Near record numbers for 2007 NEPC expo
Near record numbers for 2007 NEPC expo
The New England Produce Council's 2007 Produce & Floral Expo may break its record for number of exhibitors, according to Laura Sullivan, the executive director of the group, which is based in Burlington, MA.
She said April 9 that "the show is selling very well." With 220 exhibitors already signed up, the numbers for the April 25 show in Boston may surpass last year's record participation.
Exhibitors again this year will be produce and floral companies offering wares to New England retailers.
The show, which is entering this seventh year, has been a success in part because it is fun for all involved. The annual shows have always had a theme, and in 2007 the theme is "Hollywood Days/Hollywood Nights." The convention hall will be decorated with the Hollywood theme in mind, and competition among produce and floral exhibitors for "best booth" displays will also look toward Hollywood glitz, such as a red carpet. "Some exhibitors have really run with the idea," Ms. Sullivan said. Some participants this year will be dressed as if they were attending the Academy Awards. "It is a fun theme this year, which people have embraced."
Rodney Harrison, a hard-hitting safety for the New England Patriots, will be the keynote speaker for the show. "He will talk about his own journey to this place in life, and the trials and tribulations of working with Coach [Bill] Belichick and playing on a championship team," Ms. Sullivan said.
After his morning keynote address, Mr. Harrison will spend the day on the show floor signing autographs.
Ms. Sullivan said that the floral design contest will be geared to individual designers. Floral designers will receive identical boxes of materials and be given an hour to construct an arrangement. This format was a success last year, she said, adding that many format and scheduling successes from a year ago are being repeated this April.
One improvement is to open the show an hour earlier. Ms. Sullivan noted that after last year's event, "retailers said they were still on the floor when the show was over, and they need more time." As a result, the floor this year will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The show has received "a great response from attendees," Ms. Sullivan continued. "All the New England retailers really support the event. One retailer has two busloads coming in." This large group will include the chain's produce managers. "Exhibitors like to see produce managers, who are on the front end with consumers. They want to assure the produce managers are educated" about the products. "Our feedback is that the exhibitors are as excited to see a manager as they are a buyer. I find that very interesting."
According to Ms. Sullivan a total of 1,250 people attended the expo in 2006, about 750 from the supplier side and 500 from the retail side.
On April 24, the night before the expo, the annual reception for exhibiting companies plus retail and foodservice guests will be held. "This is not open to everybody. It is invitation only. We get around 300 people," Ms. Sullivan said. This year the reception will be held at the State Room in Boston, where "all windows have a spectacular view of Boston and the Custom House," she said. "It is fine dining -- the food is very upscale -- but we are doing business casual attire for that event." Shuttles will provide service from and to the Seaport and Westin hotels.
The morning session on April 25 will start with the awards ceremony, which will announced the Retailer of the Year award plus awards for the best booth and best floral design.
"We didn't want to plan seminars," said Ms. Sullivan. "The feedback from the exhibitors is that seminars pull people off the show floor. This keeps the focus on the exhibits in the show, and I think those exhibits are an education in themselves. People on the floor will learn about new and existing products. There is enough of an education on the show floor. Other feedback is that our exhibitors want to keep it to one day, not two or three."
Last year the council's Produce & Floral Expo enjoyed a brand new venue, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The expo returns to this "wonderful" facility in 2007, Ms. Sullivan said. "It is easily accessible. Exhibitors can pull up to the dock, unload and walk right onto the floor." It is very convenient. "If people have a product, they can carry it in. It is very easy. The convention is "still like a brand new facility. There is a state-of-the-art water and electrical hookup. There is a drop for water or electrical every few feet. You still have to order those services, but it's convenient. Parking is a non-issue."
This year a new Westin hotel is connected to the convention center, "so you don't have to walk outside," she added. "It is very convenient."
Redevelopment construction is still underway in this part of Boston, she said. "Every year there is more and more improvement in the general area. There is more to do for shopping and going to dinner. We are real excited."
