Summer Brings the Heat—Sizzling Grill Sales and Hot Media Coverage!

Outdoor living and barbecuing trends are more popular than ever this summer. And major media outlets are taking notice. TV and newspaper coverage on outdoor living, cooking and entertaining has been through the roof, and excitement about the industry’s latest products and accessories is spreading.

• Now that’s HPBExpo Entertainment. HOT GRILLS, COOL PATIOS, featuring product demos from exhibitors at HPBExpo 2007, aired on HGTV on July 1, 2007 to an eager and proactive audience. Since the broadcast, we’ve received a steady stream of phone calls from folks across the country inquiring about the outstanding products showcased in the segment. Click on www.hgtv.com to learn more about the show and upcoming air dates.
• Good News for Manufacturers. HPBA is also making headlines this summer. “Grilling Burgers on a Ferrari in the Backyard” ran in the New York Times on July 21, 2007; the article gives kudos to our industry for producing stylish products and giving consumers a wide variety of innovative, high quality grills to choose from. It also highlights how HPBA manufacturers are meeting consumer demand. Industry manufacturers have added lights for night-time grilling, refrigerated storage spaces to keep food fresh, side burners for vegetable-lovers, and gadgets for making pizza right on the grill. Manufacturers are giving consumers what they want and they keep coming back to specialty retailers for more. Remember, the 2006 grill market totaled $2.3 billion. That’s $4 billion if you count related grill accessories and outdoor living products!
• Believe the Hype. All of this exposure and industry coverage has kindled hot grill sales this summer. Consumers continue to demand your products and services. And that demand fuels a growing interest in HPBExpo. More than 80 members of the press attended HPBExpo in Reno and filed many stories and news items in the months that followed. We are shooting for an even bigger media presence at HPBExpo 2008!
  

Bring Your HPBA-Game to Atlanta!

Things will heat up even further as HPBExpo 2008 prepares to head to Atlanta. Online registration opens September 1, 2007. Be among the first to sign up for the Great Indoor-Outdoor Adventure and get ready for another fantastic show, this time in one of America’s great southern cities.

Atlanta has seen enormous growth, urban renewal and cultural rebirth over the past few years. So much so that it’s now a hot destination for travelers. And, as a famous BBQ town, it’s the perfect location for HPBExpo. Check out local grills in action by going to Atlanta’s fine restaurants, diners and BBQ joints. Wash it all down with a visit to the new World of Coca Cola Museum. Then whet your appetite for fun at the brand new Georgia Aquarium.

Keep your eyes peeled for more articles this summer highlighting our industry’s achievements. And don’t forget to check back here for more expo details as a great show takes shape! Enjoy your summer!

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association