Preparing for Global Pet Expo 2018

The beginning of the year marks the start of a brand new season of pet trade shows and industry events all year long. One of the most anticipated events of the pet industry is none other than Global Pet Expo, and the show is expected to be big as ever in 2018.

In 2017, there were over 6,700 buyers, 1,130 exhibitors, and over 16,600 total attendees at the event. This year, APPA expects over 1,100 exhibitors, 7,000 buyers, 3,400 booths, and over 3,000 new products on the show floor.

Why Global Pet Expo 2018?

Global Pet Expo is an international coming together of pet industry professionals from all over the globe. It offers a chance for pet businesses to get an edge up on competition by being educated on current market trends, business guidelines, the latest products and services available to them, and networking opportunities.

According to Annie Rotberg, Director of Attendee Services for APPA and Global Pet Expo, "Global Pet Expo provides tools to grow your business and knowledge to be relevant at a very competitive time." At the show, you will be able to:

Discover value and explore the variety of products to keep your product lines fresh for your customers
Find new products that reflect emerging technologies and the growing awareness of functional health benefits of pet food
Connect face-to-face with decision makers and the innovators who have brought these exciting products to market
Experience comparison shopping with new and familiar vendors who bring their complete product lines for you to consider
Take time to be inspired by a superlative line-up of educational seminars (like these). Topics are designed to provide insight and ideas related to opportunities and challenges in today's competitive marketplace

Preparing for a Trade Show

To get the most out of a pet trade show such as Global Pet Expo, follow these steps:

Plan out your days - This includes having a clear strategy (and goal) in mind for your attendance and doing your homework on products, exhibitors, and seminars ahead of time.
Schedule meetings with exhibitors - Pick a few of the top vendors you must see at the event and reach out to them ahead of time to schedule a meeting. This will help you plan your timeline and make sure you see the most important vendors.
Be realistic about your budget - While it might be tempting to write purchase orders for every cute pet stroller and cat toy you see, holding back and having a clear view of your budget will help ensure you don't overspend.
Be social with networks and networking - With the Internet, there are multiple ways to stay up to date with the latest market trends and business strategies these days. A huge part of Global Pet Expo is being able to meet and visit with people you wouldn't otherwise see. Note: be on the lookout for these ten types of people you'll meet at pet trade shows!
Have a smart plan for post pet trade show email correspondence - Once you get home, it's likely that you'll have a large number on your email notification bubble. Be smart with how you follow up; respond only to the vendors who are offering assistance and guidance, rather than just trying to sell you the next "Uber for dog treats" (whatever that means).

Planning for Global Pet Expo

As mentioned previously, it's smart to begin the planning process for Global Pet Expo ahead of time. There are a variety of resources you can use to get started. The sooner, the better!

Learn About the Show

Register for Global

Registration Page

Book Your Hotel

Book through onPeak (deadline March 6, 2018)

Get Childcare Onsite

Childcare options

Reflect on Global Pet Expo 2017

Let's Go to Global!

All Points Marketing and a few of our top brands will be present at the show! If you'd like to make an appointment with one of us or our brands, schedule an appointment here.