The Global Pet Expo, the pet product industry’s annual trade show, wrapped up the largest show in its seven-year history on Friday at the Orange County Convention Center. For the first time, the show ran Wednesday through Friday instead of Thursday through Saturday, and organizers believe that change helped boost attendance by 8 percent, to nearly 12,000 buyers and exhibitors.
“From our surveys last year, we heard from our larger buyers from the superstores and the large supermarket chains that they prefer a pure weekday format. And we definitely had a much stronger day three than we’ve had in the past, [when] the bigger buyers weren’t sticking around for Saturday,” said Andrew Darmohraj, senior vice president of the American Pet Products Association, which produces the show with the Pet Industry Distributors Association.
This year’s show included nearly 2,400 booths, a 9 percent increase over 2010. In addition to the schedule change, organizers also credit the growth to overall improvement in the pet industry.
“Exhibitors are increasing their space, more new exhibitors are coming in, and we are seeing a lot more small companies launching,” Darmohraj said.
In response to trends in the industry, the show added specialty sections in recent years, such as "Everything Aquatic," "The Natural Pet," "The Boutique," and an international pavilion, to make it easier for buyers to navigate the show floor. Organizers said booths in these areas sold out months before the show began.
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash
Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash