Local Retailers & National Manufacturers Give High Marks to Karel's Georgia Furniture Show

Furniture World Magazine

New accounts, diverse exhibitors and great exposure -- these was among the feedback from exhibitors at the close of the recent Georgia Furniture and Decorative Accessory Market. "This show was what we were looking for to help stimulate our Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina business, " stated Ronald Carozza, Carozza Furniture Manufacturing, Inc. "We wrote a half dozen new accounts the first day. " Roger Wade of Loving Care said the Georgia area needed a regional furniture exhibition and his company was pleased with the results. "Our expectations were certainly met at this show," Wade said. "We opened new dealers and placed new products with our existing dealers. " The market was produced by the Aventura, Florida-based Karel Exposition Management (KEM). The sold out show was held May 31, June I and June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The show was KEM's first in this region. The reception from both exhibitors and buyers indicate the region was prime for a market. The market was in a beautiful location, according to Julia Hargrove, Holiday Lamp and Lighting. "We saw dealers at this show that do not travel to Tupelo and High Point, " Hargrove said, "and they are happy to have a new show to attend. There were many interesting items for buyers to choose from. " Which means KEM accomplished its goal -- of bringing furniture and decorative accessory markets to regional markets, allowing the small and mid-sized retailer the opportunity to attend a market and see the products, without the expense necessary to attend the large annual markets. "We realized the need for a regional market in Georgia and met it," explained market director Larry Karel. "The small and medium-sized stores have customers who are demanding the latest trends. The stores want access to the products immediately. " KEM had such a great response to the show, in fact, plans are underway for a second show Friday, Jan. 15, Saturday, Jan. 16 and Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999. It will be sponsored by the Georgia Home Furnishings Representatives Association. "We look forward to showing at the next Atlanta market," said Jack Jackson, P.F.C. Pioneer. "Traffic was very good. We saw lots of existing dealers and opened some new accounts, which made this a nice success for us. " Karel Exposition Management, the nation's largest producer of regional furniture and decorative accessory markets, is based in Aventura, Florida. The current roster of summer and fall KEM shows is as follows: Las Vegas, NV -- June 27-29, 1998 Edison, NJ -- Aug. 2-4, 1998 Fort Lauderdale, FL -- Aug. 15-17, 1998 Orlando, FL -- Sept. 11-13, 1998 Fitchburg, MA -- Sept. 27-29, 1998 Pomona, CA -- Nov. 15-17, 1998. For more information, contact Karel Exposition Management by phone at (305) 792-9990, or by fax at (305) 792-9898 or visit the website at www.kemexpo.com.