Global Pet Expo: Everything Under One Woof

If your business is all about that Pug Life, and you think four-legged furry ones are claw-some, then there’s a good chance you’ll be attending a pet expo this year. Pet Expos are the ideal place to promote your animal and pet products and network with other pet industry professionals. After all, the best place to stay current on all things pet is a trade show just for our furry friends.

There are several global pet expos throughout the year that allow you to exhibit product launches and product showcases to independent retailers, distributors, and mass market buyers. Here’s what you need to know as an exhibitor at a global pet expo.

What is a Global Pet Expo?

A global pet expo is a large industry event that focuses on new products, innovative pet products, educational opportunities, speaking events, and has lots of exhibitors and buyers! Some pet expos are closed to the public, and only allow retailers, distributors, buyers, and pet product professionals, while some are open to the general public and allow all of the above plus everyday pet lovers and families. Global pet expos are the largest, featuring thousands of the following:

• Exhibitors
• Booths
• Buyers
• New product launches

And nearly every type of pet has a place, including:

• Dogs
• Cats
• Birds
• Fish
• Reptiles
• Small animals
• Horses

How do I Become a Vendor for a Global Pet Expo?

Pet expos require an application before considering you for a spot at their facility. Some expos are less stringent about what is required before approving a vendor but others make it mandatory to be a member of certain organizations. For example, manufacturers can be required to be a member of the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and distributors can be required to be a member of the Industry Distributors Association (PIDA).

Tips for Global Pet Expo Vendors

If it’s your first time exhibiting, or you are just looking for some new ideas, here are a few things you can do to make the most of your time at an expo:

• Grab their attention: It can be hard to stand out among hundreds of vendors, let alone thousands. Everyone loves something that is free though, so giveaways, drawings, and freebies all can bring attendees to your booth. Of course, a cute, fuzzy animal also helps to bring over petting hands.
• Use your ears: Listen to what your potential customer wants and needs and figure out how your product or service can help them. Then discuss the benefits that you can offer them, and how that will affect them in the future.
• Wear comfortable shoes: Stand as much as possible and engage attendees as they walk by. Sitting is passive and can make you seem uninterested in being there, so if you have to sit, sit away from your booth and not behind your table.
• Focus on the task at hand: Keep your goal of getting new customers in mind the entire expo and don’t stray even for a minute. This means no idle conversations with non-potential customers, no eating while representing your brand, and staying off your phone (unless it’s customer related). Along those lines, make sure there is always someone at your booth to assist attendees.
• Be diligent with your follow up: Contact new email subscribers within one week to thank them for speaking with you and signing up to receive more information about your product or service. If an attendee placed an order, fill it right away. You want the new customer, or potential customer, to keep you in mind for when your business can come in handy to them.

The Biggest (and Best) Pet Expos

By now you know that you want to attend a pet expo, but how do you know which ones to target?
Global Pet Expo – Orlando, Florida
The largest annual trade show in the pet industry and has the best and brightest pet products currently on the market, or about to be released to the market. It is only open to pet businesses and professionals, not the general public. Trade Show Executive Magazine has ranked the Orlando Global Pet Expo as one of the top 100 trade shows in the nation and it features more than 1,000 companies from across the globe. All types of pets are represented and a special emphasis is placed on new products.
America’s Family Pet Expo – Costa Mesa, California
The world’s largest consumer pet expo and is open to the public. It is held at the Orange County Fair and Event Center and features over 1,000 animals with many family fun activities, such as:

• Reptile show
• Dog events
• Police K-9 demonstrations
• Cat program
• Bird show
• Kid’s aquarium contest

It should be noted that this event does not allow attendee’s pets in the facility but there are a variety of adoption groups as exhibitors in which you can look for your own preferred pet.
Most large pet expos have their own websites that give details on the event, like the dates, location, schedule, floor plan, registration, and nearby hotels.

Need Help with your Pet Expo Logistics?

R+L Global Logistics can you help you throughout the entire process of getting to and from your trade show. We’ll take care of the hard stuff so you can focus on what’s most important – presenting and selling your product! Our trade show logistics services include:

• Domestic and international shipping
• Air freight and expedited ground
• Truckload and less than truckload (LTL) shipping
• Warehousing and storage
• Packaging and crating
• Shipment tracking
• White glove and debris removal
• 24/7 live support

We know how important your trade show presentation is to you, and we know we can handle the logistics with an expert touch. We can assist you at any point in the trade show booth shipping process, whether it’s packaging, warehousing, tracking, transportation, or anything unexpected that may occur. Contact us through chat, email, or a phone call at 866-415-8986 so we can start handling your trade show shipping and pet expo needs.