International SHOPA show

DAYTON, OH-The School, Home, & Office Products Association (SHOPA) is pleased to announce its lith annual International SHOPA SHOW November 14-16, 2001, in Miami Beach, FL, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The International SHOPA Show is the largest trade fair for the school and office products industry in the Americas.

"We expect the 2001 Show to attract a record number of attendees from around the globe," said Steven Jacober, president of SHOPA. "In 2000, we experienced a 40.8 percent increase in overall, qualified reseller attendees, representing every retail, wholesale, and commercial/contract distribution channel in the estimated $300 billion school and office products industry. Approximately 13,500 attendees visited the Show in 2000, with over 670 exhibitors from around the world covering more than 259,000 square feet of exhibit space. All indications so far point toward another successful, record-breaking Show this November."

"With more than 600 exhibitors displaying the latest and most innovative products to key executives from the retail and commercial sectors of the industry, buyers will be able to see what's hot for the 2002 selling season to capitalize on sales and product planning," added Jacober. "Attendees will literally be able to explore the entire industry under one roof without leaving the SHOW floor in Miami."

"One of the secrets of our success is that we are constantly challenging our Association to keep the International SHOPA Show fresh and exciting," said Ron Konkle, Research and Education chair and Board member. "In keeping this commitment, we have added educational seminars to educate and further promote our dynamic industry. Not only will these ten industry-specific seminars provide good professional development, they will also offer new ways of doing business by prompting attendees to think `outside the box' during the three-day event. We are very excited about adding this new feature to the SHOW free of charge to all who attend."

In addition to the annual Show, SHOPA serves the global community by providing a wide range of research projects and market statistics to assist members with planning and market development. The Association conducts consumer and end-user research for both retail and commercial sectors. SHOPA's research concentrates on purchasing habits, buying trends, distribution data, and more, and is available free of charge to members.

"Our commitment to the Association is to serve the marketplace and provide all industry partners with an opportunity to enhance their business," said Jacober. "Whether it is through the trade fair, our research and educational efforts, the Association's trade delegations and pavilion programs, SHOPA is working diligently to bring the industry closer together. We are committed to making the 2001 International SHOPA Show our best ever!"

For more information on SHOPA, visit SHOPA at www.shopa.org, call 800/854-7467, or see page 31 of this month's Office World News.