2006 International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo

2006 International Billiard & Home Recreation ExpoHouston, TXBased on the numbers released on the final day of its annual April Expo, the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) has learned that a smaller crowd can be a good thing … when it translates into equal—or better—volume sales for exhibitors. In the final hours of the 2006 International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo, show managers with W.T. Glasgow reported that 1,843 qualified buyers, down from 2,729 the previous year in Las Vegas, were in attendance over the course of the three-day function.A total of 234 exhibitors, down from 299 in 2005, claimed 1,272 booths to spread across an expanse of over 300,000 square feet in Hall B of the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, TX.Conducting targeted business in the 22 hours of open floor time, many exhibitors noted the lighter foot traffic (compared to the Expos hosted in Las Vegas, NV), but several also observed that those in attendance were savvy and serious buyers.View the 2006 International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo image gallery"Although foot traffic was lighter than we would like to see, we heard from several exhibitors that their sales have equaled previous years’," stated the BCA Board’s Second Vice-President and Trade Show Committee Chairman, Ivan Lee. "It’s no surprise that we see larger numbers of attendees in Las Vegas, but we know that sales volume for our exhibitors can remain steady in other venues."
Representing one of the larger exhibitors, Gregg Hovey, president of both Olhausen Billiards Manufacturing and the BCA Board of Directors, added, "While everyone loves going to Las Vegas, the Houston venue provided us a needed opportunity to spend quality time with our dealers, away from distractions. The BCA is committed to continuing the success of our major trade show, and we encourage all of our buyers and exhibitors to sign up for next year’s show, when we will be back in Las Vegas, April 12-14, 2007."Right now, the BCA is focusing on its new "Back to Billiards" show to debut this August in Baltimore, MD. The BCA Board of Directors agreed that "a pre-season kickoff for everything billiards" is an exciting way to lead into the final retail quarter of the year, and the first annual "Back to Billiards" expo will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor August 10-12, 2006.The new industry extravaganza will feature a business-to-business wholesale event, open only to authorized dealers and room operators, along with a separate billiard fair that will be open to the public. Everyone will also be invited to take part in special events like trick shot contests and demos, challenge-a-pro, and mini-clinics geared toward families and enthusiasts of all ages. In conjunction with the event, the BCA is planning to host a televised professional 8-ball invitational competition, with the finals taped for delayed broadcast on ESPN.Visit Inside POOL Magazine for the latest news from the sport of billiards and pool.

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