Karel Exposition Management reported that, “The Long Beach Furniture & Accessory Market is alive and well” according to Larry Karel, president of Karel Exposition Management who produces this regional market, and markets in Orlando, FL; Edison, NJ; Philadelphia, PA and Kansas City, MO.
Karel stated that despite the sluggish economy, the buyers who attended were there to do business and made many of the exhibitors very happy as nearly one half of the exhibit space has already been assigned for the Winter version, November 4 & 5, 2009.
“We, again, saw at this show, many important buyers” commented Bob Scott of Orleans, “we received some container business and renewed old relationships in the greater Los Angeles area. We’ll be back!” Also, commented was Alex Glik of Global Furniture, “Compared to last year, we almost doubled the sales from the show.”
Karel was pleased to find the change of days hit a high note with the exhibitors as Don Franco of Gateway Mattress confirmed, “Traffic and business writing was much better than expected. Wednesday and Thursday show days worked out well for our dealers. The market was very profitable for Gateway Mattress.”
KEM moves forward, this weekend, and heads for Philadelphia for the first event in that region, May 17 & 18, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. “A new show and fairly new facility, we’re very excited” says Karel. “Companies like Ashley, Home Line, Therapedic/Eclipse, Lang will be awaiting many stores in that region that prior to this event, had no showcase in which they could get to for less than a tank of gas.”