The culinary demonstration will be given by Steve Shipley, who is the director of culinary relations at Johnson & Wales University. Johnson & Wales has four campuses, located in Providence, RI; North Miami, FL; Denver; and Charlotte, NC.
Mr. Shipley began his career 26 years ago when he earned his associate and bachelor degrees from the university he now helps to guide. He served as a member of the faculty at J&W for several years before relocating to New York City, where he spent 10 years working in virtually every permutation of the foodservice industry. At J&W, Mr. Shipley is the public relations liaison for the College of Culinary Arts.
The expo's Best Booth Contest will add to the ambiance of the exhibit hall and bring out exhibitors' creativity. Show staff will judge all vendor booths, and winners will be chosen as the best booths at the show. The winning vendors will receive a blue ribbon award as well as an award coupon for a discounted booth at the NEPC's 2008 expo.
The best booth competition has two categories, for single and multiple booths. The first prize for each category is 50 percent off the booth price for the next convention. Two runners-up for each category will receive 25 percent off the cost of their booth for the 2008 convention. The booths will be judged from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. April 25, and winners will be announced at 9:50 a.m.
Rodney Harrison is regarded by many as the National Football League's hardest hitting safety since Ronnie Lott. He is also considered to be one of the more daunting figures in the NFL. In 11 seasons (nine with the San Diego Chargers and two with the New England Patriots), he has played in 155 games and made 1,049 tackles, 31 interceptions, 27.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and four touchdowns.
Mr. Harrison made NFL history in 1997 as the first player to score touchdowns on a fumble return, interception return and kickoff return in the same season. His defensive prowess has made him an integral part of the New England Patriots' two Super Bowl wins, in 2003 and 2004.
Mr. Harrison was born in Chicago, where he was an all-conference selection in football, basketball and track while attending Marian Catholic High School. More than his love for football, he enjoys spending time with his family. During the off-season, he resides with his wife and daughter in Atlanta. His career as a motivational speaker includes the companies Raytheon and BISCO Environmental.
She said April 9 that "the show is selling very well." With 220 exhibitors already signed up, the numbers for the April 25 show in Boston may surpass last year's record participation.
Exhibitors again this year will be produce and floral companies offering wares to New England retailers.
The show, which is entering this seventh year, has been a success in part because it is fun for all involved. The annual shows have always had a theme, and in 2007 the theme is "Hollywood Days/Hollywood Nights." The convention hall will be decorated with the Hollywood theme in mind, and competition among produce and floral exhibitors for "best booth" displays will also look toward Hollywood glitz, such as a red carpet. "Some exhibitors have really run with the idea," Ms. Sullivan said. Some participants this year will be dressed as if they were attending the Academy Awards. "It is a fun theme this year, which people have embraced."
Rodney Harrison, a hard-hitting safety for the New England Patriots, will be the keynote speaker for the show. "He will talk about his own journey to this place in life, and the trials and tribulations of working with Coach [Bill] Belichick and playing on a championship team," Ms. Sullivan said.
After his morning keynote address, Mr. Harrison will spend the day on the show floor signing autographs.
Ms. Sullivan said that the floral design contest will be geared to individual designers. Floral designers will receive identical boxes of materials and be given an hour to construct an arrangement. This format was a success last year, she said, adding that many format and scheduling successes from a year ago are being repeated this April.
One improvement is to open the show an hour earlier. Ms. Sullivan noted that after last year's event, "retailers said they were still on the floor when the show was over, and they need more time." As a result, the floor this year will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The show has received "a great response from attendees," Ms. Sullivan continued. "All the New England retailers really support the event. One retailer has two busloads coming in." This large group will include the chain's produce managers. "Exhibitors like to see produce managers, who are on the front end with consumers. They want to assure the produce managers are educated" about the products. "Our feedback is that the exhibitors are as excited to see a manager as they are a buyer. I find that very interesting."
