Urban Expositions Launches Philadelphia International Handcrafted Expo In July

Furniture World Magazine

Urban Expositions has announced plans to launch the Philadelphia International Handcrafted Expo, a new semi-annual trade event held in conjunction with the Philadelphia Gift Show. The event will debut July 9-12, 2005 at the Fort Washington Expo Center in Fort Washington, PA. "By positioning the new Philadelphia International Handcrafted Expo alongside the well-established Philadelphia Gift Show, we hope to increase business and cross-marketing opportunities for exhibitors and attendees of both events and strengthen the Philadelphia Gift Show's position as the most importantgift and home accents show between New York and Atlanta," says Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. The July 2005 Philadelphia International Handcrafted Expo is expected to feature 75 artisans and designers showcasing fine and fashion jewelry; wood, metal, ceramic and glass designs; fashion accessories; home furnishings and accessories; prints and other handmade items. The event is also anticipated to further expand the show's strong buyer base to include more art and craft galleries and independent specialty retailers that seek out unique designs. In addition to product, the Expo will also feature a special demonstration area on the show floor where artists will make appearances and be available for signings. Free, business-building educational programming addressing the specialized needs of galleries and specialty stores will also be part of the event. Currently, the Philadelphia Gift Show features more than 1300 booths showcasing product from leading regional sales representatives and national manufacturers in multiple product categories and attracts more than 8,000 attendees. With its convenient, suburban location and thousands of product lines, the show consistently draws a large audience from the mid-Atlantic and Tri-State regions. With benfits such as free parking and reasonable hotel rates, the show offers a less expensive alternative to many of the major markets. Show hours for the Philadelphia Gift Show and Philadelphia International Handcrafted Expo are 9 a.m.  6 p.m., Saturday, July 9 through Monday, July 11 and 9 a.m. -3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12. For exhibitor information on the Philadelphia Gift Show and the Philadelphia International Handcrafted Expo, companies can contact Marilyn Anderson at Urban Expositions, 1395 South Marietta Parkway, Building 400, Suite 210, Marietta, GA 30067. Phone: (678) 285.3976. Fax: (678) 285.7469. E-mail: marilyn.anderson@urban-expo.com. Attendees can register in advance to receive their badge and pre-show planning guide by calling (678) 285.3976 or visiting www.urban-expo.com. Founded in 1995, Urban Expostions owns and manages trade shows serving the gift, resort and textile industries. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Urban Expositions offers a complete roster of trade show management services, including, exhibit sales and marketing, operations, exhibitor/attendee promotions and services, media relations, seminar and event coordination, database development and management. For more information visit www.urban-expo.com