Karel poised for '04 after strong Long Beach show
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 26, 2004
AVENTURA, Fla. — After finishing 2003 with a busy show in Long Beach, Calif., in November, Karel Exposition Management is about to kick off its 2004 calendar of nine regional furniture and accessories markets.
More than 4,000 buyers visited the Long Beach event and the show was sold out for exhibitors, with 1,128 booths featuring furniture, bedding, lighting and accessories, the company said.
"This is the fastest-growing market we've ever produced, but we still didn't expect such an incredible response," said Larry Karel, president of the 51-year-old family business. "In just three years we've tripled the size of the show, and even that hasn't been enough to keep up with demand."
He said the Southern California housing market and economy are on the upswing, and buyers want to build up inventories.
Karel plans two shows this year in the Long Beach Convention Center, a spring edition May 23-25 and the fall show Nov. 21-23.
Here's KEM's 2004 show calendar:
Feb. 1-3: Edison, N.J.
Feb. 27-29: Tampa, Fla.
March 14-16: Fitchburg, Mass.
May 23-25: Long Beach, Calif.
Aug. 1-3: Edison, N.J.
Aug. 27-29: Orlando, Fla.
Sept. 12-14: Fitchburg, Mass.
Nov. 7-9: Edison, N.J.
Nov. 21-23: Long Beach, Calif.
For more information, visit the Web site www.kemexpo.com or call (305) 792-9990.
