AUGUST2005 News
Backer Offers ExpoPlanner
H.H. Backer Associates Inc. (Chicago)
recently added the ExpoPlanner product and exhibitor locator
to its Web site to help pet retailers get the most out of
the popular trade shows and navigate the exhibit halls more
efficiently. Backer also will provide ExpoPlanner kiosks at
its 39th Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show, Oct. 7-9
at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago),
Ill... 
Zoomark Draws Attendees From
74 Countries
More than 20,000 pet industry professionals
from a record 74 countries attended Zoomark International
2005, a biennial exhibition of products and accessories for
pets, held May 5-8 in Bologna, Italy... 
More Than 25,000 Visit Aquarama
Aquarama 2005 attracted more than
5,000 industry members and nearly 21,000 general visitors
when it took place May 26-29 at the Singapore Expo in Singapore...

Pet Food Sales Show Modest Growth
Pet food sales totaled $10.7 billion
at the manufacturer level in 2003, up a modest 3.6 percent
from 2002 levels, according to new reports from Business Trend
Analysts (Commack, N.Y.)... 
Retail Sales Down in May
A new committee charged with regulating
the “sale, exchange and donation of Retail sales declined
more than expected in May, pulled down in part by weaker sales
at department stores and non-store retailers, according to
data from the U.S. Commerce Department... 
To Build Customer Loyalty, One
Size Doesn't Always Fit All
Retailers may watch customers walk
out the door—perhaps for good—if they fail to
differentiate themselves in terms of services, products, store
atmosphere and customer service, according to a new survey
of American shoppers by IBM (Somers, N.Y.)... 
Wealthy Gen Xers Pay More for
Luxury Items
Gen Xers are more invested in the
material trappings of wealth than other generational groups,
spending lavishly on luxury goods and services when they can,
according to a survey by American Express Co. (New York)...

Florida Emergency Shelter Is
Pet-Friendly
South Floridians seeking safe shelter
from hurricanes now have somewhere to take their pets as well,
thanks to a partnership between The Petco Foundation (San
Gabriel, Calif.), The Humane Society of the United States
(Washington) and the Humane Society of Broward County...

Show Producers Form Alliance
Representatives from three leading
international pet trade expositions met in May to lay the
groundwork for an alliance that will serve the pet supplies
market and promote responsible pet ownership... 
San Francisco Gift Fair Launches
Pet Division
The San Francisco International Gift
Fair will include a new PetStyle division featuring a wide
range of pet gifts when the show’s doors open to buyers
Aug. 6-10 at the Moscone Center and Concourse Exhibit Hall
in San Francisco... 

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