Premier Hospitality Design Boutique Show a Hit
October 29, 2003
MIAMI BEACH, Florida - Over 2000 attendees and 160 exhibitors swarmed to the premier HD Boutique trade show on October 1 and 2, acclaiming it as a long-awaited boon to the hospitality design industry.
Over the course of the two-day conference, vendors hawked their latest - and oft-Florida-themed - wares, attended seminars, reunited with clients and befriended new ones.
''We've already signed up for next year,'' said Richloom's Rocco Tallarita on day one while catering to a crowd of customers.
''I think it's amazing,'' said Frank Caruso of Quality and Company, whose spotted fuchsia wall designs attracted enormous attention. ''The response has been incredible. People are asking us now if we can come do walls.''
Participants praised the conference's small size, saying it was not only more conducive to conducting business, but was also easier on the feet.
''It gives the buyers more opportunities to talk with the vendors,'' said Andy Spiteri of Sherwood Vacation Ownership as he browsed the wares at the Delta Furniture booth. ''By this time in Vegas my feet would be so tired I'd have to go back to the hotel room.'' The show's small size also allowed for lengthy schmoozing.
Devoted clients took time to chat up their suppliers and exchange hugs and kisses. ''These guys are great!'' shrieked R.K. Designs Principal Tirzah Roger as she paused to hug exhibitor Darren DeMatoff at the Gold Leaf Design Group booth he was manning with partner Alan Howze.
''That's cool, very South Beach!'' exclaimed Marcy Rothman of Encore Textiles as she stood gaping at Richloom's latest merchandise. ''Very cool, all of those.'' While gawking at the aquatic textile display featuring fish, shells, anemones and starfish, Rothman illuminated the key to her 17-year partnership with Richloom: ''They're the best!'' she said.
Many exhibitors said the boutique show inspired them to pull out of the International Hotel and Restaurant Show at the monstrous Javits Center in New York.
''It's a great show, but it's so much,'' said Delta Furniture's David Sefkind. ''If you're specifying furniture you don't wanna see the towels, the ovens...'' Sefkind said he attends the New York show, but exhibits just in Vegas and Florida.
Still others preferred HD Boutique's sunny location to its northern counterpart. ''It's so much nicer to come to South Beach than it is to [come to] cold, wet rainy New York City,'' said Design Origins's Leslie Temples.
The only audible complaint was that the show should have run longer. Some exhibitors worried that the 12 to 4 p.m. timeslot they were allotted to promote their wares would be insufficient.
''I wish they had the hours a little bit longer, but if it's a concentrated eight hours where we see a lot of people, then it's worth it,'' said Martin Berardy of Van Teal, Inc. ''Hopefully people won't be lying out on the beach.''
But by the show's end, many vendors said they fared far better than they would expect even at a large show.
Ryan Stewart, sales representative for Eurofase, pointed to a hefty pile of receipts cluttering the floor of his booth. ''Normally there's a large volume and not much business,'' he said, adding that the hordes of customers he attracted at HD Boutique motivated him to sign up on the spot for next year. ''It's the quality of the clientele.''
Over the course of the two-day conference, vendors hawked their latest - and oft-Florida-themed - wares, attended seminars, reunited with clients and befriended new ones.
''We've already signed up for next year,'' said Richloom's Rocco Tallarita on day one while catering to a crowd of customers.
''I think it's amazing,'' said Frank Caruso of Quality and Company, whose spotted fuchsia wall designs attracted enormous attention. ''The response has been incredible. People are asking us now if we can come do walls.''
Participants praised the conference's small size, saying it was not only more conducive to conducting business, but was also easier on the feet.
''It gives the buyers more opportunities to talk with the vendors,'' said Andy Spiteri of Sherwood Vacation Ownership as he browsed the wares at the Delta Furniture booth. ''By this time in Vegas my feet would be so tired I'd have to go back to the hotel room.'' The show's small size also allowed for lengthy schmoozing.
Devoted clients took time to chat up their suppliers and exchange hugs and kisses. ''These guys are great!'' shrieked R.K. Designs Principal Tirzah Roger as she paused to hug exhibitor Darren DeMatoff at the Gold Leaf Design Group booth he was manning with partner Alan Howze.
''That's cool, very South Beach!'' exclaimed Marcy Rothman of Encore Textiles as she stood gaping at Richloom's latest merchandise. ''Very cool, all of those.'' While gawking at the aquatic textile display featuring fish, shells, anemones and starfish, Rothman illuminated the key to her 17-year partnership with Richloom: ''They're the best!'' she said.
Many exhibitors said the boutique show inspired them to pull out of the International Hotel and Restaurant Show at the monstrous Javits Center in New York.
''It's a great show, but it's so much,'' said Delta Furniture's David Sefkind. ''If you're specifying furniture you don't wanna see the towels, the ovens...'' Sefkind said he attends the New York show, but exhibits just in Vegas and Florida.
Still others preferred HD Boutique's sunny location to its northern counterpart. ''It's so much nicer to come to South Beach than it is to [come to] cold, wet rainy New York City,'' said Design Origins's Leslie Temples.
The only audible complaint was that the show should have run longer. Some exhibitors worried that the 12 to 4 p.m. timeslot they were allotted to promote their wares would be insufficient.
''I wish they had the hours a little bit longer, but if it's a concentrated eight hours where we see a lot of people, then it's worth it,'' said Martin Berardy of Van Teal, Inc. ''Hopefully people won't be lying out on the beach.''
But by the show's end, many vendors said they fared far better than they would expect even at a large show.
Ryan Stewart, sales representative for Eurofase, pointed to a hefty pile of receipts cluttering the floor of his booth. ''Normally there's a large volume and not much business,'' he said, adding that the hordes of customers he attracted at HD Boutique motivated him to sign up on the spot for next year. ''It's the quality of the clientele.''
