Furniture And Accessory Trade Show Producer Adds New Regional Market in Atlanta:

Furniture World Magazine

Karel Exposition Management (KEM) recently announced it will add Atlanta, Georgia to its 1998 roster of furniture and decorative accessory market regional locations. KEM, the largest producer of regional furniture and decorative accessory markets in the U.S., will hold its industry-renowned trade show in the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The three-day show will be held from Sunday, May 31 through Tuesday, June 2. The company is responding to a growing demand from the area's manufacturers and retailers. Market Director Larry Karel explains: "We have had many requests over the years to add a show in this region. Now we will go full steam ahead with it. "This show will cater to furniture stores, designers and specialty shops," he adds. "Many of these buyers are not going to other markets because of the high costs involved. For less than a tank of gas, they can travel to our show and return home in one day." Samantha Liu, president, Sunrise Importer & Wholesale Co., Inc., one of the companies who had urged KEM to add a Georgia show, said she is excited about the new KEM market. "Even though there are a number of successful markets (like Tupelo, MI), there are quite a number of buyers that do not travel that far," Liu said, "especially those from South Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and locally here in Georgia." Ron Schiller, R.T. Furniture, agrees. "Georgia dealers do not often travel to other shows," he said, "especially the independent companies. The Atlanta location and time of year were both chosen well. We participate in several KEM shows and feel it will be highly successful." A typical three-day Karel Exposition Management market has 400 to 1,000 exhibit spaces, and attracts 2,000 to 7,000 buyers. The markets are closed to the public, and no one under 13 is allowed in, so manufacturers can deal directly with their retailing customers. The current roster of 1998 KEM shows is as follows: Edison, NJ -- Feb. 8-10 Fort Lauderdale, PL -- Feb. 14-17 Worcester, MA -- March 1-3 Baltimore, MD -- May 17-19 Atlanta, GA -- May 31-June 2 Las Vegas, NV -- June 27-29 Edison, NJ -- Aug. 2-4 Fort Lauderdale, FL -- Aug. 15-17 Orlando, FL -- Sept. 11-13 Worcester, MA-- Sept. 27-29 Pomona, CA-- Nov. 15-17