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Buyers gear up for JPMA show

By Jane Kitchen -- Kids Today, 4/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Orlando —

With the 2005 International Juvenile Products Manufacturers Assn. trade show set to begin here at its new location next month, show organizers report more than 360 exhibitors — 60 of which are new — and 1,000 buyers are registered to attend.

JPMA Chairman Bengt Lager said he definitely thinks the exhibitor list will top 400 — a record. Lager also said that there are quite a few furniture manufacturers returning, including Baby's Dream, Morigeau-Lepine and Berg, so even stores that are heavily furniture-oriented should find things to shop for. This has meant an increase over last year in the number of specialty stores attending, Lager said.

JPMA officials said they do not have preregistration numbers broken out into categories, so they could not give an exact number of specialty stores planning to attend.

Larry Schur, executive director of the National Independent Nursery Furniture Retailers' Assn., said that from surveys of his member stores, he sees an increase in the number attending over last year. Additionally, said Schur, while most NINFRA members who attended the show last year sent only one representative, this year, most are reporting that they'll send at least two or three people. The new Orlando location may be part of the reason for the increase, said Schur, but he also noted that more manufacturers and key suppliers for the independents are showing this year.

Phil Fairey, owner of independent retailer Baby Furniture Plus in Columbia, S.C., said he plans on attending the show and will be focusing on finding new products. "...If we find one product that sets us aside from every other baby store in the country...then the trip is worthwhile," he said.

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Buyers gear up for JPMA show

By Jane Kitchen -- Kids Today, 4/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

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