<font color=red>ON THE ROAD</font> New Show Debuts in '07

The Green Industry Expo (GIE) ended its run Nov. 4 at the Columbus (Ohio) Convention Center after 16 annual conference and trade shows. Set to debut next year is the larger and more diverse Green Industry & Equipment Expo.

The new show stems from an alliance among three professional organizations previously responsible for the well-known GIE and the International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo (EXPO). The EXPO held its final show last month.

Along with the GIE comes the educational arm of the show known as the Green Industry Conference. Sponsored by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) and the Professional Grounds Management Society, the conference is an integral anchor to the indoor/outdoor trade show and demo section which spotlights a full range of power equipment along with installation essentials and soft goods for the professional green industry.

Plans are already in high gear for next year’s Green Industry & Equipment Expo which will be held in Louisville, KY. And it’s no small task given the approximately 500,000 square feet needed to host the show, a number that could grow next year based on the overall net increase that emerges after the two shows are combined.

Before the shows merged, EXPO was the 16th largest trade show in North America. And, it’s sure to grow, but it’s too early to determine the final size.

Traditionally, minimal attendee overlap has appeared at both shows – approximately 10 percent. However, a much larger number of exhibitors appeared at both shows. Because of its size – and because a contract is in place through 2011 – the conference and show will remain in Louisville for the foreseeable future.

“Louisville can accommodate our growing show,” says Bill Harley, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, managing partner of the former EXPO. “EXPO has been a citywide for years and Louisville has the accommodations and venues to handle a large show.”

It hasn’t been determined if the conference and show will move to other cities once the current contract is up.

Since the announcement in June, industry suppliers and contractors alike have been talking about the newly formed alliance.

“We’ve heard a lot of feedback that tells us that the industry is looking forward to this new show with a lot of anticipation and excitement,” Harley said. “It’s a win/win for everyone and we’re looking forward to working with our partners to produce the best show possible. Our goal is to truly create a national industry show.”

Tanya Tolpegin, PLANET CEO concurs. “We’ve heard a lot of enthusiasm for bringing a strong educational component to the show. It’s phenomenal for this industry and will help raise the bar within the industry as well as elevate this industry in the eyes of the consumer.”

EXPO’s attendance is about three times the size of the GIE which is attractive to both PLANET and PGMS who hope to provide education and other association resources to attendees who may not have previously participated.

“Hopefully, the new show will provide a compelling offering for the exhibitors as well who will be exposed to a larger number of attendees over three days,” Tolpegin says.

And, while soft good manufacturers such as pesticides, fertilizers, amendments have not been present at the former EXPO, show organizers are taking measures to ensure that they have a critical mass in the show so they are easy to find.

Education, equipment demos and exploring for new products on the trade show floor are staples for industry contractors. Also near and dear to their hearts is the tremendous networking opportunities the meeting affords. Some fear the intimacy of the event will be lost because of the increased size and scope of the meeting.

“It’s always scary to lose what you’ve what you’ve always known and the comfort factor in the intimate environment we created at GIE,” Tolpegin said. “The GIC has so much potential for the bigger audience, it’s the right thing to do for the industry. Despite some trepidation, we’re dedicated to holding on to the same closeness our attendees have come to expect. We’ll have the same amount of fun in the new venue.”

Tom Shaner, executive director of PGMS, concurs. PGMS’ membership consists of individual members rather than companies, but the newly combined show affords opportunities for PGMS to recruit members who are interested in professional business development.
 
“We expecting an exciting show; bigger and better,” Shaner says. “It’s an opportunity for us to focus and expand upon our educational offerings. Now, those offerings will be complemented by a larger, more dynamic trade show.”

Additionally, he cites greater networking opportunities as an asset to attendees as they will be able to draw experiences from a wider, more diverse audience.