A total of 9,475 registered buyers representing more than 2,800 retail and wholesale outlets attended H.H. Backer Associates’ 41st Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show and Educational Conference, held Oct. 12-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago), Ill., making it one of the best-attended shows in the company’s history.

The buyer count was off 2 percent from last year’s record-breaking 9,670. However, the number of buyers representing aquarium shops and aquarium maintenance businesses increased 3 percent, and the number of buyers representing pet supplies stores increased 1 percent.

Furthermore, total attendance of 13,850, including exhibitor personnel and guests, was up almost 1 percent over 13,775 last year.

“We’re very happy with the turnout of qualified buyers,” said Colette Fairchild, trade show director for H.H. Backer Associates (Chicago), which also publishes PET AGE. “More than 2,000 were first-time registrants from all across the United States. The show continues to draw new faces due to the large variety of products available.”

A total of 969 companies—including 193 companies making their first appearance at the show—occupied 1,507 booths, according to Fairchild. The exhibitor count was down 4 percent from 1,099 companies in last year’s show, and the booth count was down 3 percent from 1,552.

The Christmas show continues to boast more exhibitors than any other national pet industry trade show, maximizing retailers’ opportunities to learn about and buy products they won’t find anywhere else, Fairchild added. Updated information on all exhibitors will be available online at www.hhbacker.com (simply click on Christmas Show, then ExpoPlanner) through January 2008.

New to the show was the Aquatic Answers pavilion, a centralized area that featured leading aquarium-related companies and individually tailored “Ask the Expert” sessions.

A total of $10,000 in cash was awarded in the Backer Cash Bonanza Big Cash Giveaway, sponsored by H.H. Backer Associates, Blue Ribbon Pet Products Inc. (Commack, N.Y.), Bergan L.L.C. (Miami, Okla.), F.M. Brown’s (Sinking Spring, Pa.) and Sealife Systems (Jacksonville, Fla.). Catherine Elmer of Animal Outfitters (Fond du Lac, Wis.) won $5,000 in the final drawing on Sunday; her winning entry form came from Backer Associates. Mary Ellison of Sherborn Pet Boutique (Sherborn, Mass.) won $3,000 in Saturday’s drawing; her entry form came from F.M. Brown’s. Ian Miller of Treats Unlimited (St. Louis) won $2,000 in Friday’s drawing; his entry form came from H.H. Backer Associates.

H.H. Backer Associates also gave away a trip to Baltimore—including airfare and a three-night hotel stay—to promote the new venue for its 2008 Spring Pet Industry Trade Show. The winner was Ric Hutchens of Pet Owners Warehouse (Port Charlotte, Fla.).

More than $20,000 in cash, trips and trophies were awarded in H.H. Backer’s eighth Celebration of Style grooming competition.

Finally, PET AGE magazine, in cooperation with H.H. Backer Associates, sponsored several free educational seminars, covering business topics of interest to a wide range of retailers.

H.H. Backer’s 20th Annual Pet Industry Spring Trade Show will be held May 16-18, 2008, at the Baltimore Convention Center in downtown Baltimore. Backer’s 42nd Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show will be held Oct. 3-5, 2008, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago), Ill.