Show News
Support the Industry: Support YOUR Show!
By David Stouder
I’m going to say some things here that need to be said and I’m not afraid of stepping on a few toes. I’m more concerned that I step on too few!
This is a fantastic industry! It was started by visionary people who believed in advancing the cause of real health. We are the only industry in existence that actually promotes health rather than disease management. People depend on us. We can’t let them down, but I fear that we may be heading in that direction, based on the sense of apathy that I find all too common among many of our industry’s manufacturers and retailers.
This alarming trend is visible in the shameful lack of support and participation by certain manufacturers and retailers in the Natural Products Association (NPA, national and regional), including its trade shows. While some fantastic, forward-thinking companies and stores can always be counted on for their industry support, there are far too many suppliers and retailers who treat our association tradeshows like the annual birthday party of an unpopular member of the family: it’s too much trouble or too expensive (relying on the lame excuse that it’s “not in the budget”) to attend the party, and I’ll send a card if I remember.
Is there more to this industry than just margins, skews, discounts, turns, etc? Have we forgotten our shared purpose of promoting health? We are not just an industry: we are a family. We need to bond, network, share and see each other face-to-face. We need to constantly renew our sense of community. This is not a touchy-feely concept, it is our primary strength as an industry—a strength that may well be sorely tested in the days to come.
The NPA national and regional shows are the major source of funding for our trade association, and this funding source is the lifeblood of our political advocacy at the national and state levels. Those companies who do not “give back” to the industry by participating at these shows are, quite frankly, reaping the benefits from our association without paying for them.
A Message To Manufacturers
Suppliers/Manufacturers: I know that participating in trade shows costs money, but it is a critical investment you need to make, consistently, in good times and bad. For the survival of your company and the industry, you need to be exhibiting at the regional shows such as this year’s NPA-West Healthy Harvest Show, which takes place Sept. 26-28 in Long Beach, CA.
Please stop looking at trades shows simply in terms of immediate dollars and cents; shows are much more important than that. Neglecting to plant your seeds at the trades shows now will ensure a disappointing harvest in the future.
You need to be at the 2008 Healthy Harvest Show to educate and connect with new retailers, and to strengthen your relationship with existing customers. At the same time, you can write orders during the important Fall buying season. And most importantly, you will be showing your support for the NPA West, which fights to protect our industry.
If you are still saying, “Yeah, but what’s in it for me,” consider this: at last year’s Healthy Harvest Show, we more than doubled our retailer attendance following our move to Long Beach. And, this dramatic increase in retailer attendance came despite the fact that the show was held just days after last year’s tragic Southern California wild fires! Therefore, we are very optimistic that this year’s Healthy Harvest Show will be a smashing success with even greater retailer participation. So, you can support the industry and boost your sales by exhibiting at the Healthy Harvest Show!
A Message to Retailers
Now a word to retailers: I just gave the suppliers a mouth-full. But, do you know what their biggest complaint is? The fact that not enough retailers go to industry trade shows.
As someone who owns a small health food store myself, I certainly understand the plight of retailers: money is tight; it’s hard to get away from the store; and I can often get the discounts anyway. But to this I say: not only are our customers depending on us, but our businesses would be stronger if we attended these shows.
The suppliers offer us a wealth of opportunity at the shows, most especially through new product introductions and product education. How tragic it is sometimes to hear fantastic educators speak to half-empty rooms. How short-sighted retailers have become to stay home, saving a few dollars but missing wonderful educational opportunities that can help them to grow their businesses. So, commit to attending your regional NPA show, as well as the national show, and find out what you’re missing!
For more information about attending or exhibiting at the NPA-West Healthy Harvest Show, call 805-646-4020, or visit www.healthyharvestshow.com.
Booth Sales ‘Brisk’ For NPA-West Healthy Harvest Show
ith the NPA-West Healthy Harvest Show in Long Beach less than five months away, booth sales pace is described as “brisk” by show manager Ann Tisserand. But, she adds, some excellent booth locations remain available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We had record retailer attendance at last year’s show and are expecting an even bigger turnout this year,” Tisserand noted. “Most of our exhibitors from last year are returning after having an excellent show in 2007 following our show’s move to Long Beach, CA.”
The Healthy Harvest Show returns to the Long Beach Convention Center on September 26-28, 2008. Prices start at just $1300 for a 10x10 booth which includes carpet, table, chairs and a wastebasket, plus a one-year membership in the NPA-West.
Exhibitor Feedback
Here is a sampling of feedback from exhibitors at last year’s Healthy Harvest show:
• Bob Barrows, VP, Bluebonnet Nutrition
“The Healthy Harvest Trade Show in Long Beach was the most successful NPA West show to date. The retail attendance was 3 times that of prior years and the buyers were out looking for new products and companies. We reconnected with several important retail partners and opened more new accounts than all the other NPA West shows combined. We are anxious to exhibit again in 09 and to continue to build upon the positive experience we had last year.”
