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 Show Shakedown
Vice President & Deputy Managing Director, APPMA Plans for Global Pet Expo 2005 are underway. In the last two months you should have received two postcards announcing the event and a FedEx envelope containing the Exhibitor Prospectus for the Show. As with all new things a new baby, a new house, a new job there are always lots of questions. Here are a few of the questions being asked about Global Pet Expo. Question I know that Global Pet Expo takes place March 13-15 in Orlando, but when is The APPMA Show? The APPMA Show no longer exists. APPMA and PIDA have stopped doing their trade shows independently in order to hold one show for both organizations Global Pet Expo. Question - What will the new show be like? Global Pet Expo combines the best aspects of both shows. You will see the New Products Showcase and Whats New! There will be an Aquatics Lounge and a seminar program for retailers. Because exhibitor information will come from the APPMA offices, all correspondence will be similar to what you experienced with The APPMA Show. Question Who can come to Global Pet Expo as an exhibitor? Both manufacturers and distributors can exhibit. If you are a manufacturer or importer, you have to be a member of APPMA to exhibit. Distributors who want to exhibit must be members of PIDA. Question Are the distributors coming to Global Pet Expo as buyers or exhibitors? Distributors will have the option to do both. Some distributors will come to the Show only to buy while others will have booths to service their buyers. Some distributors will do both. We estimate that distributors will have approximately 100 booths at Global Pet Expo. Question Why is Global Pet Expo taking place from Sunday Tuesday? This date pattern is for one year only. When Global Pet Expo was launched in 2002, there were limited options for hotels and convention centers. Orlando was one of our preferred options and these were the only dates available. Beginning in 2006, Global Pet Expo will have a Thursday-Saturday pattern. Question Will there be a day for Gold Standard Club members? Historically, the first day of the show was for Gold Standard Club buyers. Our surveys indicated that these buyers preferred to attend the show on a weekday. Therefore, Tuesday will be the exclusive day for Gold Standard Club members. In 2006 we will return to a preview day on the first day of the Show. Question Why is exhibit space being sold by the square foot instead of by booth? In the past, a standard booth measured 100 square feet and we gave you the option to buy space in multiples of booths and not square feet. If you wanted a 10 x 40 booth, you purchased four booths and received four booth numbers. By moving to a system based on square footage, your 10x 40 booth will only have one number. This system simplifies the process for your advertising, simplifies the directory and makes it easier for buyers walking the Show. Question What is the deadline for reserving booth space? For priority booth assignment, your application and a 50% deposit must be received by July 31, 2004. You can pay by credit card and completed applications can be faxed. After July 31, 2004 full payment is due when you submit your application. Click here to download the Booth Space Application and Agreement form. Question When will I know my booth number? Booth assignment will take place in September. You will be notified of you booth number in early October. Question In what part of the Orange County Convention Center will the Show be held? Global Pet Expo will be held in the expansion of the convention center know as the South Hall. The building is across the street from the center where The APPMA Show was held in 2000 and where PETS 2004 was held. Question In which hotel should I stay? Global Pet Expo will not have a headquarters hotel. The Rosen Center is across the street and the Peabody is the next closest to the South Hall. Click here to make a reservation at any of the 12 hotels in our block. Global Pet Expo will change the pet industry. As with anything that happens for the first time, there will be many questions. If there is anything that was not addressed in this column, or if you have any general questions, please contact me at andy@appma.org or call 203-532-3606. Visit www.globalpetexpo.org for more information. I look forward to working with you to build the greatest show the pet industry has ever seen Global Pet Expo. |
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