Karel Exposition Expects Spring Market In Long Beach To Mimic Success Of Its 15-Year-Old November Show

Furniture World Magazine

From farm-raised butterflies mounted in designer frames to custom-made bamboo bars, and from elegant bedroom suites to dinettes, all the latest fashions in home furnishings will be displayed at Karel Exposition Management’s Long Beach Furniture and Accessory Market, May 23, 24 and 25 at the Long Beach Convention Center. The nation’s largest producer of regional furniture and accessory markets, Karel Exposition Management (KEM) is making final preparations for its new spring Long Beach show. KEM has produced a November show in Long Beach for 15 years, but this spring will usher in an expanded twice-yearly Southern California market. “Our November show became so popular, we had to add another one,” said Larry Karel, president of KEM. “The huge demand from Southern California furniture and accessory buyers has made Long Beach the fastest-growing market we’ve ever had.” The upcoming Long Beach Furniture and Accessory Market, which will showcase the most current trends in furniture, lighting, bedding and accessories, is open to manufacturer’s representatives and distributors who work directly with retailers, designers and specialty stores. “With economic conditions improving, we expect this show to become as popular as our November market, “ Karel said. “We will have more than 1,000 exhibit booths, and many exhibitors who participate in our November show will be at this one, too, because they wrote so many orders last year.” John Reynolds, a manufacturer’s representative for Vintage Bedding, said KEM’s Long Beach market is “very important to us, and we look forward to it being twice a year. Karel shows are customer-friendly, easily accessible and well-scheduled.” David Gordon, General Manager of the Long Beach Convention Center, echoed those comments. “This is a first-class show,” he said. “Exhibitors are very pleased with the turnout, and that is very satisfying for us at the convention center.” A major reason for the success of KEM’s shows is the accessibility to buyers who can’t afford to fly across the country to attend weeklong events.