Dallas, TX, May 18, 2006--Hanley Wood Exhibitions has launched StonExpo East, in response to a need the stone industry has voiced for a western and eastern event.
The show, which is slated for March 23-25, 2007 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, will take place in addition to the annual StonExpo event in Las Vegas.
Based on the success of the record-setting 2005 show in Las Vegas, StonExpo has undoubtedly positioned itself as the industry event. In 2007, it will be especially important that the industry has its show in the east.
The introduction of StonExpo East, which will take place biannually starting in 2007, will fill a void and satisfy the needs of both manufacturers and stone professionals across the country.
"When Hanley Wood purchased StonExpo, the industry feedback was that there was the need for a stone show in the western U.S. and one in the east," says Michelle Troop, senior show director, StonExpo. "Now that StonExpo 2005 has solidified itself as the stone show in the west, we are prepared to fill the void in the east.
"The support for this additional show has been significant and we look forward to delivering exactly what the industry has asked us for," Troop added.
"The Marble Institute is excited about the introduction of StonExpo East, and we will strongly support it," says Gary Distelhorst, executive vice pPresident, Marble Institute of America, StonExpo's Official Sponsor. "This venue in the eastern U.S. will allow East Coast-based members and prospective members to more affordably participate in the industry's finest stone show, take advantage of the industry's most comprehensive educational offerings and network with the industry's most successful professionals.
"The MIA will be very active at StonExpo East by holding a Board of Directors meeting, hosting a reception for members and briefing the industry on the activities and plans of the association. We believe this is another solid, progressive move to strengthen, solidify and improve the natural stone industry."
StonExpo East 2007 will provide the industry with the same ideal networking environment as the StonExpo Las Vegas event. More than 200 exhibiting companies will participate in StonExpo East 2007, showing the latest stone products, machinery and technologies to 5,000-plus fabricators, installers, architects, designers, distributors, builders, retailers and kitchen and bath specialists.
The show will also feature the education StonExpo attendees are accustomed to. Through a comprehensive conference program led by industry experts and live, how-to stone installation demonstrations on the show floor, attendees will get the latest information, tools and techniques they need to keep their businesses on top.
Manufacturers are already on board with StonExpo East and support the additional event to serve the industry's growing needs.
"No show has been as consistently good for us as StonExpo," says Peter Edwards, Eurostone Machine, a division of Pyramid Supply. "And now having an eastern and western StonExpo show will be all that we need."
"At the time Hanley Wood purchased StonExpo, they were asked to look at the possibility of both an east and west show," says Peter T. de Kok, president, GranQuartz. "And now, with Las Vegas in November 2006 and Atlanta in March 2007, they have fulfilled their promise. GranQuartz supports the new StonExpo East show."
Joel Forker, president, Sawing Systems, adds: "We will be participating in StonExpo East in Atlanta. We will choose this event over others that might compete."
