SuperZoo attracts 10,057 pet retail, grooming and service industry professionals
From July 24-27, SuperZoo 2017 gathered together 10,057 pet retail, grooming and service industry professionals at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to learn, shop, network and socialise.
Following the implementation of a new buyer qualification process this year, SuperZoo, the trade expo and conference in North America, exceeded attendance expectations.
Presented by World Pet Association (WPA), SuperZoo’s 2017 show marked the final event for WPA president Doug Poindexter, who announced his retirement after 27 years with the organisation.
In recognition of Poindexter’s status as the longest-serving executive in WPA history and his weighty contributions to the organisation and to the pet industry as a whole, the WPA Board awarded him with WPA’s highest honor, the Matsui Award.
Poindexter will remain at the helm of WPA until the end of December and will serve in an as-needed capacity moving forward.
“I’m extremely proud of how SuperZoo has grown over the course of my tenure with WPA,” Poindexter, WPA president said. “I am proud that we have built a reputation for providing industry-leading education and access to products and trends to a growing audience of professionals who are as passionate about animals as we are at WPA.”
The expo’s expansive show floor featured nearly 1,100 exhibitors showcasing thousands of innovative products for animal lovers, including 850 new products never seen before their debut at SuperZoo.
Next year’s SuperZoo will be held earlier in the year to accommodate a growing exhibitor list. It will offer added show floor space and allow for easier access to hotel rooms in the busy Las Vegas area by having 30 percent more rooms available on property. SuperZoo 2018 will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, June 26-28, with education June 25-27. Registration is expected to open by January 2018.
