|
Popular Equine Industry Trade Show Offers Educational Seminars, Raffles, Prizes and Much More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact:
American Equestrian Trade Association
610-444-2025
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kennett Square, PA (September 6, 2011) – Representatives from tack shops around the world returned in force to the American Equestrian Trade Association (AETA) International Trade Show, held August 13-15 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, and presented by Hopper Expositions. Attendees browsed the equestrian-related goods and services offered by exhibitors displaying their wares and participated in seminars on social media and marketing.
In addition to the trade show event, AETA continues to build the AETA International commitment to retailer and manufacturer education. In an expanded program, seminars on social media and mobile marketing were offered on Friday, August 12, and Saturday, August 13 before the start of the trade show. Lisa Kemp of Kemp Equine and Chad Mendell of CowDog Media presented various ways to integrate Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other technologies into an overall marketing strategy. Attendance at the seminars was free for AETA members.
“The equine industry needed a good boost from an organization like AETA and a well-run trade show,” said Lauren Howell, a buyer for AETA retail member Millbrook Tack in Grand Rapids, MI.
Early arrival buyers attending the show each day had the opportunity to receive a special “Survival Bag” full of items donated by AETA International exhibitors, which included halters, saddle pads, gloves, socks and trade show necessities. The bags featured the AETA logo and the logo of its inaugural sponsor, LILO Collections, which was determined by a bidding process earlier in the year.
Generating much excitement again this year were the AETA raffle prizes for buyers, which included a 55” LCD HD-TV won by Wyldwood Tack Shop, Lambertville, MI ; a 24” LCD TV-DVD combo won by Springhouse Tack, Greensburg, PA; and an iPad won by St. Croix Saddlery, White Bear Lake, MN. Raffle tickets were provided by AETA member manufacturers to buyers when placing an order. AETA member retailers were able to increase their chances of winning by receiving double raffle tickets before placing them in the raffle bin.
“The fall 2011 AETA International Trade Show will go down in the history of our company as one of the best ever!” said Mary Holman of The Finishing Touch of Kentucky in Nicholasville, KY. “It was indeed a great market with sales up over the fall 2010 event, which tells us that in this tough economy, if you have the right products, people will buy.”
Exhibitors showcased their new products and clothing in the AETA Mannequin Fashion Pageant, which recognized Irideon by Toklat for their complementary casual riding wear in the Traditional dress category and Nunn Finer for their inventive use of bell boots, wraps, a browband and other materials in the Non-Traditional dress category. New this year, the Directors’ Award in the Mannequin Fashion Pageant was given to LILO Collections. Booth awards were presented to Mortack, Inc. in the Small Booth category and Toklat in the Large Booth category.
AETA hosted a General Meeting on August 13, following the close of the trade fair, to discuss the business and future plans for the organization. AETA President Tony Coppola led the discussion and the board took questions and comments from the audience. AETA also recognized Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding and the Delaware Valley College Dressage Team for their support during and at the close of the show with charitable donations.
“Feedback from both buyers and exhibitors was very positive, and we are happy to see the AETA International trade show continue to experience growth, especially in this economy,” said Tony Coppola, owner of The Tackeria, Inc., in Wellington, FL, and President of AETA. “The AETA Board will continue to explore opportunities to grow the trade show and educational events to build a valuable resource for retailers and manufacturers alike.”
“We certainly have not found a nicer show in North America than the AETA International,” said Bernard Bahr, owner of Bahr Saddlery in Hornby, Ontario in Canada.
The next AETA International Trade Fair will be held January 28-30 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. For more information or to use photos from the recent trade show, please visit www.aeta.us and www.hopperexpos.com or call 610-444-7554. ###
|
