 |
 |
| Carol Daus - Editor |
If colder-than-usual winter temperatures are dragging you down, you should plan to attend this year’s HPBExpo in Orlando, Florida, on March 10–13. Not only will you get a lift from the Sunshine State’s mild weather, but you’ll be energized by attending a show with over 450 exhibitors and 11, 000 attendees. HPBExpo showcases the latest and most innovative technologies, designs, and products in the marketplace, and it also provides attendees with numerous opportunities for networking and education.
One of the show’s most popular attractions is its New Product Pavilion. Now in its fourth year, the pavilion displays innovative year-round products that will appeal to your customers. Two such products that are sure to attract attention are DiversiTech’s Gas Grill Splatter Mat™ (a high-margin, durable mat that protects the surface under a grill from grease and sauce drippings) and WoodPellets.com’s Pellet Pod (a bulk–wood-pellet transfer device that automatically conveys pellets from a storage unit to a bucket installed near a pellet stove).
Debuting at this year’s HPBExpo is the Green Pavilion, which will showcase some of the greenest products in the industry. The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association and its members have worked hard to educate consumers on how products in our industry play an important role in protecting the environment, both indoors and outdoors. Another popular exhibit is the outdoor burn area, which features hundreds of wood-, gas-, and pellet-burning fireplaces, stoves, and grills.
To help you grow sales, improve business efficiency, and strengthen technical competence, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Education Foundation will offer its 2010 HPBExpo Education Passport Program at the show. Over 40 classes and seminars will address topics of special interest to retailers in the hearth, barbecue/grill, and outdoor-living industries. Attendees can also earn continuing-education units for National Fireplace Institute Certification renewal. Here is just a sampling of classes offered this year:
- “Integrated Software Tools for the Busy Retailer”;
- “Retrofitting Biomass Forced Air Furnaces/ Biomass Boilers Into Existing Homes”;
- “Marketing the Affordable Outdoor Kitchen and Other Outdoor Rooms”;
- “The Art of Sales”;
- “Communicating With Confidence, Composure, and Courage”;
- “Nuts, Bolts, and Tongs”;
- “Troubleshooting Electronic Ignitions”;
- “UL 1618 and What It Means for Retailers”;
- “Pellet Appliance 101 & 102”;
- “Electric Grills: Shocking Ways to Cook Your Meat and Make Money Selling Them”;
- “The Hearth Check System for Home Pressure Testing”; and
- “Professional Service Is Profitable: Developing and Managing a Profitable Service and Installation Department.”
With all these educational offerings and the opportunity to meet with other retailers and manufacturers in such a dynamic environment, you cannot afford to stay home. The cost of attending the show is really a small investment, when you consider what you get in return. Don’t put off registering for this year’s HPBExpo, and take along one or more deserving employees, or your family. You might even want to stay a few extra days to take in Orlando’s many attractions—and here’s a hot tip: Walt Disney World is offering HPBExpo attendees discounted prices on theme-park tickets for admission either prior to or after the show.
We look forward to seeing you at the show!
Carol Daus
Editor
carol@peninsula-media.com
PHPR January/February 2010
|
|
