Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo 2008 Blog

Atlanta Showcases New Products for a New Year of Indoor-Outdoor Living!

2008-01-30T14:01:00.000-05:00

We are in the final stretch! HPBExpo 2008 takes Atlanta by storm February 27-March 1. If you haven’t already registered to attend, sign up online today. You’ve still got time to take advantage of special discounts and benefits that come with pre-registration:

February 1, 2008 is the last day to receive a hotel room in the HPBExpo block at the special, discounted Expo prices.
February 4, 2008 is the deadline to receive badges by mail. After this date, you must pick up your badges in Atlanta.
February 25, 2008 is the final pre-registration deadline. After this date, you must register on-site in Atlanta.

HPBExpo 2008 is bigger and better than ever! More than 450 exhibitors are ready to give you a first-look at the hottest new products, accessories and services hitting the market in the year ahead. In addition to new offerings in Casual Living’s Outdoor Showroom display and the Outdoor Burn Area, the New Product Pavilion features exciting hearth, patio and barbecue innovations like these:

HEARTH
Hestia Heating Products / HHP-1 Corn/Pellet Stove
Outdoor Booth 5016
The perfect alternative home heating system, this stylish model directly vents out the side of the home and burns corn, wood pellets and other renewable fuels with a carbon neutral footprint. Owners will see their utility bills dramatically drop!

PATIO
Outback Chair Company / Urban Balance Curve
Indoor Booth 2853
Mold your body to the gentle contours of the Urban Balance Curve and let your imagination
drift. The Urban Balance Curve is made from premier quality materials such as epoxy-coated
aluminum frames and all-weather wicker with strict attention paid to the highest
manufacturing standards.

BARBECUE
Fuego North America / Fuego 01
Indoor Booth 2807
Approachable from all sides, Fuego 01 is a social hub where guests can gather, interact and enjoy the creation of a meal. The grill features a patented “quick change” drawer system that allows for cooking with gas, gas-fired infrared or traditional charcoal.

You won’t want to miss HPBExpo 2008. Come for the indoor-outdoor industry’s premier
annual event and marketplace, and stay to experience all that Atlanta has to offer—from the
Georgia Aquarium and New World of Coca-Cola Experience, to a variety of fine
dining and nightlife options.

I look forward to seeing you in Atlanta!

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

A Tale of Two Cities—Reno and Orlando Roll Out the Red Carpet for HPBExpo!

2007-12-18T16:02:00.000-05:00

Like you, I’m looking forward to heading to Atlanta in February for HPBExpo 2008. We are expecting a big turn out and you can expect a big return on your investment. If you haven’t already registered to attend, do it today!

It’s always a challenge to find the right city and the right venue to host an event like HPBExpo—one of the 50 fastest growing shows in the U.S., according to Tradeshow Week magazine. At HPBA, we work hard to make sure each site meets the core criteria you care about the most.

In addition to rotating the event to help affiliates in the east, west and central regions serve and build their membership base, there are a number of things we take into consideration:

Weather and the time of year
Transportation and ease of getting to a city
Attractiveness and safety of a city
Number and quality of hotels, restaurants and local attractions
Proximity of the exhibition center to nearby hotels and lodging
Availability of gas lines to burn products indoors
Availability of 300,000 gross square feet of contiguous space for exhibitors with high ceilings and few columns
Availability of 200,000 gross square feet of unobstructed space available in an adjacent parking lot with the capability to pipe in natural gas
Access to the parking lot 2 ½ weeks out in order to set up the gas distribution lines before any exhibitor begins arriving for set up

The fact is, that with the fast growth of HPBExpo and the popularity of our cutting-edge outside burn area displays and demonstrations, we’ve outgrown cities that were popular in the past like Nashville, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

While we are confident Reno and Orlando will serve HPBExpo well, we are also exploring Houston, San Antonio and Los Angeles. We understand that each of these locations means overlooking or accepting that certain criteria won’t be met.

Finally, we will certainly consider rotating Atlanta back in if your HPBExpo 2008 survey results reveal it is a top spot. We also are always tracking any expansion plans with other cities. In fact, this week we heard that Nashville/Opryland will be expanding their exhibit hall and there is the potential that it could be added to the list of prospect cities.

We know HPBExpo is as important to you and your business as it is to us. That’s why we have your best interests in mind when we schedule and plan this premier industry event every year. You can count on HPBA, and you can count on Reno and Orlando to deliver! If you have any questions about our Expo cities, please contact me, feedbackforjack@hpbexpo.com.

Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year!

