One of a Kind Show and Sale Chicago

I’ve never seen such diversity in an arts & crafts show. Typical hand-​made jewelry & clothing show featuring hundreds of artisans selling everything from original art to jewelry and fashion – lots of woven products. Hand-​made bags, leather goods, etc. There’s a gourmet food area with dozens of vendors selling a variety of sauces, marinades, seasonings, pasta, soup, and tons more. Etsy had a large area set-​up with a few dozen businesses selling various knick-​knacks.
This is not an easy place to do in just one day – the show currently takes up an entire floor of the Merch Mart. Start early, pace yourself and start in one aisle and just work your way through aisle by aisle. Most vendors will take credit cards, but there are plenty of ATMs on the Merch Mart’s first & second floors if you want to pay cash (vendors will gladly accept cash over credit cards).

I was finally able to attend for the first time this year. I loved it! So many fabulous things! The artwork is amazing! It’s very big and you definitely have to come in with a plan and a budget. If you like spending a lot of time at each booth, you may want to consider attending for multiple days. I purchased some really awesome items and I couldn’t afford some other really awesome items… but they were still nice to see. Can’t wait to attend again next year.

I was excited to visit the show for the first time; however, I was not too impressed. There were so many vendors showing the similar stuff and the hand made clothing, most of which I did not find attractive, were very expensive.
The best part for me was to sampling the home made goodies. I found my favorite turtles and some great tasting hot sauces.
We had a four day pass but only went one day. It was good that my daughter got free pass from her co-​worker.

Well… I don’t know what to say. In theory this should be a great event. I’m all for supporting local/​small business. However, after my last visit I feel like it has turned into a random money grabbing circus. First off, I have never paid the entrance fee. There are ways around that if you search online and sometimes businesses give away free tickets. If you however got suckered into paying the $ 12.00 I feel sorry for you. I’m sure it’s posted somewhere, but I have no idea what the $ 12.00 is even going towards. I think that if you spend $ 12.00 on a ticket they should at least allow the $ 12.00 to go towards a purchase of some sort.
Moving on… let’s talk about the vendors. The only reason why I went was because I know a few people showcasing there items here. I know we all have different tastes, but I really felt like some people were selling a bunch of garbage that did not even qualify as art or better yet I could make it myself. Some of the booths remain empty with no visitors for that reason. I love how they say it’s over 600 artists, but the quality wasn’t there for me. I feel like in the pass years I went the quality and selection was much better.
It also brought back memories how I’m not a fan of the layout. If you’re claustrophobic to begin with this is definitely not the place for you. People just randomly stop in the middle and carry on long conversations even though they see people are trying to get by. Also… yes you will get knocked down for those trying to rush to grab a free sample of a cookie. All in all I think this will be my last year attending. There are truly some great vendors there, but they need to change things around to make this a quality show versus quantity. Side note: some things are wayyyyy overpriced. I feel some vendors are purposely upping there prices at this event in the hopes of going off of the «buy from me I’m small business… even though I’m selling my potholder for $ 500» (obviously I’m over exaggerating, but you get the gist).

This «show» and sale at the Mart is one hot mess. It’s one vendor after another hawking its wares amidst the putrid smell of hot dogs, popcorn, cheap wine — the landscape being a huge warehouse. Testers of chocolate, sauces, syrup, stinky cheese — you name it, are everywhere. Hoards of people dipping their fingers into one potion after another for a free taste. It was really quite grotesque. There may be «one of a kind» stuff here, but one would be hard pressed to find it. There’s a lot of mall-​inspired jewelry, «fashion» for a big price, fur coats, pricey baubles in gold, foodstuff — most from the Midwest, artwork and furniture. Just when you think something’s one-​of-​a-​kind, there’s a booth with the identical item. The place was packed on Friday night and took us almost 3 hours to see everything, yet nothing. The cheese and fruit plate was the only redeeming item we had there, and the fried pecans from Louisiana was the only item we brought home. If it hadn’t been for the free $ 12.00 ticket, the entire experience would have been a waste of time.

I can’t believe that I have never attended this event before!!! This is going to make my «don’t miss» list and I think I might coordinate a visit from mom (from NJ) that weekend. Awesome artists! Great presents! Unfortunately I already did serious damage on my holiday shopping and most things weren’t priced for that little add on present. Next year I will wait so I can find special uniques presents here!

