Trade Show Scheduling

Reading, PA is the place to be for all comic fans from around the globe. The CGS SuperShow is a creator focused comic convention created by the Comic Geek Speak Podcast to provide an intimate setting for self-proclaimed geeks to meet each other and the creators of the medium they love.

This year’s show will offer educational panels on everything from making web comics to costuming to the production, distribution and marketing of independent comic books. The panels will allow fans an opportunity to get up close and personal with comic creators. The show will start off with a “Comics in the Classroom” panel where you can come for an interactive opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and gain practical skills and materials for immediate use.

A featured panel will provide a Q&A session with comics’ legends Walt and Louise Simonson who helped define comics in the 1980s and 90s with titles such as Fantastic Four, Thor, Superman: Man of Steel, and Uncanny X-Men. Also featured will be Jimal Igle, currently penciler of Supergirl for DC Comics; Freddie Williams II, currently drawing JSA All-Stars for DC Comics; David Petersen, creator of Mouse Guard; Katie Cook, comic book artist and illustrator best known for her work in the Star Wars universe; Bryan J.L. Glass, the Harvey Award winning co-creator/writer of The Mice Templar; Dave Wachter, artist, co-creator and co-writer of the new epic adventure webcomic, The Guns of Shadow Valley; and many more.

The CGS SuperShow will be held March 27,28, 2010 at the Greater Reading Expo Center, 2525 N. 12^th St., Reading, PA 19605. For more information you can visit their web site at http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/supershow. Mail: 528 N. Wyomissing Blvd., Wyomissing, PA 19610. Voice Mail: (215) 279-8839. Twitter: comicgeekspeak. Email: comicgeekspeak@gmail.com.

The 6^th edition of World Floral Expo will be held in Miami, Florida March 9-11, 2010 for the U.S. floral wholesaler and high volume retailer to showcase the latest developments and novelties in the world floral industry. This expo is open to qualified buyers only – wholesale distributors and mass market buyers such as supermarkets and retail chain stores.

World Floral Expo will feature flower breeders displaying their newest developed varieties, growers displaying their best flower production and floral suppliers displaying their newest products. A team of seven top flower designers from Holland will give flower demonstrations to the buyers in the show.

Five keynote speakers from American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Armellini Express Lines, Liege Airport from Belgium and the Logistic Flower Center from Ecuador will hold an interactive forum in the East Hall of the Doubletree Miami Mart Airport Hotel/Convention Center. The forum will discuss the role of cargo in the flower industry.

A party will be held after the close of the first day of the trade show. It will be held in the swimming pool area of the Exhibition hotel where exhibitors and visitors can socialize. Prize award winners will be announced for Best Booth Design, Best Grower, Best Breeder, Best Country Display, Best Perishable Novelty and Best Non Perishable Novelty.

The World Floral Expo will take place March 9-11, 2010 at the Doubletree Miami Mart Hotel, 711 N.W. 72^nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33126. For registration and more information you can visit their web site at http://www.hppexhibitions.com/floriculture/2010/wfe.

Wineries Unlimited is the nation’s second largest vineyard and winery conference and trade show. This year it will be presenting two of the most creative wine marketing consultants in the country during two days of programming: Elizabeth Slater of InShort Marketing and Paul Wagner of Balzac Communications. They will conduct five hours of sessions that address the background issues of marketing theory and provide insight into the U.S. wine market.

Wineries Unlimited offers four days of seminars conducted by renowned specialists from the North American wine industry. About 700 exhibitors and 300 exhibitor booths will be featured. A Silent Auction both days of the trade show as well as a Live Auction at the Best of the East Grand Tasting and Gala will benefit scholarship programs of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture’s eastern section.

Attendees will learn how to use a variety of specific tactics and tools as they follow the theme of “Building Community Around Your Brand.” Vintners can determine the most effective means for their specific situations. According to Slater, “It’s important that the wineries are as grounded in marketing and promotion as they are in winemaking and grape growing. Our goal is that every attendee leaves with marketing knowledge they can use today and five years from now.”

Some of the reasons for Eastern wineries to attend include:

• U.S. producers must aggressively market to stay competitive against international producers as U.S. wine consumption rises and the recession continues.
• Distribution is consolidating and the channel is considered increasingly unproductive for small/regional wineries, putting the emphasis on other channels such as tasting rooms, web sales, and wine clubs.
• Wineries need to become comfortable with the means of reaching out to various generational segments as each generation responds to different marketing media and techniques.

Wineries Unlimited will take place March 9-12, 2010 at the Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. For registration and more information you can visit their web site at http://www.wineriesunlimited.com. Attendees can take a virtual tour while those 21 and older can register for a variety of packages including “Trade Show only” passes. Phone registration is available at (866) 483-0172. For general information call: (800) 535-5670.