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North America’s biggest pet retail show, Superzoo, brought thousands, including Omahans
From July 24-27, SuperZoo 2017 gathered together 10,057 pet retail, grooming and service industry professionals at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to learn, shop, network and socialize. Among those in attendance were Pets in Omaha founder Lee Legenhausen and Long Dog Fat Cat owner, Indre Seibutyte, among others. Of the event, Legenhausen said, “Pets in Omaha loves to attend each year to see great new products and people in the pet industry. We have sponsors in nearly all of these areas of retail, so it’s important for us to stay current and learn how business is changing so we know what services to offer advertisers.”
SuperZoo is the industry’s leading trade expo and conference in North America and this year’s attendance exceeded expectations. Presented by World Pet Association (WPA), SuperZoo maintained its longstanding history of leading the industry through education, new product introductions and advocacy for animal health and well being.
This year’s SuperZoo appealed to an even wider audience through a variety of new features and experiences. Catering to SuperZoo’s growing global audience, the International Lounge added value for attendees from across the world by offering mobile app assistance and interpreting services in Spanish, Chinese, Mandarin and Korean. An Aquatic Lounge offered a dedicated area for the growing aquatics audience to enjoy live demos from renowned aquascaper Oliver Knott. Additionally, a new series of free Animal Wellness and Retail talks on the show floor provided easy-to-access education for professionals looking to better their business and help their customers’ pets live longer, healthier lives.
By day, SuperZoo attendees took advantage of the event’s industry-leading educational conference, which kicked off with Retail Monday, dedicated to education sessions tailored specifically toward retailers looking to maximize their time and value onsite. The educational offerings covered three days and were packed with 81 education sessions, covering the full spectrum of timely topics and best practices—from retail to grooming, animal wellness to boarding and pet services—while the expo’s expansive show floor featured nearly 1,100 exhibitors showcasing thousands of the most innovative products for animal lovers, including 850 new products never seen before their debut at SuperZoo.
The show floor also proved to be a winning atmosphere for this year’s contest winners, including:
- New Product Showcase Winners in eight categories (Click here for a full list of winners)
- WPAGoodWorks Winners: First – Planet Dog ($1,000 donation to HABRI), Second – Petmate ($500 to HABRI), Third – K. Sutherland PR ($250 to PIJAC). To date in 2017, WPA has contributed $1,225,000 million to support pet industry organizations through its WPA Good Works program. This amount includes all profits from SuperZoo 2017.
- Pet Product News’ Retailer of the Year: Mutts & Co
- Tom McLaughlin Super Jackpot Winner: Clayton Muniz, Pet Society (Click here for a full list of grooming contest winners)
The fun didn’t stop there. By night, attendees and exhibitors benefited from SuperZoo’s host of networking opportunities, which included a “Casino Night” themed Networking Reception featuring exclusive prizes and a private concert by country superstar, Trace Adkins.
As the 2017 event drew to a close, attendees were already looking forward to next year’s SuperZoo, which will be held earlier in the year to accommodate a growing exhibitor list with added show floor space and to allow for easier access to hotel rooms in the busy Las Vegas area by having 30% more rooms available on property. SuperZoo 2018 will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, June 26-28, with education June 25-27. Registration is expected to open by January 2018.
About SuperZoo
SuperZoo boasts the most buyer participation of any trade show for the pet retail industry in North America, providing pet retail and service professionals with the knowledge and resources they need to be successful. For the seventh consecutive year, SuperZoo has grown in exhibitor space and square footage and has been listed among Trade Show Executive’s “Gold 100” trade events since 2014. Produced by World Pet Association (WPA) the show attracts around 18,000 retailers, product suppliers and service providers at each annual event. WPA is the oldest industry organization, promoting the responsible growth and development of the companion pet and related products and services industry, and works to educate the general public in order to ensure safe and healthy lifestyles for all our animal friends. In addition to producing SuperZoo, WPA is the host of America’s Family Pet Expo, held annually in Costa Mesa, CA, Atlanta Pet Fair & Conference, held in Atlanta, and Aquatic Experience, held in Chicago.
About World Pet Association
World Pet Association: The pet industry’s trusted leader
Founded in 1950, World Pet Association (WPA) is the pet industry’s oldest non-profit association and has promoted responsible growth and development of the companion pet and related products and services industry longer than any other group. WPA collaborates with organizations such as American Pet Products Association (APPA), Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), The Pet Care Trust and others to ensure pet retailers’ interests are represented. WPA coordinates industry-defining trade events and provides thought leadership on consumer and legislative issues that support the pet retail community and make it easier for pet retailers to do business. WPA is the host of America’s Family Pet Expo, held annually in Costa Mesa, CA, Atlanta Pet Fair & Conference, held in Atlanta, Aquatic Experience, held in Chicago, and SuperZoo, held in Las Vegas. WPA’s goal is to foster the well being of pets and their families, while ensuring the health and sustainability of the pet industry as a whole.
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