More than 8,200 buyers from 3,320 companies attended SuperZoo 2007, held Sept. 18-20 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The buyer count was up 3 percent from last year’s 7,960, and the company count was up 9 percent from last year’s 3,042.

The three-day show, produced by the World Wide Pet Industry Association (Arcadia, Calif.) and co-located with the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers’ Garden Market Expo, featured 624 companies in 1,047 booths. The exhibitor count was up 14 percent from 545 last year, and the booth count was up 16 percent from 900 last year. 

“Overall, this year’s SuperZoo was the best event we’ve ever hosted,” said Doug Poindexter, president of WWPIA. “With increased attendance and the expansion of our popular SuperZoo University program, the show offers the unique experience of a trade show event combined with an educational seminar program.”

Currently in its second year, SuperZoo University offered a multitude of seminars covering online retailing, store management, merchandising and design, and the nutritional needs of fish, reptiles and birds.

Show managers introduced two awards programs—one in which buyers voted for their favorite products in the New Product Showcase, and one in which a panel of industry experts honored exhibitors for offering the best booth experience.

Here are the best-in-show winners in seven categories:

• Aquarium and Pond Products: Disney Background from Tetra, a division of United Pet Group-Aquatics (Blacksburg, Va.).
• Bird Products: Polly Wanna Pinata from Fetch-It Pets (Westlake Village, Calif.).
• Cat Products: Mouse in the House from Cat Dancer Products (Neenah, Wis.).
• Dog Products: Doggy Java from DoggyLicious L.L.C. (Phoenix).
• Reptile Products: Naturalistic Terrarium from Zoo Med Laboratories Inc. (San Luis Obispo, Calif.).
• Small-Animal Products: Habitrail OVO from Rolf C. Hagen U.S.A. (Mansfield, Mass.).
• Miscellaneous Products: The Comfy Cone from Doggie Walk Bag (Balboa Island, Calif.).

First-place winners in the “Best Booth Experience” contest were:

• One to Two Booths: Dogswell (Los Angeles).
• Three to Four Booths: West Paw Design (Bozeman, Mont.).
• Five or More Booths or Island: Pet Edge Inc. (Beverly, Mass.).

Representatives from several news outlets patrolled the show’s aisles to prepare stories about the growing pet industry. For example, reporters from CNBC as well as the local ABC, FOX, NBC and CBS news affiliates reported on the latest pet trends. Also, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” returned for a second straight year to tape interviews with exhibitors for a special pet segment.

SuperGroom, a grooming contest held in conjunction with the show, attracted top grooming professionals from around the world.

Steve Segner of Steve’s Pet Shop (Altadena, Calif.), previously president of WWPIA, assumed the title of chairman of the board. Mike Lasky of Trans Pacific Printers (Tiburon, Calif.), previously first vice president, was named first vice chairman. Jim Alvord of Petco Animal Supplies Inc. (San Diego), previously second vice president, was named second vice chairman. Other officers are Lewis M. Sutton of Pet-Ag Inc. (Hampshire, Ill.), chief financial officer; and Ruth Jeffers of Jeffers Pet Supply (Dothan, Ala.), secretary.

Doug Poindexter, previously executive vice president, assumed the title of president, and Dave Williams, previously director of sales, became vice president of sales.