MARCH LOOKS TO BE AN ACTION PACKED MONTH

​By Moe Lastfogel
Director of Sales and Marketing for The Retail Observer

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Moe Lastfogel

CES, Design and Construction Week, ASTI and World Market have ended. People on the internet, at the shows, and post show press releases have said the same thing: the economy is looking stronger than ever, and the shows surpassed all of my expectations. Numbers don’t lie, (most of the time) and I’m excited to say that the shows were packed. As usual, my schedule didn’t allow me to see everything, but what I did see was over the top—new vendors and products and many new faces, not to mention the familiar ones.

The shows were like a homecoming for me. At every turn, in the exhibit booths and aisles, I ran into someone that I knew. Not only our vendor partners, but individuals from within the entire community that we work with; industry reps, designers, distributors, servicers, and dealers were all present! It was amazing to see so many people making the effort to be there and so many of our vendors stronger than ever before and ready to do business. It was truly a shot in the arm for our industry.

So what’s up next? As I look at my March schedule, I see many opportunities to see new products and pick up valuable information to share in our pages. The BrandSource Buy Fair along with the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo (HPBE) in Nashville, the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, and Arch Digest in New York, to name a few.

Are you going to any of these events? What are you missing if you don’t? A lot if the previews I have seen are correct. I expect attendance numbers and new retail opportunities will be above and beyond what we’ve seen in the past years. Go to the Events page on The Retail Observer website for links to all of the industry events happening this year. Then pick a show, plan your itinerary, pack your bags, and please say hello if you see us at the shows. I’m excited and hope to see you there!

Happy Retailing,
Moe Lastfogel
moe@retailobserver.com

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