ABC Hosts Spring Conference, ABC Kids Expo To Move To KY In 2011 And 2012

All Baby & Child, Inc., organizer of the ABC Kids Expo in September, held the first ABC Spring Conference and Trade Show in Louisville, KY, May 4-7. The show was developed, members of the ABC Board and executives explained, to provide a venue for specialty retailers to have more direct access with manufacturers. Additionally, the conference and trade show portions of the event were staggered, allowing both retailers and manufacturers to attend educational seminars without sacrificing time on the show floor.

In a press conference, officials from the City of Louisville and ABC announced the Board of Directors’ decision to relocate the ABC Kids Expo to Louisville in 2011 and 2012. Currently held in Las Vegas, the Expo is scheduled for Sept. 23-26, 2011, and Oct.14-17, 2012. Louisville was praised as “Possibility City,” with convenient access for ABC attendees and exhibitors, modern facilities and its own brand of hospitality.

The educational portion began with a keynote breakfast during which industry leaders addressed the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act and its implications for the industry. Jacque Sternquist presented the new Baby Products Experts online venture sponsored by ABC. Babyproductsexperts.com is a new program to support specialty retailers and their unique product expertise within the community. Meanwhile, smaller breakout sessions were scheduled to address store management, selling techniques, retail displays and more.

The Spring Conference saw the continuation of ABC’s partnership with several industry organizations. Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S) collected juvenile merchandise from exhibitors to be distributed to children and families in need throughout Kentucky, and First Candle was on hand to promote its efforts to lower infant mortality rates.

The next event for ABC, The ABC Kids Expo, will be held Sept. 13-16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Baby & Kids magazine will produce The Official ABC Show Dailies each day of the Expo. For more information, visit www.theabcshow.com.