TL;DR: You’re better off going during the work day. There are bars/​cafes there.
I had been meaning to go in the past few years. I grew up in a crafting household. My mom would drag me (sometimes literally) to these shows when I was little. I would say at least half of the items here are (no offense) geared more towards the 55+ crowd. I went today (Thursday) just after 3pm and there were many older ladies and that somehow universal odor of Grandma’s perfume in the air.
There are about 600 artists with products including artwork, photography, clothing, accessories/​jewelry, and edible ‘gourmet’ items. There was also an etsy section that was really a hodpodge of all of the above except food. My expectations were pretty low, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Yes there was a lot that wouldn’t appeal to me until I’m 30+ years older and there were some things that weren’t even fashionable 30 years ago, but there were some things I liked. I also recognized a few of the artists from the Port Clinton art fair that got rained out on the day I went this past summer.
I did buy three items: upcycled frame made from a wine barrel, a painted frame, and a necklace. Two of these items were things I had seen before and had considered buying. There is something for all budgets here. It just so happens that the 3 items I purchased totaled $ 100. I also took several business cards from vendors and I plan to look/​purchase from their website. I also happen to be remodeling my kitchen and looking to add stuff in general to my home. If you are just browsing, you might be disappointed.
I would strongly suggest not going on the weekend. The 7^th floor is huge and they have several bars/​cafes, yes they serve plenty of booze, in addition to restrooms and seating. But I wouldn’t want to be there when it’s packed. Yikes. It’s $ 12 to get in, but I think it was fair. I wouldn’t pay more than that. Plus one ticket gets you in all 4 days should you want to think something over or go measure a space at home and go back.
If anyone from the show reads this review my feedback would be to limit all the ‘Chicago’ stuff. There were soooooooooooooooo many vendors selling Chicago artwork that it just got old really fast. Some of it was so similar that I can’t help but think that they are cannibalizing each other.
I would go again, but likely after a few years when there might be a changeover in artists.

I wish I’d skipped this disappointing event and put the $ 12 entrance fee in a Salvation Army kettle. Went opening day with a friend, and we both left without buying one thing.
The One of a Kind Show started out as a place for artists and craftsmen to sell their «one of a kind» creations. Many were young and just getting started, and this was a place to get noticed. I’d never heard of Outsider Art until I saw it here. I still wear earrings and scarves I bought years ago, because good design never goes out of style.
Today the show is filled with booth after booth of mass produced merchandise and me-​too ideas. There must be at least 10 booths selling nearly identical hats! Most of the clothing is boring. The jewelry all looks alike after awhile. There are a few booths with amazing furniture, if you have at least $ 5,000 to spend. And almost everything is priced higher than you’d find at boutiques and retail stores.
Yes, there are still a few actual artisans here. But you really have to hunt to find them, because most can’t afford the inflated costs of having a booth.
If you’re looking for a place to pick up a lot of gifts in the least amount of time, and you don’t mind paying up for them, you probably won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking for unique artisan-​made gifts, there are much better places to leave your money.
I’m giving this show two stars because it promises a «one of a kind» experience and delivers much less.

A great indoor market that has about 600 vendors with jewelry, clothes, food, and other items to do your holiday shopping or buy something for yourself.

Awesome sale-​we tend to buy lots of good Christmas items. This was our second year here and I was a little disappointed to find that many of the vendors are in the exact same places they had been the year before… I needed them to shake it up so that I would look at their items a little bit more closely! Other than that-​the quality is superb and there really does seem to be something for everyone-​down to the Bloody Mary available at the snack stops.
The Truffle Salt on popcorn was our favorite snack this year. Yep, you guessed it, everyone is getting truffle salt in their stockings!

