ABC Kids Expo Relocating to Louisville, KY

All Baby & Child (ABC) has decided to move its ABC Kids Expo trade show for juvenile products to Louisville, Ky., in 2011 and 2012, the organization announced at the ABC Spring Education Conference held last week. The show—which has been held annually in Las Vegas since its inception in 2003—will take place at the Kentucky Exposition Center, and ABC has the option to keep the show there through 2015. “We look forward to having a long-term relationship with the city of Louisville,” said Ken Goore, chairman of the ABC board.

Larry Schur, ABC president and show director, noted that Louisville’s central location and hospitality makes it a natural fit for the show, adding that the city will be more affordable for attendees requiring hotel stays, not to mention the show itself, which will save on the costs of labor and space. ABC expects the Louisville shows will require approximately 800,000 square feet of space, highlighting juvenile products for newborns to tweens including baby gear, toys, furniture, bedding, room décor, and more.

The Louisville dates are scheduled for Sept. 23-26, 2011, and Oct. 14-17, 2012. This year’s edition will remain at the Las Vegas Convention Center, running Sept. 13-16. Visit www.theabcshow.com.

In This Issue: Earnshaw’s annual report on the growth of the industry Understanding the grandparent demographic An update on the state of e-commerce Plus: Infant and toddler fashion Coming Next Month: Preschool properties that translate into consumer products success Retailers reveal the power of accessories The sports licensing report Plus: Character-based apparel