NPE Goes to Freeman

For the second time in the last year, a Tradeshow Week 200 show ranked in the top 20 has moved from GES Exposition Services.

In the most recent shift, Freeman was awarded the contract by The Society for the Plastics Industry for the triennial NPE – The Intl. Plastics Showcase in 2009, previously serviced by GES and ranked No. 12 on the 2007 TSW 200.

In 2007, NAB, owned by the Natl. Assn. of Broadcasters and ranked No. 13 in the 2007 TSW 200, also migrated from GES to Freeman for its recent April 14-17 show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“SPI chose to work with Freeman as the contractor for NPE2009 because of their vast tradeshow experience, extensive resources and reputation for placing the highest priority on service to event participants,” said William R. Catreaux, president and CEO of SPI. “We are particularly impressed with Freeman's capabilities for helping NPE2009 exhibitors predict and manage their costs more effectively than at previous NPE events – or indeed, at any other exposition in our industry.”

Freeman's first chance to work with SPI on NPE2009, which will take place June 22-26 at Chicago's McCormick Place, was at the show's space draw in February. “I believe we won the contract because our customer-centric business strategy aligned well with the vision (SPI) has for NPE,” said Dan Steenstrup, Freeman's vice president of exposition sales.

Freeman had a verbal commitment with SPI for the contract before the space draw, Steenstrup said, so the two worked together on the event that drew approximately 500 on-site exhibitors.

At the space draw itself, the formal contract was signed and 778,000 net square feet, 80 percent of the 1 million net sq. ft. showfloor, was booked. “It was a very successful space draw,” Steenstrup added.

Gene Sanders, SPI vice president of tradeshows, said, “The unique design and execution of the recent three-day space drawing event was the first result of (Freeman's) creativity and partnership to make our 2009 event a success, and they did an outstanding job.”

Freeman also set up a learning pod in the middle of the draw with ideas from vendors for exhibitors to check out. In addition, there was a live webcast for exhibitors who could not attend that allowed them to still participate in the space draw.

Steenstrup said the contract for NPE is only for the 2009 show, but as far as he knew, SPI never awarded a contract for more than one event at a time. “Because it's every three years, it's somewhat normal,” he added.

Steenstrup said NPE is now one of the top five events in Freeman's portfolio. Freeman services more than 4,000 tradeshows and 10,000 total events.