Western Exhibitors, Inc. Renamed—Universal Shows, Inc.

Furniture World Magazine

Following the February 3, 2001 formation of Western Exhibitors, LLC, which manages the San Francisco International Gift Fair®, The Seattle Gift Show® and The Portland Gift & Accessories Show®, it was announced that the former Western Exhibitors, Inc. will be renamed Universal Shows, Inc. (USI). In addition to managing the above-mentioned shows for Western Exhibitors, LLC, USI will wholly own and produce the Northwest Home Furnishings Show (Portland, Oregon) and the Holiday Bonus Show (San Francisco, California). USI co-owns and produces The International New Age Trade Show™—INATS—West™, INATS—East™ and the Orlando Gift Show™ with George Little Management, LLC. The Toronto International Art Fair (co-owned with Venue Productions, Vancouver, BC) and the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show (co-owned with Salmon Bay Expositions, Seattle, Washington) will also be retained under the USI moniker. "Western Exhibitors, Inc was renamed Universal Shows, Inc. to distinguish it from the newly formed limited partnership—Western Exhibitors, LLC, which dmg world media owns 25 percent. While USI will retain the management responsibilities for Western Exhibitors, LLC, it will also maintain interest in its other ventures and will focus on researching and investigating the creation and/or purchase of trade shows in other industries," said Mike Dean, President of USI. Western Exhibitors, LLC, a new limited partnership formed by USI and dmg world media, will own the San Francisco International Gift Fair, The Seattle Gift Show and the Portland Gift & Accessories Show with USI retaining the management responsibility for the majority interest in these three markets. Officers of Western Exhibitors, LLC and USI are Bert Tonkin, Chairman, Mike Dean, President and Wendy Tonkin-Breuner, Executive Vice President. To obtain a copy of the Universal Shows, Inc. logo for your publication, please e-mail Pat Studdert at pat@weshows.com