THE MART, formerly Merchandise Mart, is woven into the fabric of Chicago’s history as an innovator in culture, art, business, fashion, media, and more. The massive 25-story building which spans two city blocks is home to 15 major trade and consumer shows involving more than 2000 exhibitors each year.
THE MART, formerly Merchandise Mart, is an iconic 25-story landmark in Chicago, spanning two city blocks and serving as a cultural and business hub. Hosting 15 major trade and consumer shows annually, it attracts over 2,000 exhibitors and nearly 10 million visitors each year. With luxury home furnishings, kitchen, bath, and outdoor showrooms, THE MART thrives as a center of innovation and commerce.
As the primary digital partner, Solvative designs and manages THE MART’s main website and develops exhibitor-focused solutions that streamline event operations and enhance attendee experiences.
With millions of dollars at stake from every show and event, and thousands of people needing to know where, when, and how to engage, THE MART approached Solvative in 2013 with the challenge of better organizing its massive inventory of events in a digital environment.
The Challenge
With millions of dollars tied to each event, THE MART needed to digitize and optimize its massive event ecosystem.
Key challenges identified:
The Solution
Solvative engineered a comprehensive digital transformation strategy centered on efficiency, scalability, and user experience.
Key elements of the solution:
The Result
THE MART’s digital infrastructure was re-engineered into a unified, agile, and scalable system. Exhibitor and visitor interactions became more streamlined, while internal teams gained a centralized hub for managing complex event operations efficiently.
By consolidating systems and automating exhibitor management, THE MART minimized redundancies and reduced the workload for internal teams, resulting in smoother event execution.
Visitors and exhibitors experienced a more intuitive digital journey, from registration to navigation, boosting satisfaction and positioning THE MART as a leader in modern trade show management.
Solvative’s partnership has transformed THE MART’s digital presence, making it an industry leader in event digitization. The streamlined systems reduced operational bottlenecks and elevated exhibitor engagement, while innovative visitor tools improved overall event satisfaction.
Looking ahead, Solvative and THE MART are exploring next-generation technologies—such as 5G integration, visitor journey tracking, and immersive engagement strategies—to further redefine the future of trade shows and event management.
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