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

From Atlanta to Atlantis—Looking Ahead to HPBExpo 2009 in Reno

2007-11-14T11:47:00.000-05:00

It may be too early to start packing, but you can start planning on success at HPBExpo 2008 in Atlanta! The Great Indoor-Outdoor Adventure is gearing up to showcase the latest products and accessories moving the hearth, patio and barbecue industries forward. You won’t want to miss it!

While final preparations are underway, we are also looking ahead to HPBExpo 2009 in Reno and working with the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) on a number of exciting city and venue improvements. We took your 2007 post-show comments and concerns to heart, and we are determined to take HPBExpo back to Reno in 2009 with renewed energy and focus.

Peppermill Reno Hotel Casino (2009 Expo headquarters hotel) has undergone a stunning renovation and expansion and achieved four-star resort status. The luxurious accommodations in the Peppermill Tower are the best in Reno. The new Peppermill features nine award-winning restaurants from casual dining at Sports Deli to the elegant and intimate White Orchid. The hotel is conveniently located one mile from the Convention Center. For more information on the Peppermill Reno, go to www.peppermillreno.com, and see why the casino was named one of the top ten in the country.

Atlantis Hotel & Casino will feature a skybridge connecting directly to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Atlantis is also currently building a new ballroom with plans for additional rooms by 2009. The Atlantis will host the Expo outdoor burn area and cater the outdoor exhibit area’s food and beverage requirements. Visit the website at www.atlantiscasino.com for more exciting details.

Grand Sierra Resort & Casino (formerly the Hilton) has gone through a major renovation with new rooms, an upgraded lobby and additional restaurants and bars. It’s conveniently located close to the Convention Center. Go to www.grandsierraresort.com to see the results.

The Outdoor Burn Area has a new location in a lot across from the Convention Center on Virginia Street at the Atlantis Hotel & Casino. The space is a huge improvement over the lot used in 2007. – It’s flat, clear of median strips and also convenient to the indoor exhibit area.

RSCVA will provide attendees with a Reno Restaurant Guide in 2009. It will feature a complete list of Reno offerings outside of the hotel and casino properties. Reno offers some fabulous dining establishments that HPBA participants should experience while in town.

Finally, Reno travel and leisure reps (hotel contacts, airport officials, CVB and convention center reps) will be on-site at HPBExpo 2008 in Atlanta to address any questions or concerns you might have regarding 2009. They will have a display prominently located in the registration area at the Georgia World Congress Center. Attendees will be able to work with airport officials to look at best flight options and hotel reps will talk about renovations and improvements.

Please visit the Reno hotel websites and stop by the Reno reps display at HPBExpo 2008. We are pleased with what has been accomplished so far and hope you are too.

Why the back and forth between the East and West coasts? That will be the topic of my next blog. Until then, check back here often for HPBExpo 2008 news and updates!

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

Now Is the Time to Register and Reserve Housing

2007-10-01T14:52:00.000-05:00

Preparations are coming together for HPBExpo 2008 and the excitement is building—

We are proud to report that Tradeshow Week has once again recognized us. For the second year in a row, the magazine has ranked HPBExpo as one of the 50 fastest growing shows, and one of the 200 largest trade shows in the U.S. Come celebrate a growing industry and be a part of this premier event!
We are thrilled to welcome 17 NEW EXHIBITING COMPANIES to HPBExpo 2008 and are expecting at least 100 more. More than 450 exhibitors—manufacturers and distributors of hearth, patio, and barbecue products—will showcase their latest products, services and technologies in Atlanta. That means you’ll be able to find everything you need for your showrooms and stores. Only HPBExpo has the innovative products your customers are looking for.
We are looking forward to heading down south to Atlanta. The Georgia World Congress Center is a world-class venue, and downtown Atlanta and the surrounding area have so much to offer Expo-goers—from family-friendly amusement parks and attractions to museums, fine dining, and fun nightlife. In fact, during your stay enjoy a 10% discount to the World's Largest Aquarium, the new Georgia Aquarium. You can purchase tickets right here on our Web site. See About the Show for details.

We are working hard to provide the networking and business opportunities you have come to expect from HPBExpo. This year’s show will prove even stronger than last year. And be sure to register early for a chance to win one of the many prizes that have been generously donated by HPBExpo exhibitors.

Stay tuned for more HPBExpo 2008 updates and new information on HPBExpo 2009.

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

Registration and Housing Now Open for Atlanta! The Great Indoor-Outdoor Adventure Begins…

2007-09-01T08:11:00.000-05:00

Registration and housing are now open for HPBExpo 2008 in Atlanta. Sign up before December 14, 2007 to be eligible to win one of many exhibitor-donated prizes, and to reserve discounted rates at official hotels.

