No. 1 Classic & Contemporary Craft Show — Christmas in the Country
Premier Promotions plans to bring Christmas in the Country back as an in-person event this November after making it a virtual one in 2020.
Last year’s virtual events “in no way, shape, or form took the place of in-person events,” said Event Organizer Dan Kaczynski. “We wanted to keep continuity and give people a sense of normal in an unnormal time.”
Premier Promotions is a small company, and he is proud of how it adapted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The purpose was to stay connected to the patrons,” Kaczynski said.
This year’s show is set to return to the fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York. “If for any reason things change, we will do what is necessary, whether it is expanding the footprint or adding days,” he said.
Attending Christmas in the Country is a tradition for many. Patrons enjoy purchasing handmade items from artisans. “People are not there to browse,” Kaczynski said. “They’re there to shop.”
Their primary target is women ages 25–54 with a household income of $80,000 or more. About 85% are repeat customers. In recent years, their demographic has increased in men ages 35–55, as they work to position events across every spectrum of handcrafted work.
The show features 450 exhibitors with 60,000 in attendance over the course of several days. He said some artists have been with them 30-plus years and many for more than 20 years.
“What we try to do is look at it from the artist and patron perspective. We’re always looking at continual improvement,” Kaczynski said.
Christmas in the Country has consistently ranked among the top Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows in Sunshine Artist’s 200 Best. It is No. 1 in this year’s 200 Best from the past 10 years.
“It’s an enormous honor,” Kaczynski said. “All the credit goes to the patrons and artists for creating what it is.”
Data drives what they do. He said one of the biggest challenges is finding a balance between creating new experiences for patrons while also continuing the traditional aspects for which the show is known.
“Premier was started 35 years ago by my mother and two of her friends, who were also business partners,” Kaczynski said.
His mother, Sally Kaczynski, owned a fabric store and was involved in Hamburg’s Chamber of Commerce. “I think there were about 34 artisans/crafters who attended the first year,” he said. “It grew organically and naturally.”
Along the way, his mother’s business partners no longer wanted to be involved. That is when His father, Ed Kaczynski, got involved.
Growing up, Kaczynski and his two older siblings helped at shows. About 12 years ago, his parents approached the three of them, wanting to know if any of them were interested in the business as they were ready to take a step back.
While Kaczynski’s siblings were not interested, he was. He has a background in the hospitality industry.
Premier Promotions gives back to the community, with nonprofits invited to participate in Christmas in the Country. He said their work in the nonprofit sphere is part of their familial and corporate culture, going back to his mother’s involvement in the company.
He is honored that Christmas in the Country is Sunshine Artist’s top Classic & Contemporary Craft Show for 2021. “I think all the credit goes to the patrons from western New York and the artists,” Kaczynski said.
Christmas in the Country
Hamburg, NY
Premier Promotions, Inc.
wnypremierpromotions.com
Exhibitors: 450
Show Month: November
2022 Show Dates: Nov. 3-6
Estimated Attendance: 60,000
Years at Site: 36
