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In Los Angeles this February, L.A. Pet Designers launched its first trade show, The Showroom, designed to provide attendees with a more relaxed and intimate buying experience at the Los Angles Convention Center.
Sandi Kaneko, one of the show’s organizers and the president of 26 Bars & a Band, said the organizers wanted the West Coast show to have a 5-star feel. This included having a wine bar and a complimentary massage station for those who needed to relieve a little tension.
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Cabrini Schnyder of The Loftydog
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Water, coffee and doughnuts were available to the exhibitors too.
“We wanted to cater not only to the buyers, but to the exhibitors,” Kaneko said.
The show hosted more than 50 exhibitors, showcasing luxury products spanning multiple categories, such as collars and leashes, apparel, wigs, spa lines, bedding, treats and jewelry.
Many exhibitors enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and friendly vibe.
“I like the small nature of these shows, especially for a niche market that is growing so rapidly,” said Shannon Beach, designer and chief executive officer of Puppoose by Feel The Flo.
Jennifer Brown of 3 Busy Dogs agreed. It gives people a chance to talk and they don’t have to compete for attention, she said.
Since this was his first pet trade show, Joe Casanova, owner and founder of Dishy Dog, didn’t know what to expect exactly but said overall he was pleased with the experience.
“Some have said that the show was a little slow, but a few more orders are better than none at all,” he said.
Two educational symposiums were offered for those who wanted to learn more about the business side of the pet industry. Camilla Vitale, owner of Blue Rocket Sales, spoke about how to start a new pet business and grow an existing business quickly and efficiently.
Todd Rodeghiero of Vertical Pet spoke about how a company can gain wider exposure on the Internet.
The trade show concluded with a sample sale at SkyBark Lounge, a pet-friendly bar on a rooftop overlooking downtown Los Angeles.
Kaneko said L.A. Pet Designers received a lot of positive feedback, so they plan on having another show, but no details were available at press time.
The Showroom was sponsored by Pet Style News, Pet Product News International, SkyBark, Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc., Haute Diggity Dog and Andrea Levine Jewelry, among others. |