Atlanta is the perfect destination for The Great Indoor-Outdoor Adventure in hearth, patio and barbecue products and accessories. The Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) is a first-rate exhibition hall and convention center. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and reliable public transportation (MARTA) make it easy to travel to Atlanta and get around town. And when the show floor closes, you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy local attractions like these:

The new, state-of-the-art Georgia Aquarium features 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water and more aquatic life than found in any other aquarium in the world!
The NEW World of Coca Cola is a multi-media, pop culture experience where visitors can explore the complete story—past, present and future—behind the world’s best-known brand.
The CNN Center and Studio Tour is a chance to experience world news live!
Centennial Olympic Park is a unique 21-acre park that serves as Georgia's lasting legacy of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
Plus museums, delicious dining options, cool nightlife venues and more!

Atlanta is a great, revitalized southern city with so much to offer. I hope to see you there for HPBExpo 2008.

Stay tuned. In the next blog entry, we’ll share some news about efforts already in motion for HPBExpo 2009 in Reno. You spoke and we heard you. We’re now working with Reno city officials to ensure an improved 2009 show experience.

Best wishes for a good heating season.

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

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

2007-08-15T13:27:00.000-05:00

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

HPBExpo is Serving Up Hot Products and Cool Entertainment This Summer

2007-06-26T18:09:00.000-05:00

May was National Barbecue Month and, like millions of homeowners, I took the opportunity to celebrate and kick-start the summer by firing up the grill.

This season, grill sales are stronger than ever and consumers continue to have a hearty appetite for indoor-outdoor living products and accessories. The industry hasn’t let them down. Manufacturers and retailers like you are serving up the latest and hottest hearth, patio and barbecue products for all occasions. You’ve given consumers what they need to make summer more fun, and make it last longer!

Keep cool by taking time out to reward yourself for a job well done—

WATCH TV! HGTV GIVES HPBEXPO 2007 PRIMETIME PLAY IN JULY.

Tune in to HGTV on July 1st, 2007 at 9:00 PM for HOT GRILLS, COOL PATIOS—a primetime special featuring HPBExpo 2007 show highlights and behind-the-scenes footage. Check out what drove sales at this year’s event and turn up the heat for HPBExpo 2008.

The primetime special features a variety of the industry’s most innovative offerings—Kracklebox fireplace sounds, fireplace aromatherapy from Travis, grill and patio covers from Two Dogs Design, olives from Gil’s Gourmet and the unique Patio Palm from Cool Heat. Watch HOT GRILLS, COOL PATIOS on HGTV this July 1st for cool, summertime entertainment.

Summer is in full swing and homeowners are enjoying the season with the comforts of hearth, patio and barbecue products. You’ll find more of what consumers want at HPBExpo 2008. We hope to see you there.

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

You’re a Part of Something Big—And Getting Bigger!

2007-05-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

HPBExpo received a piece of good news this week: Not only has the show been named, once again, to Tradeshow Week’s Top 200 list of the largest tradeshows in the country, but our event moved up in the rankings.

• In 2006, HPBExpo ranked 138 out of 200.
• In 2007, it elbowed its way up to 126.

Those straightforward numbers say a lot about the hearth, patio, and barbecue industries and about our expanding base of HPBExpo attendees. And, they say a lot about our manufacturers, whose non-stop push to develop new products for indoor-outdoor living is the driving force behind it all.

• First, the industry. Hearth, grill, and outdoor room product manufacturers are staying three steps ahead of American consumers. From the giant manufacturers to small firms riding in on a great new idea, these companies are producing an ever-growing array of equipment, products, furnishings, and furniture that is enticing consumers to make their homes even more inviting, comfortable, convenient—and just plain beautiful.

• Specialty retailers and contractors. You are the critical link in the supply chain. You can feel confident that despite ups and downs in our economy that may affect your sales revenues, you are part of a healthy, growing industry. Manufacturers are producing what the consumer wants. And you’re the lucky lynchpin.

• And, if you don’t mind a little immodesty, you’ve got a tradeshow that delivers. Your HPBA tradeshow team is the best in the business. They work year round to make this the best-run event in the country. No minor achievement, too, when you consider what’s involved in safely creating, setting up, and knocking down indoor and outdoor burn areas.

The point of that bit of bragging is this: You want to grow your business? Let’s do it!

HPBExpo and the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association will support you in hundreds of seen, and unseen, ways.

