Buyers Focus on New Products at 2007 Global Pet Expo
Climate-controlled pet carriers, speaking dog bowls and flat-screen wall aquariums were among the hundreds of new products on display at Global Pet Expo 2007.
The show, held Feb. 22-24 in Orlando, Fla., was the third co-sponsored by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (Bel Air, Md.).
Billed as the largest annual pet trade show, Global Pet Expo featured 760 companies in 2,3000 booths—an exhibit space equal to 13 football fields. These figures represent an increase of 10 percent in exhibitors (versus 700 in 2006) and a 7 percent increase in booth space (versus 2,146 booths in 2006).
“I’m always amazed at the creativity of the new products launched at Global Pet Expo, but this year demonstrated an exceptional amount of innovation,” said Andrew Darmohraj, senior vice president of APPMA. “The consistent growth in the development of new products that make pet ownership easier and more enjoyable exhibits the strength and longevity of this industry and it’s exciting to be a part of it.”
A total of 4,614 buyers walked the aisles of the show, up 32 percent from 3,508 buyers at last year’s show. Of the buyers attending this year, 2,728 represented multi-unit retailers and distributorships and 1,886 represented single-unit retailers, according to APPMA.
Six companies garnered awards for outstanding booth presentations. In the large-booth category, for exhibits occupying 400 square feet or more, the winners were Scott Pet Products (Rockville, Ind.) and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. (Topeka, Kan.)..
In the small-booth category, for exhibits occupying 300 square feet or less, the winners were Silverfoot (Squamish, British Columbia) and Blue Buffalo Co. (Wilton, Conn.).
In the What’s New! category, for booths by first-time exhibitors, the winners were ColdHeat (Bellevue, Wash.) and Paus (Ironwood, Mich.).
The next Global Pet Expo will be held Feb. 14-16, 2008, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego. For more information, visit www.globalpetexpo.org. [May 2007 PET AGE]
BEST NEW PRODUCTS AND DISPLAYS
APPMA awarded prizes to new products in 11 categories, based on buyers’ votes. Here are the best-in-show winners:
Aquarium Products: Magic Globe Aquarium by Aquatica Gallery (San Gabriel, Calif.)
Pond Products: Laguna Fountains by Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. (Mansfield, Mass.)
Bird Products: Super Pet Feathered Fun Wall Mount Activity Center by Central Avian & Small Animal (Elk Grove Village, Ill.)
Cat Products: Genie Side Walls for the CatGenie Self-Flushing Self-Washing Cat Box by Petnovations Inc. (Wayne, Pa.)
Dog Products: Ramp4Paws by Ramp4Paws L.L.C. (Potomac, Md.)
Reptile Products: Zilla Combo Dome by Central Aquatics (Franklin, Wis.)
Small Animal Products: Super Pet Premium Hexagon Hutch by Central Avian & Small Animal (Elk Grove Village, Ill.)
Horse Products: Cool Pet Thirst Quenchers by Animal Business Concepts L.L.C. (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Gift Products: T.F.H. Animal Planet Pet Care Library by Central Garden & Pet (Walnut, Calif.)
Holiday Products: T.F.H. Doggy Knits by Central Garden & Pet (Walnut, Calif.)Point of Purchase Displays: Glo T5 Light Center by Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. (Mansfield, Mass.)
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