Feb 17, 2015

Halloween & Party Expo Closes on a High Note

Halloween & Party Expo, the industry’s prominent Halloween and Party event, concluded in New Orleans, LA, on Monday, February 9, 2015, bringing together more than 1,300 booths, with exhibitors and brands introducing new and innovative costumes, accessories, party supplies, and paper goods to thousands of attending domestic and international buyers, and industry leaders.

The 2015 event, held for the first time in New Orleans, received positive feedback from the industry as a whole, with much excitement for the “New Era that is Brewing” changes in ownership of the event – the partnership of the Halloween Industry Association (HIA) and Urban Expositions. “It’s been a great week for our members,” said Michele Biordi, Executive Director, Halloween Industry Association. “We saw a good representation of international buyers on the show floor. We are looking forward to continuing to strengthen and grow international buyer representation, as one of our attendance focuses in 2016, offering members new opportunities for their business.”

Throughout the week, both the Urban Expositions Team under the direction of Doug Miller, President & Partner, and the HIA Team were meeting with members, exhibitors, buyers, industry associations and media partners to talk about future events plans. “We’re excited to officially be running the show with the HIA,” commented Miller. “This week we focused on understanding our customers’ needs and concerns, talking through how we will grow the event, and forging new relationships with key associations and industry stakeholders.”

Under the new management direction of the HIA and Urban Expositions, plans are already in place to rebuild core product categories to the event, add complementary categories for additional content, and diversify, and increase the attendance – especially in the Gift & Souvenir Markets, in which Urban currently owns 35 events.

At the close of the event on Monday, 80% of the booth space had already been renewed for the 2016 event, January 22- 25, 2016, in New Orleans.

First time exhibitor Paul Cornwell with Ningbo Merryart Glow-Tech Co., LTD commented, “This has been a great show for us and we’ve made lots of good contacts. Our orders are over expectations and we have already paid for the show with the business we’ve done. We look forward to returning in 2016.”

“The show has been a great platform for new business,” said Ken Soens of Regent Products Corp. “By day two of the show, we already opened 30 new accounts. We will definitely be back.”

“This is the second Halloween show we have done to reach the American Market,” said Martin Keane of OppoSuits. “We are seeing many new buyers and meeting with returning customers face-to-face. It’s an important show to us and we already signed up for 2016.”

Halloween & Party Expo 2016 will be held earlier next year, January 22- 25, 2016, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. For more information, visit www.halloweenpartyexpo.com

About Urban Expositions

Urban Expositions, which is based in Kennesaw, GA, produces and manages a portfolio of 35 events covering six sectors. Urban Expositions was founded in 1995 with the Philadelphia Gift Show and built its business in the regional Gift & Souvenir industries. In 2008, Urban began to diversify outside of Gift & Souvenir and now produces events in sectors including Art, Aviation, Foodservice and Gaming. Urban also produces one publication, Airport Revenue News, focused on the airport concession industry. Outside of Kennesaw, Urban also has offices in Shelton, CT, and Boca Raton, FL, as well as many remote employees based in areas that are rich with customers. For more information on Urban Expositions, please visit www.urbanexpositions.com.

About HIA

The Halloween Industry Association (HIA) was formally incorporated in 2005 as a 501(c)(6) trade organization to promote and grow the safe celebration of Halloween and year-round costumed events throughout North America. HIA represents businesses involved in the manufacture, importation or distribution of Halloween and related products, including costumes, décor, novelty items and party supplies. HIA has grown to become the premier authority on Halloween and serves as a non-profit voice of the industry. For more information on HIA, please visit www.hiaonline.org or contact hia@ahint.com.