Statement Supporting Consolidation of North American Building Products Trade Shows
The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute® (“PMI”), the national trade association of manufacturers of plumbing fittings and fixtures, is increasingly concerned over the excessive number, duplication and fragmentation of domestic trade shows displaying plumbing products. This situation imposes inefficiencies on exhibitors and attendees.
PMI believes trade show consolidation is a necessity. It believes trade show consolidation should evolve toward the presentation of plumbing products in a single, large annual North American trade show. The requisite organizational and planning skills to promptly achieve this trade show consolidation already exist among the individual sponsors of the current trade shows – only the will to consolidate is missing.
Consolidation would benefit everyone: those organizations currently sponsoring shows; current and potential exhibitors, large and small; and, attendees. Assuming increased size and easily accessible U.S. locations, a single show should attract thousands of additional attendees, including the important international visitors. Increased attendance and show participation of this magnitude would generate sufficient exhibitor and attendance revenue to satisfy all interests.
For these reasons, PMI strongly recommends that the sponsors of existing building industry trade shows seriously and promptly consider cosponsoring a meaningful consolidation of industry trade shows.
Revised Statement Approved at the Fall 2005 PMI Meeting