Jan 14, 2009

Trade Show for Retail Entrepreneurs Sees Exceptional Growth Despite Tough Times

Hanover, MA—A Las Vegas trade show for retail entrepreneurs who operate carts and kiosks in malls, airports, resorts and other high-traffic retail venues is experiencing significant growth despite a tough retail market.

Sally Miller, director of the Specialty Retail Entrepreneur Expo & Conference, or SPREE, scheduled for April 21-23, 2009 at The Venetian in Las Vegas, reports that both exhibitor and attendee registrations are “way ahead of last year, which tells you a lot about the strength of the $12 billion cart and kiosk industry.”

“Our attendee registrations are up more than 75 percent over last year and our exhibitor reservations are running ahead of last year,” Miller said. “A key driver of that growth is that cart and kiosk retailing is the lowest-cost way to launch a new retail venture, and low-cost options are what entrepreneurs are looking for today. Entrepreneurs can start their own cart or kiosk business with as little as a few thousand dollars.”

The SPREE show brings together “hundreds of companies who supply cart and kiosk retailers with high-margin wholesale products and professional services, as well as retail leasing managers who are on the lookout for unique tenants now more than ever,” Miller explained. “It’s a huge deal-making show for companies that want to expand, or entrepreneurs who want to get into this growing industry.”

The cart and kiosk industry “has been the fastest-growing segment of retail for years,” Miller said. “Developers with space to lease want to hear from entrepreneurs with fresh, innovative retail concepts, and SPREE is where they come to find them.”

Entrance to the show, including educational sessions, is free for those who pre-register. Sessions for retailers and leasing professionals include:

* Unique Specialty Retail Concepts
* Retailing in a Challenging Economy

 * Leasing in a Challenging Economy
* Fresh Ideas for Dazzling Displays
* Staffing for Success
* Leasing & Operating in US Malls (in Hebrew)
* Retail 101: Doing the Math

* Retail 102: Product Choices

* Retail 103: Running Your Business

* Getting the Most Out of Email Marketing
* Building an Effective Website
* Pros & Cons of National Deals
* Leasing Manager Roundtable
* Technology and Your Bottom Line

* Demonstration Concepts


A variety of social events are also planned to give exhibitors and attendees the chance to socialize and network in a fun, informal setting.

About SPREE and its sponsors:
SPREE is produced annually by Specialty Retail Report, the only magazine for the cart and kiosk industry (SpecialtyRetail.com).

SPREE’s premier sponsor is Bella Pierre Cosmetics (BellaPierre.com) of Los Angeles, Calif., which has more than 1,000 carts and kiosks in the US, Canada, UK, EU, Japan, Australia and Turkey.

Associate sponsors include: Louisville, KY-based Happy Feet/Animal Feet (buyhappyfeet.com); Niles, IL-based Rico Industries (RicoIndustries); Suwanee, GA-based Fanmats (Fanmats.com); Flanders, NJ-based Smoke Anywhere (SmokeAnywhere.com); Bellville, NJ-based I-Wrapz (I-Wrapz.com); and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (NYSE:CBL; CBLproperties.com), one of the largest mall REITs, with ownership or management interest in more than 150 US shopping venues.