Backer Offers ExpoPlanner
H.H. Backer Associates Inc. (Chicago) recently added the ExpoPlanner product and exhibitor locator to its Web site to help pet retailers get the most out of the popular trade shows and navigate the exhibit halls more efficiently. Backer also will provide ExpoPlanner kiosks at its 39th Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show, Oct. 7-9 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago), Ill...

Zoomark Draws Attendees From 74 Countries
More than 20,000 pet industry professionals from a record 74 countries attended Zoomark International 2005, a biennial exhibition of products and accessories for pets, held May 5-8 in Bologna, Italy...

More Than 25,000 Visit Aquarama
Aquarama 2005 attracted more than 5,000 industry members and nearly 21,000 general visitors when it took place May 26-29 at the Singapore Expo in Singapore...

Pet Food Sales Show Modest Growth
Pet food sales totaled $10.7 billion at the manufacturer level in 2003, up a modest 3.6 percent from 2002 levels, according to new reports from Business Trend Analysts (Commack, N.Y.)...

Retail Sales Down in May
A new committee charged with regulating the “sale, exchange and donation of Retail sales declined more than expected in May, pulled down in part by weaker sales at department stores and non-store retailers, according to data from the U.S. Commerce Department...

To Build Customer Loyalty, One Size Doesn't Always Fit All
Retailers may watch customers walk out the door—perhaps for good—if they fail to differentiate themselves in terms of services, products, store atmosphere and customer service, according to a new survey of American shoppers by IBM (Somers, N.Y.)...

Wealthy Gen Xers Pay More for Luxury Items
Gen Xers are more invested in the material trappings of wealth than other generational groups, spending lavishly on luxury goods and services when they can, according to a survey by American Express Co. (New York)...

Florida Emergency Shelter Is Pet-Friendly
South Floridians seeking safe shelter from hurricanes now have somewhere to take their pets as well, thanks to a partnership between The Petco Foundation (San Gabriel, Calif.), The Humane Society of the United States (Washington) and the Humane Society of Broward County...

Show Producers Form Alliance
Representatives from three leading international pet trade expositions met in May to lay the groundwork for an alliance that will serve the pet supplies market and promote responsible pet ownership...

San Francisco Gift Fair Launches Pet Division
The San Francisco International Gift Fair will include a new PetStyle division featuring a wide range of pet gifts when the show’s doors open to buyers Aug. 6-10 at the Moscone Center and Concourse Exhibit Hall in San Francisco...