all other Crescent specifiers include this feature (Crescent Select and RagMat, Moorman Fabrics and Berkshire Contract matboards). Feedback from framers over the years (see #1) helped Crescent come to the decision that it is worth the cost to make chipped specifiers, because the printed versions do not serve as a reliable representation of actual matboard colors.
- Order new samples: We realize the great expense it takes for folks to attend the show. Travel, hotel, food, and in many cases, closing the shop while you are gone, all add up. At Crescent, our policy is to prioritize corner sample requests from framers that have invested in attending the show. All of this is subject to availability and how old your current samples may be.
- Meet your tribe: It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of a framing business. Sometimes it may feel like you are alone on an island. At WCAF Expo, you can network with other framers to share experiences, successes, challenges, and industry knowledge. And hopefully you can share a few laughs and make a few memories.
- Learn something new: With over 100 seminars and hands-on workshops to chose from, there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for new business tips or technical information, take advantage of the extensive class listings, all taught by industry-leading experts. Sign up early, as some classes fill up quickly!
- Try it before you buy it: If you are contemplating a major equipment purchase, there is no better place than the WCAF Expo to see and test those big dollar items. Whether you are looking for a new CMC, chop saw or joiner, you can see all the competitive models available to you and learn which is best for your needs.
- Get inspired: Custom framing is a visually inspiring industry, and many booths are feasts for the eyes. You’ll see cutting edge artwork and new framing design ideas that will fill you with inspiration. Several framing competitions are displayed as well.
- Pick up some swag: You never know what fun things exhibitors are giving away!
- Show specials: There are lots of deals offered on the show floor, ranging from discounts to free shipping. Exhibitors will be happy to fill you in on their show specials.
- Thank the folks at Picture Framing Magazine: The team works tirelessly to keep this diverse and rapidly changing industry united through the efforts of the magazine and annual Expo. Stop by and say hi to Bruce, Debbie and the team for all they do to keep us informed and help us grow.
Top 10 Things to Do in Las Vegas That Won’t Break the Bank (in no particular order)
After a long day of taking classes, meeting with exhibitors and framers, it’s time to relax and have some fun! Gambling is an easy and VERY accessible option. But Las Vegas offers so many additional things to do, and many are budget-friendly. Here are the top ten things to do that won’t break the bank.
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Chinese New Year at the Bellagio: The WCAF Expo is perfectly timed to allow attendees to visit the Chinese New Year Garden display at Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden. The gardens are free, indoors and wheelchair accessible. Located just off the hotel lobby, this 14,000-square-foot floral showcase will delight the senses. While you are at the Bellagio, check out the amazing glass sculpture on the lobby ceiling, designed by famed glass artist Dale Chihuly.
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Bellagio Fountains: As you leave the Bellagio Hotel, stop to enjoy the magnificent Bellagio Fountains (also free). Choreographed water cannot adequately describe the beautiful shows that mesmerize, regardless of how many times you have seen the performances. Check out the full schedule here.
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Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan: This multi-million-dollar architectural wonder features three floors of sparkling Swarovski crystals and is one of the most famous bars in the world! Check out one of their artisan cocktails too for a truly unique experience. Reservations suggested.
- Batista’s Hole in the Wall: This is old-school Vegas. The walls are adorned with Las Vegas memorabilia including signed celebrity photos that have been collected since the restaurant’s 1970 opening. The menu is classic Italian. Portions are generous and include soup or salad, bread, unlimited house wine (that’s right!) and cappuccino to top off your meal. Prices range from $23-41 per person. Cart to carry you out after the feast is not included. http://battistaslasvegas.com/
- Fremont Street: Featuring a five block area with a barrel vaulted LED lit canopy, evening visitors are delighted with six minute light shows every hour. Click here for a complete schedule. Fremont Street is where Vegas began, and is home to the oldest Las Vegas casino, the Golden Gate (built in 1906). In addition to the light shows, visitors can stroll, shop, dine and enjoy live entertainment. For the more adventurous, the SlotZilla Zip Line allows visitors to zip under the canopy, much to the delight of those walking along the street below. While the light show is free, the zip line experience ranges from $29 to $49.
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Window shopping at The Forum Shops at Caesars: Want to see where people shop when they beat the house? The Forum features over 160 restaurants and luxury shops including Gucci, Tiffany and Co, Chanel, Cartier and Dior. Measured in terms of sales per square foot, it is the highest grossing mall in the United States (Wikipedia.com). Complete with cobblestone “streets” and ceilings painted to look like the cloud-laced sky, the mall was designed to resemble an outdoor Roman market. Free to browse. Not so much if you decide to bring home some designer wear.
- Cocolini’s Gelato Barat the Venetian: Maybe not the cheapest ice cream you’ll ever eat, but 1. It’s gelato, not ice cream, and 2. You can choose from 32 flavors and 3. It’s inside the beautiful Venetian in the Grand Canal Shoppes. While you’re enjoying delicious gelato, you can also take in the free Streetmosphere stage located nearby, with free performances daily for performance schedule).
- Ride the World’s Largest Ferris Wheel: Opened in 2014, the High Roller Observation Wheel soars 550 feet above the Las Vegas Strip and offers incomparable sweeping views of Las Vegas and the surrounding area. Tickets range from $25 to $37 per person, but discounted tickets can be purchased online in advance.
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Drive Through Red Rock Canyon:It’s hard to believe this natural desert wonder is only a short drive from the glitz, glimmer and bustle of Las Vegas. Located just 15 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon is 195,819 acres within the Mojave Desert, protected as a National Conservation Area. Popular for hiking, rock climbing and biking, there is also a 13-mile scenic drive loop that allows visitor to enjoy the sandstone peaks and rock formations from the comfort of their vehicles. Entry fee is $15 per vehicle.
- Visit Hoover Dam: Hoover Dam is located approximately 35 miles southeast of Las Vegas, on the Nevada-Arizona border. The dam is a National Historic Landmark and has been rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders. Dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it is the largest reservoir in the United States and was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression. Tours range from $10 to $30.
We hope these show and travel tips will help you plan your trip, and we look forward to seeing you at the 2020 WCAF Expo! Crescent will be in Booth 1327. We suggest you contact the venues listed here in advance of your visit. Weather and unforeseen circumstances may change visitor accessibility. For more WCAF Expo planning tips, visit the WCAF Expo site.
