Karel sets Houston market in May 2005
David Perry -- Furniture Today, July 26, 2004
Aventura, Fla. — Karel Exposition Management will make its first foray into Texas with a show in Houston next year.
The Houston Furniture and Accessory Market is set for May 22–24 at the city's Reliant Center.
"As the fourth-largest city in the country, Houston is the perfect site for one of our regional furniture shows," said Larry Karel, president of Karel Exposition Management. "We will be servicing a huge number of buyers in the region who are not able to travel to other markets because of the cost."
Karel said Houston was the top pick of exhibitors surveyed by his company, the largest U.S. producer of regional furniture and accessory shows.
A big supporter of the new show is Thomas "Chopper" Russo, owner of New Jersey-based Union City Mirror and Table, who called Houston "the New York of Texas.... We are planning on being there and look forward to writing up a lot of business."
Karel said his company will begin with a single show in Houston next year and will make it a twice-a-year event if it proves successful. It will mainly target small and medium-sized retailers in Texas and Louisiana.
The Houston date fills a slot in the Karel calendar that for years was held by a show in Las Vegas, an event the company has dropped. Karel said the Houston show, to be held in one of the largest event facilities in the country, offers tremendous growth potential.
"This is a market that can really grow and rival some of our larger venues," he said.
