Karel Exposition Management To Add Second Long Beach Furniture And Accessory Market In 2004

Furniture World Magazine

Karel Exposition Management, the nation's largest producer of regional furniture and accessory markets, announced that huge demand from Southern California furniture buyers will turn its annual Long Beach Furniture and Accessory Market into a twice-yearly event in 2004. "This is the fastest-growing market we've ever had," said Larry Karel, president of Karel Exposition Management, which has been producing regional furniture trade shows for 51 years. The Long Beach Furniture and Accessory Market is the largest show of its kind in Southern California and showcases the latest trends in furniture, lighting, bedding and accessories. The market is open only to manufacturer reps and distributors who work directly with retailers, designers and specialty stores. This year's Long Beach market, scheduled for Nov. 23-25, 2003, at the Long Beach Convention Center, will expand from two to three halls and from 800 to 1,100 exhibit spaces. Several years ago, Karel Exposition Management produced an annual furniture market in Pomona, Calif., but since moving the show to Long Beach, the company has experienced tremendous growth in the region. In just three years, the market has expanded from one exhibit hall to three - and from 400 exhibit spaces to 1,100. "Since 2001, Karel Exposition Management has tripled the amount of exhibition space needed for its Long Beach market," said David Gordon, general manager of the Long Beach Convention Center. "They started with 91,000 square feet, grew to 148,000 square feet in 2002, and in 2003, they'll need almost a quarter-million square feet." Karel Exposition Management is also experiencing rapid growth in several of its other markets. Due to enormous demand in Central Florida, KEM recently supplemented its annual Orlando, Fla., market, which recently expanded to more than 1,300 exhibitor spaces, with an event in Tampa. The company produces furniture markets in Edison, N.J., three times a year and twice-yearly events in Fitchburg, Mass. "Larry runs a first-class show," Gordon said. "The exhibitors are very pleased with the turn-out, and it's also very satisfying for us at the convention center. It's nice to see a show that's growing in these economic times." Karel said the main reason that his company's shows continue to grow is that they are accessible to buyers who can't afford to fly across the country to attend furniture markets. "We produce furniture markets that are in our buyers' backyards," Karel said. "Instead of incurring travel expenses to fly hundreds of miles, stay in a hotel, and buy food, they can just hop in the car and go." Based in Aventura, Fla., Karel Exposition Management produces furniture and accessory markets in Tampa, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; Edison, N.J.; Fitchburg, Mass.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Long Beach, Calif. For more information, call (305) 792-9990 or visit www.kemexpo.com.