Meh, I was disappointed.
We paid our $ 12…which I kind of was a little like… whats this for? But I am all about supporting local stuff so whatever.
I was expecting cooler things. It wasnt very cool… it was kind of chotsky and old and expensive. Three things I am not all about.
There was cool pictures, but they were out of my price range.
There was lots of jewelry, which I found either «grandma-​ish» or way expensive.
There was clothing, none of which was really my taste.
There was some food stations, that were swarmed by mounds of people trying to get tastings for free… like at costco. Bah
Nothing was really one of a kind… I hate to say it. With Etsy and Pinterest and everything else at your fingertips, this show really doesnt live up.
Maybe go once… just to see, but I probably wont be back unless I get free admission and am totally bored on the weekend that it happens. :)

I love love love this show. Have hit it up every year for the last 3. Runs the first weekend in December and is a great opportunity to be exposed to works you might not otherwise see. One of my favorite parts is that you meet the artists and vendors, so you can chat them up to hear their stories and inspirations. Many vendors are doing something that is truly unique. Also, being a Chicagoan, it’s great to meet so many people with small businesses in the city. This show is on my short list of favorite things!

Yesterday was my 2^nd time attending this event in the past 2 years. I LOVE the concept, but all in all, it is VERY overwhelming. So many vendors, with so many price ranges, with so many items to choose from.
I did find some nice stuff, but it just feels too crowded, too packed, and like there is too much to see in one day. Yes you could pay and take the time to visit over the span of a few days, but going to the same craft fair for more than a day in a row is kind of dull when you have so many other shopping options in the city and much smaller fairs and festivals to choose from which are easier to shop at.
It is a nice event, I recommend you check it out, but be prepared for the crowds & try to have a plan on how you can visit & view all of the booths set up there.

My favorite annual event. I mean FAVORITE! Each year we make it a family excursion with the kids to show our support for 600 artists and their gift of talent to the world. Yesterday I was completely humbled again by the amazing artists at this year’s show. The best part of it this year, for me, was actually taking the time to talk with as many vendors as possible to find out where they are from, how they like the show and hear their backstage stories. Truly inspired by the dedication, love and hard work it takes to be an artist, I hope you can make it to the show next year too.
I made sure to get my kids over to the Toyota lounge this time. Toyota was one of the main sponsors of the show, and I’m not sure if the lounge was here last year, but they were silk screening souvenir tote bags right on-​site. The boys stood directly behind the screen printer in awe! Super adorable design, the line for a free tote was SOOOOOO LONNNNGGGG. Also in the lounge they had a tea parlor, massages, a photo booth (in a car) and a DIY station — everything free!
New Etsy vendors. A birdhouse maker from Virginia who sold out of everything. A guy from NYC who makes whimsical wood sculptures with kid-​friendly monsters on them. These are a few of my new friends that I look forward to seeing again next year!
If you couldn’t make it to the show, vendor Juliet Jewelry always gives me a stack of two-​for-​one passes. So stay in touch, because next year you might just get lucky!

Final day of this show. A rainy, dreary Sunday, and if you are not a Bears fan, this was really the perfect way to pass the time.
We found so many things that interested us, that in the second aisle we visited I told one of the vendors that we had been here since Thursday and only got this far. I wish I could spend multiple days here.
New this year, at least I think it was new, smack in the middle of several hundred booths, a location selling liquid refreshments. That included COLD beer. Yup, this alone made my husband a much more pleasant shopper.
The selection and talent are amazing and anyone left on your shopping list could certainly be crossed off. Once a year, the 8^th floor becomes shopping heaven.

Dear dudes and lesbians (like me) there are more women/​per square footage than I have ever seen before! My goodness. I felt like I was at Dinah Shore in Palm Springs, minus the debauchery.
I’m new here (Chicago) so I don’t know if this is a yearly event? But as a former event marketing manager I applaud the timing with the holiday season. Kudos. Need a gift for virtually any family member/​friend? My guess is you can find it here. There is indeed a large pool of talented artist and craftspeople here and a few who clearly have too much time on their hands if you know what I mean? But what a selection!
Definitely crowded. Hotter than Hades in there. 600 vendors. Plenty of places to sit, relax or grab a bite to eat. And you can pop off the Brown line and walk right into the Merchandise Mart.
If you hit up any of the artist fairs in the city during the summer you can likely score a free admission to this show like I did. I love saving $ 12!