• Donna Noonan, VP Marketing, Maitake Products
“The HH Show had been gaining much more widespread popularity, but the 2007 show in Long Beach was amazing. Overall attendance was up, even considering the onset of fires in the area which just died down only a day or two before the exhibits. At the end of such a tragedy, I was surprised so many retailers came by the booth and still so be so upbeat. They were there for the education they knew they could expect from both NPA West and Vitamin retailer and were able to get the devoted attention of the manufacturers exhibiting. The seminar rooms were filled to further prove the desire for education. I was very grateful to be able to spend quality time with the retailers at Healthy Harvest 2007!”
• John Moore, Events Coordinator, Now Foods
“The Healthy Harvest show is an excellent opportunity for us to meet current and new regional retailers face-to-face, spending quality time with them. The show is also a very effective way for NOW Foods to keep our brand, our newest products, and our quality message at the forefront of retailer’s minds. We’re looking forward to another great show this year.”
For more information about the 2008 Healthy Harvest Show, contact Ann Tisserand or Sam Jones at 805-646-4246. Or visit www.healthyharvestshow.com.
Excitement High For NPA-West Show In Long Beach
Natural products manufacturers tell VR they are excited to be returning to Long Beach, CA for the 2008 Natural Products Association West (NPA-West) Healthy Harvest Show. This year’s show will be held September 26-28, and booth space applications are presently being accepted.
“We had a great show last year in Long Beach and are looking forward to coming back to the Long Beach Convention Center this fall,” said Patty Serino, southwest regional sales manager for Life Extension. “This show is a great opportunity for a company like ours to reach out to retailers in and around the key southern California marketplace.”
“Healthy Harvest show is on the upswing; last year’s show was great with excellent retailer attendance and we are expecting an even bigger retailer turnout in 2008,” noted Ken Seguine, national sales director with Avesta, formerly Ayurceutics. “With the other Southern California trade show just being so overwhelming, Healthy Harvest provides a targeted, efficient way for manufacturers to connect with retailers.”
According to Pierce Sioussat, president of Bioforce USA, the Healthy Harvest Show’s location in Southern California makes it one of his company’s best regional trade shows. “The show’s move to Long Beach really had a positive impact on retailer attendance last year,” he observed. “We were very pleased with the retailer turnout on the show floor, as we were able to spend time with old friends and meet some new ones as well. We especially liked the show as a launch platform for Hubner Original Silica Gel, and found that it enabled us to engage in lengthier dialogs with retailers about the value and products that our company has to offer them. The high quality of the one-on-one interaction at Healthy Harvest makes this show a great place to interact with retailers.”
Megan Starks, trade show director, noted that the Healthy Harvest Show more than doubled its retailer attendance in 2007, and said that this year’s show is shaping up to be even better. “We encourage manufacturers to submit their exhibitor contract right away in order to secure their booth space as we are expecting a complete sell-out for this year’s show,” she said. “Booth sales and sponsorships are rolling in, and while initial booth selections have taken place we do still have some prime booth locations available,” Starks added.
The Healthy Harvest Show is the official trade show of the NPA-West, the regional affiliate of the Natural Products Association which represents retailers, manufacturers and other industry members throughout the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam.
Exhibit prices start at just $1,300 for a 10-by-10 booth, with booth fees including a table, two chairs, carpet and wastebasket, plus a one-year supplier membership to NPA-West.
For more information about the 2008 NPA-West Healthy Harvest Show, call Ann Tisserand at (805) 646-4246, or visit www.healthyharvestshow.com.
Healthy Harvest Show To Return To Long Beach
The 2008 Healthy Harvest Show will be held September 26-28, 2008 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. The Healthy Harvest Show is the official tradeshow and convention of the Natural Products Association West (NPA-West).
The show’s return to Long Beach follows last year’s record-setting event at the same southern California location. The 2007 Healthy Harvest Show in Long Beach more than doubled its overall attendance from the prior year’s show in Santa Clara, in addition to achieving a record-setting number of exhibitors.
“We are very excited to bring the Healthy Harvest Show back to Long Beach, which is in close proximity to the largest concentration of natural products retailers in the nation,” said Daniel McSweeney, president of show organizer TLC Tradeshow Productions, Ojai, CA. “We expect this year’s show to be even better than last year, as we build upon the momentum created in 2007 at Long Beach.”
For more information about the 2008 Healthy Harvest show, contact Ann Tisserand directly at (805) 646-4246, or via e-mail at AnnT@healthyharvestshow.com.
