Light turnout expected at NHMA convention - National Housewares Manufacturers Association

Discount Store News, Sept 17, 1990 by Mary Ellen Kelly

Light Turnout Expected at NHMA Convention

ATLANTA - A different city, a different month, a different set of research indicating the need for a second housewares show - all for the same result: Manufacturers expect to spend most of their time at the upcoming housewares show talking to one another instead of to customers.

Buyer turnout at the first National Housewares Manufacturers Association show outside of Chicago is expected to be no better than the turnout of the past two July shows in the Windy City, based on most retailer and vendor interviews.

While the decision to conduct a show in July in Atlanta was based on a survey conducted by former association head, Jay Spalding, another show agenda survey is currently underway, according to Tom Conley, the new association chief.

Traffic at the past two July shows was said to be disappointing by many members; nonetheless, 500 manufacturers have reserved booth space for yet another mid-year show. Some are going to the September show in Atlanta because their experience at previous mid-year shows were satisfactory; others hope the change in location from Chicago to Atlanta might improve buyer turnout.

Buyers from dollar stores and closeout chains and larger discounters who need to boost their image in the industry are among the retailers who plan to be at the show in force.

Despite early indications to the NHMA that most top discounters would send a contingent to the Atlanta housewares exhibition Sept. 24 to 26, many retailer plans have changed.

Target spokesman George Hite said sending one buyer to the show is only a "possibility," adding the Target buyers are not "big show people to begin with."

Lechmere, which was one of the chains who had told the NHMA earlier that its buyers would be in attendance said, "We're not going because it's not one of the larger shows. We attend the show in January, the New York tabletop show and the Gourmet show for housewares."

Other East Coast retailers - even those that are closer to the convention than Woburn, Mass.-based Lechmere, do not plan to attend. Clover Stores, the Philadelphia-based division of Strawbridge & Clothier, also said it will not send buyers to the Atlanta show.

Mike Reilly, vp and general manager of Harts, Columbus, Ohio, said that the discounter won't be sending anyone to Atlanta, either.

Catalog showroom chains that were not drawn to a July show in Chicago are not being swayed by the new location or later date either. John Pflug, president of Consumers Distributing and several merchandising people (including those involved with housewares) will be in the Orient in September. The cataloger has gone to only one show per year for about the past five years, since the NHMA changed from its April/October agenda to January/July, according to a Consumers spokeswoman.

Fisher's Big Wheel is another retailer whose presence at the show is being influenced by overseas buying plans. The chain plans to send one buyer to the show. Three or four merchandisers would have gone to Atlanta if it were not for an overseas trip.

The retailers who will continue to shop the NHMA's second show of the year fall into two categories: dollar store/closeout chains, and discounters who were recently in bad financial straits and are essentially making a public relations appearance.

Dollar General will send four people: Bruce Sherwood, merchandise manager; Mike Ennis, vice president; Janis Stinson, assistant buyer and Steve Hudson, buyer. Hudson said he expects this show to be better than previous mid-year shows due to its new location.

A group from Bill's Dollar Stores plans to drive out to Atlanta from their Jackson, Miss., headquarters, visiting store locations en route.

Major chains that will make the trip to Atlanta and that have recently been hit by hard times include Ames, Rose's and Hills.