Enthusiasm For Public Shows Grows as Industry Gets Together

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 4/25/2005

Consumer shows are in definite growth mode, as Tradeshow Week's annual report on the sector indicates.

So it's not surprising that the Natl. Assn. of Consumer Shows is preparing to host one of its largest meetings yet. Interest from both attendees and exhibitors is up for the annual convention, set for June 22–24 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.

"We're really excited about it. Our pre-registration levels are at least 100 percent higher than they were a year ago," said Michael Fisher, NACS executive director, who chalked up the heightened interest to a stronger education program, higher membership numbers and the fact that the industry is in a growth mode.

Last year's meeting, held in St. Louis, drew 110 attendees and 18 exhibitors. This year's forecast is for 125 attendees and 36 exhibitors. The three-day meeting includes a variety of sessions, on everything from building and selling a business to Web sites, natural disasters and working with general contractors. Presenters hail from companies such as CMP Media, dmg world media and Freeman.

NACS Account Manager Jubilee Vigna, who is responsible for the event's planning and operations, attributed the increased interest in the meeting to the industry's heightened awareness of its educational needs. "It's looking like a pretty strong program," she said. "We have some key players in the consumer show industry coming and sharing their knowledge."

Also at the meeting, Jim Fricke of Colorado Garden Show will take the gavel from HIS Productions' Todd Jameson, immediate past president.

The association for several years collocated its annual meeting with the Intl. Assn. for Exhibition Management's mid-year meeting. But when IAEM switched to its regional meetings two years ago, the timing didn't work out for consumer show producers, whose busy season runs until May.