Event news

New location for NHS
The National Hardware Show is moving from Chicago to Las Vegas. The date of the show is also being brought forward to the spring. Following this year’s fair from 10-12 August 2003 in Chicago, the show will then move in 2004 to its new exhibition site in Nevada and will take place from 10-12 May. A broad programme of special events has been announced to accompany the trade fair. As one example, Home Channel News will organise a conference on the subject of “Marketing for Women”.
Growth in non-food area
Due to be held in Amsterdam on 27 and 28 May 2003, the World of Private Labels fair organised by the PLMA (Private Label Manufacturers Association) has attracted 2 600 exhibitors from 60 countries. The non-food category is showing an increase in registrations. The non-food hall will contain categories that include household, DIY, auto after-care and garden products. The organisers interpret the increasing number of non-food stands at the PLMA as a sign that many European retailers are tending to list these products because of the potential for growth and the relatively high margins that they offer.
A first in Europe
The Worldwide DIY Council, a trade association of more than 140 manufacturers from the USA and Canada, is to stage a small “table-top” exhibition in Barcelona during the first week of December as part of the Council’s annual business meeting. The members export their products to over 140 countries. Although they are very active in Europe, this is the first time that the group will meet in Europe and hold its own exhibition here. It has previously held table-top shows in Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. More information is available at tdelp@indy.net or www.diyc.org.
Many new exhibitors at CHS
The Canadian Hardware and Building Materials Show (CHS) was open for business from 2 to 4 February. The participants included 162 new exhibitors. A total of 13 426 visitors were offered a comprehensive picture of the exhibitors’ products and services displayed on 800 stands. The trade made full use of the benefits offered by exhibitors during the show. These included free gifts, bulk discounts and price reductions. The new location of the new products show in the main entrance area was well received. Other new initiatives included a “New Vendor Avenue”, which offered around 30 new companies the possibility to exhibit their products on a smaller stand and at a reduced rate.