Pet retailers who carry aquatics merchandise and provide related services can easily shop for a wide variety of targeted products, get expert advice and win valuable prizes at the Aquatic Answers pavilion—an exciting new feature at H.H. Backer's 41st Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show and Educational Conference, Oct. 12-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.
The pavilion, located in the center of the Level 1 trade show floor, will feature more than 50 companies exhibiting aquarium supplies, many fresh- and saltwater tank displays, and two lounges, where aquatics experts will hold one-on-one "Ask the Expert" educational sessions for store managers and employees during trade show hours.
"Retailers had expressed their desire to see a stronger aquatics presence at our shows," said Colette Fairchild, trade show director for H.H. Backer Associates Inc. (Chicago), which produces the Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show. "To accommodate this demand, we debuted the Aquatic Answers area at our 2007 Pet Industry Spring Trade Show. Overall response from buyers and exhibitors alike was extremely positive, [so] we are expanding the idea for the Christmas 2007 show."
Store owners, managers and employees are welcome to bring relevant questions to the 45-minute "Ask the Expert" sessions, featuring leading industry experts such as Julian Sprung, Patrick Donston, Jeff Turner, Joe Olenik, Tullio Dell Aquila, Les Wilson, Gary Sparks, Michael Sims and Mark Krupka. To see session topics and reserve time slots (limit of four stores per session on a first-come, first-served basis), visit www.hhbacker.com. Alternatively, retailers may stop by the "Ask the Expert" lounges during the trade show.
H.H. Backer Associates also will offer three full-length seminars on aquarium-related topics during the three-day trade show: "Koi Herpes Virus: Education, Prevention and Control" by Roy Yanong on Oct. 12; "Aquarium Systems and Practices" by Patrick Donston on Oct. 12; and "Selling Aquatic Supplies" by a panel of industry experts on Oct. 13.