• Retailers—You can feel confident that year after year, manufacturers will showcase the kinds of products that will fire up your customers’ imaginations (the first step toward a purchase!).

• Exhibitors—We’ll work with you to showcase the best you’ve got on the tradeshow floor. And every year we’ll find creative ways to bring more serious, qualified buyers through the door to size up what you’ve got, compare with the competition, and place an order.

I like the way it feels to move up from 138 to 126. What’s stopping us from taking HPBExpo—and your business and our industry—a few slots higher by 2008? I say let’s aim for it!

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

Heads Up for Atlanta: HPBExpo 2008 Could Be the Biggest Show Yet

2007-05-17T09:02:00.000-05:00

There’s a reason we chose “The Great Indoor-Outdoor Adventure” as the theme for HPBExpo 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.

· Hearth, grill, and outdoor room product manufacturers are still on a roll. They’re creating new materials, engineering more efficient products, and demonstrating even more ways to add new comforts and conveniences inside and outside American homes.

· Specialty retailers are looking beyond the traditional marketing and sales tactics of selling to walk-ins. Investments in larger interior and exterior showrooms, partnerships with professional service firms (architects, landscapers, stone masons, and interior designers), grilling demos, and other “retailer outreach” are paying off in bigger sales tickets.

· And consumers keep coming back for more! A fireplace in the bathroom? A kitchen on the patio? A television by the pool? Affluent homeowners are hooked on innovation, style, comfort, and convenience.

These factors and more suggest that, despite the current slowdown in new home sales and in remodeling, this industry is still going strong. I can say that with confidence for several reasons.

1. Fireplaces still rank among the top three features desired by new home buyers (after outdoor porches and upgraded kitchens.
2. In 2006 the barbecue industry had its highest year-to-year growth rate ever—a 15% increase over the previous year—with more than 17 million grills shipped.
3. According to the National Association of Home Buyers, a patio or deck is one of the top three features most requested by new home buyers.
4. Leisure lifestyle industry is now a $6.2 billion industry, up 5.4% in just a few years.

Another big reason is the success of HPBExpo 2007 in Reno.

· HPBExpo 2007 buyers represented more than 2,000 buying entities. That’s huge! And this number has been strong for the last three years.
· 118 of the 474 exhibitors were first-timers—a record! What does it mean that nearly 25% of all exhibitors had never been on the show floor? It means new products you’ve never seen; new contacts; new ideas. In short, more of the best the industry can produce.
· 92% of 2007 attendees are optimistic about the future of their businesses over the next few years. They should be! The economy is good. The market is growing. Let’s go!
· 75% of HPBExpo 2007 attendees visited the New Product Pavilion. “To see new products” is the number-one reason HPBExpo survey respondents say they come to the show. We’re already at work securing a bigger footprint for this pavilion and packing it with even more exciting products for the show in Atlanta.

Looking to Atlanta

In early 2004, Hearth & Home editor Richard Wright looked ahead to HPBExpo 2005 and predicted, “Atlanta will be the biggest, and most likely the best, show in the history of the HPBA.” It turned out he was right: It was a record-breaker. In attendance, buying entities, numbers of exhibitors—all around, we topped out in Atlanta.

And we’re eager to get back and see what we can do to topple those three-year-old records. Here’s what we’ve got going for us:

· A big, hospitable, aim-to-please city that’s easy to get to from anywhere in the country.
· A superb convention facility—The Georgia World Congress Center—in the heart of downtown.
· An East Coast location that’s within a day’s drive—or less—of thousands of prospective attendees.
· And, most important of all, a vigorous, innovative industry that will bring all the serious players—both buyers and suppliers—under one roof for four days of tradeshow excitement.

Just in case it’s not on your calendar yet, make a note:

HPBExpo 2008
Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Exposition: February 28 – March 1, 2008
Education: February 27 – March 1, 2008

As our programming and special events take shape, we’ll keep you posted.

Me, a Blogger?

If you had told me five years ago that I’d be a blogger, I would have said, “No way!” Of course, I wouldn’t have known what a blogger was, either, but it sounded, to me, like something I wouldn’t want to do. But I’m getting on the bandwagon because I see it’s a good way to share some thoughts with all of you. And, it’s a good way for you to add your two cents’ worth as a comment. Trust me, once you start commenting, and then someone comments on your comment, you’ll be hooked!

So let me have it. Your thoughts, questions, ideas, requests—on your business, the industry, the show in Reno, the show coming up in Atlanta. Ball’s in your court!

Jack Goldman, President
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association