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2010 Mid-Am Trade Show Sees Increase in Buyers February 10, 2010 |
WAUCONDA, IL- The Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show (Mid-Am) realized a respectable 2.3-percent gain in buyer registrations at the 2010 trade show, which was held January 20 through 22 at McCormick Place West in Chicago, Illinois. Total registration was 7,931 with 5,972 buyers, 1,546 exhibitors, and 413 others.
Of the buyers, more than 32-percent were owners or corporate officials and nearly 28-percent were managers or supervisors. The well-qualified audience of industry professionals revealed that nearly 46-percent of the companies performed landscape services, including landscape design, tree care, irrigation, hardscape installation, and park and golf course maintenance, more than 15-percent were growers, more than 15-percent were suppliers, and over 9-percent were retailers.
Revealing that Mid-Am—like other industry trade shows—was not immune to recent challenging economic conditions the show featured a smaller show floor with 303 industry companies covering 61,500 square feet. The Mid-Am website at www.midam.org includes the names and contact information for all exhibitors that participated in the show in January. The list of 2010 exhibitors will remain on the website until preparations for the 2011 trade show begin this fall.
The Mid-Am educational conferences presented by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) and the Illinois Green Industry Association (IGIA) included the Pre-Conference Workshop with 107 registrants and the Midwinter Conference with 570 registrants. More than 60 registrants participated in the Mentoring Roundtable, which provided a forum for industry business owners and managers to discuss hot topics with experts and veterans in the green industry. Mid-Am 2010 also featured free educational sessions including the IGIA Irrigation Education sessions, the Chicago Trees Initiative: A Public and Private Partnership panel discussion, and on-the-show-floor education in the Sustainability Zone. For more information on the educational programs and classes offered at Mid-Am 2010 visit the website at www.midam.org.
In addition, Mid-Am’s three sponsor organizations, IGIA, ILCA, and the Wisconsin Green Industry Federation (WGIF) hosted hundreds of horticultural industry professionals at the Mid-Am Mixer on Thursday evening, January 21.
Not included in the total registration were 579 students who attended the trade show and the Student Career Center on Friday, January 22. Twenty-two industry employers participated in the 2010 Student Career Center to talk with full-time horticulture students about prospective employment opportunities.
Plans now focus toward the 2011 Mid-Am Trade Show, which will move to Navy Pier in Chicago, and is scheduled for January 19 through 21, 2011. Exhibit space selection for Mid-Am 2011 will start in early spring. Visit the Mid-Am website for more information as it becomes available or contact Mid-Am at mail@midam.org.
The Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show is sponsored by the Illinois Green Industry Association (IGIA), the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), and the Wisconsin Green Industry Federation (WGIF). Mid-Am is governed by a Board of Directors, which directs the show, its programs and activities. Mid-Am was developed by green industry professionals, for green industry professionals. Unlike for-profit trade shows, proceeds from the show go back to IGIA, ILCA, and WGIF to support a sustainable green industry.
For more information, contact Mid-Am at 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214, Wauconda, Illinois 60084 USA. Phone: 847/526-2010; fax: 847/526-3993; mail@midam.org; www.midam.org.
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Mid-Am Trade Show Floor (click photo for larger image) |
Mid-Am Board of Directors From left to right: Steve Fiore, Terry Kurth, Carsten Hoffmeyer, Jim Melka, Richard Harms, Barb Rosborough, Dave Story and Bill Vogel (click photo for larger image) |
Additional photos available upon request.
| Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show | Media Contact: |
| 1000 N. Rand Rd. | Nancy Molenda, Communications Manager |
| Suite 214 | E-mail: nmolenda@tso.net |
| Wauconda, IL 60051 | Phone: 847.526.2010 ext. 227 |
| www.midam.org | Fax: 847.526.3993 |