According to Ms. Sullivan a total of 1,250 people attended the expo in 2006, about 750 from the supplier side and 500 from the retail side.
On April 24, the night before the expo, the annual reception for exhibiting companies plus retail and foodservice guests will be held. "This is not open to everybody. It is invitation only. We get around 300 people," Ms. Sullivan said. This year the reception will be held at the State Room in Boston, where "all windows have a spectacular view of Boston and the Custom House," she said. "It is fine dining -- the food is very upscale -- but we are doing business casual attire for that event." Shuttles will provide service from and to the Seaport and Westin hotels.
The morning session on April 25 will start with the awards ceremony, which will announced the Retailer of the Year award plus awards for the best booth and best floral design.
"We didn't want to plan seminars," said Ms. Sullivan. "The feedback from the exhibitors is that seminars pull people off the show floor. This keeps the focus on the exhibits in the show, and I think those exhibits are an education in themselves. People on the floor will learn about new and existing products. There is enough of an education on the show floor. Other feedback is that our exhibitors want to keep it to one day, not two or three."
Last year the council's Produce & Floral Expo enjoyed a brand new venue, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The expo returns to this "wonderful" facility in 2007, Ms. Sullivan said. "It is easily accessible. Exhibitors can pull up to the dock, unload and walk right onto the floor." It is very convenient. "If people have a product, they can carry it in. It is very easy. The convention is "still like a brand new facility. There is a state-of-the-art water and electrical hookup. There is a drop for water or electrical every few feet. You still have to order those services, but it's convenient. Parking is a non-issue."
This year a new Westin hotel is connected to the convention center, "so you don't have to walk outside," she added. "It is very convenient."
Redevelopment construction is still underway in this part of Boston, she said. "Every year there is more and more improvement in the general area. There is more to do for shopping and going to dinner. We are real excited."
The culinary demonstration will be given by Steve Shipley, who is the director of culinary relations at Johnson & Wales University. Johnson & Wales has four campuses, located in Providence, RI; North Miami, FL; Denver; and Charlotte, NC.
Mr. Shipley began his career 26 years ago when he earned his associate and bachelor degrees from the university he now helps to guide. He served as a member of the faculty at J&W for several years before relocating to New York City, where he spent 10 years working in virtually every permutation of the foodservice industry. At J&W, Mr. Shipley is the public relations liaison for the College of Culinary Arts.
The expo's Best Booth Contest will add to the ambiance of the exhibit hall and bring out exhibitors' creativity. Show staff will judge all vendor booths, and winners will be chosen as the best booths at the show. The winning vendors will receive a blue ribbon award as well as an award coupon for a discounted booth at the NEPC's 2008 expo.
The best booth competition has two categories, for single and multiple booths. The first prize for each category is 50 percent off the booth price for the next convention. Two runners-up for each category will receive 25 percent off the cost of their booth for the 2008 convention. The booths will be judged from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. April 25, and winners will be announced at 9:50 a.m.
Rodney Harrison is regarded by many as the National Football League's hardest hitting safety since Ronnie Lott. He is also considered to be one of the more daunting figures in the NFL. In 11 seasons (nine with the San Diego Chargers and two with the New England Patriots), he has played in 155 games and made 1,049 tackles, 31 interceptions, 27.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and four touchdowns.
Mr. Harrison made NFL history in 1997 as the first player to score touchdowns on a fumble return, interception return and kickoff return in the same season. His defensive prowess has made him an integral part of the New England Patriots' two Super Bowl wins, in 2003 and 2004.
Mr. Harrison was born in Chicago, where he was an all-conference selection in football, basketball and track while attending Marian Catholic High School. More than his love for football, he enjoys spending time with his family. During the off-season, he resides with his wife and daughter in Atlanta. His career as a motivational speaker includes the companies Raytheon and BISCO Environmental.
