Global Pet Expo Numbers Exceed Expectations
Show organizers said attendance at Global Pet Expo held relatively steady compared to 2008, exceeding their expectations in a tough economic climate.
Attendance figures indicate that the industry can swim in a sinking economy, according to officials from the American Pet Products Association (Greenwich, Conn.) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (Bel Air, Md.).
Billed as the largest annual pet trade show, Global Pet Expo, held Feb. 12-14 in Orlando, Fla., featured 779 exhibiting companies in 2,306 booths, according to APPA. Exhibitor numbers were down slightly from 2008, when 796 companies occupied 2,357 booths. More than 4,100 buyers registered for the show, up 2 percent from 4,017 registered buyers in 2008. A record 25 percent of attendees represented international businesses, and came from 65 countries.
“With so many stories in the news of decreased attendance at meetings and trade shows in the United States, we were unsure of how the current economic environment would affect our industry and Global Pet Expo 2009,” said Andrew Darmohraj, senior vice president for APPA. “This year’s show, both in terms of numbers and energy, was an extraordinary example of the resilience of the pet industry and reinforced our research that Americans value their pets. No matter the economic climate, pets remain a top household priority.”
The next Global Pet Expo will be held March 25-27, 2010, in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit www.globalpetexpo.org. [May 2009 PET AGE]
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