This is a good show, in a great location, but I’m not sure it is really one-​of-​a-​kind. In fact, most of the participants seem to be the same photographers, blown glass artists, jewelers, and handbaggers (whatever…) that you can find at any outdoor art fest — or even at some of the drunk bro summer street parties.
There are so many makers of jewelry, fashion, felt hats, artisanal doggie bowls, organic doggie biscuits, hand-​screened napkins, and sustainable urban wood picture frames here that it’s hard to find art amid the muddle on the huge Merchandise Mart floor. I ended up not looking around much. I go to art shows to shop for art, and this is less an art show than a rather good Christmas bazaar.
But anything at Merchandise Mart is likely to be worth a look, and this show is no exception. If you are looking for interesting gifts or unusual accessories, you will love this. And everyone loves the gourmet food aisle — clearly, everyone was there at the same time. No double dipping, fat cargo pants dude. I saw you…

Sooooooooooooo big. But also soooooooo awesome. Got a free pass from a friend and went to check out One of a Kind on Friday night.
Probably not where you’re going to go on a huge shopping spree unless you’ve got the dough for it, but a nice place to roam around for the evening. There were lots of great vendors with cool stuff to ooh and awe at — saw a dude that made little people doing various activities out of spark plugs, really great photography of Chicago, fur coats galore. Half of the show seemed to be randomly assembled, and the other half was organized into categories like clothing, home décor, jewelry, etc. I particularly enjoyed the food section. Chocolate samples? Yes please!
There were a ton of people there, but it was the good kind of crowded, where it felt busy but the amount of people didn’t annoy me. Definitely worth checking out.

One of a Kind Sale is like the biggest indoor art festival you can imagine. The sheer size of it is overwhelming so it nice that your ticket is good for all 4 days incase you choose to break it up a little.
They do a nice job varying the artist, lots of $ 1000 paintings and also quite a few things for under $ 20.
I would say check it out but here are 5 tips:
1) Pack light, its crowded in here and its much safer to squeeze though small aisles lined with expensive glasswear if you aren’t toting a ginormous purse.
2) Dress light, its crowded in here which mean it is HOT even if it is 20 degrees outside.
3) Bring cash, though they do accept credit cards its always nice to help small vendors avoid charges for Visa or AMX and its easier to track your spending!
4) Come equipped with a Christmas list of all the people you are hoping to find gifts for to make it easier to keep track of.
5) Plan on spending a whole day here, this is not something you can breeze through in a couple of hours.
Good Luck and have fun !

Went to the One of Kind Show, after a 4 year absense, and loved it.
When we first moved to Chicago area, we knew the One of Kind show from our old city — so of course we went. And were very disappointed — it had mostly a hand crafted jewellery and fashion emphasis. It lacked anything fun and affordable.
This year, after growing into its vision, the show was spectacular, with a wide variety of high end hand crafted items, including soaps, leather goods, recycled/​recreated goods, art, jewellyery, fashion, etc.
It lost points due to venue, setup and their receipt policy. While not terrible, the 8^th floor of the Merchandise Mart also not great. It may be the most sensible venue in Chicago — however it’s lacking in accessibility, character (on that floor) and charm. (Think ugly dove grey carpeting.)
One thing that irked me: As we were walking out, we were told we needed to show receipts. Well — guess what? I bought 2 small items (both under $ 10) and I did not get receipts from the vendors. Did the vendors know about that policy? I found it just a bit insulting. I had my items in my purse, so didn’t declare them — but honestly — if you want to treat clientele like they are all dishonest, make sure they know you don’t trust them when you are getting *off* the elevator, not when they are about to get on the elevator. Truly annoying.
One small note: Would like to see a bit more price-​accessible items — it’s lovely that so many people can afford $ 100 scarves — but I can’t — so having a few more vendors with items for under $ 30 price mark would be great. I’ll go and admire the many beautiful things, but I’m pretty pragmatic about my «needs» vs. my «wants». Not typically willing to overspend on the «wants» category.
If you go to future shows, wear comfortable shoes. Dress in layers. Be prepared to carry things. Take cash (easier). Set a budget before you walk thru the door and stick to it — easy to get carried away. Take the Brown line to get there and and save the grief of parking.
Hint: in the summer, if you go to any of the little craft festivals that are all over the place, watch for One of Kind post cards — they give you three dollars off the $ 12 adult ticket — remember to grab enough post cards for each person — the discout coupon is only good for one person, not everyone in the group.
Would I recommend: Yes
Would I return: Yes