Biggest trade show a hit before opening

Press, 6 May 1978, Page 14

Biggest trade show a hit before opening

By John Hutchison in Los Angeles

The biggest trade fair ever mounted overseas by New Zealand, is already almost fully subscribed by exhibitors, although it is still five months away. “There is room for only a few more," said Mr Jeremy Spanjaard, trade commissioner at the New Zealand Consulate-General in Los Angeles. “We have allocated space to about 100 firms and, although we have arranged for additional facilities, they, too, are almost all taken.”

The New Zealand Trade Exposition will be held on October 6 to 11 in the Los Angeles Convention Centre. It will be the first ail-NeW Zealand trade exhibition ever staged in the United States.

Mr Spanjaard said that a hall providing 22305 q. m had already proved inadequate, and an adjoining hall has been acquired to add another 1100 sq. m.

The exhibit was designed by Mr Rory Hoy, chief of the design section of the Department of Trade and Industry. He arrived in Los Angeles recently to inspect the space. His design will be brought to reality by American builders.

“They were delighted by the quality of the New Zealand design,” said Mr Spanjaard, “and consider it superior to many plans for similar exhibits they have seen here.” A staff of about 12 trade officials will serve the show in addition to the many New Zealand business representatives expected to present their wares. The exhibitions manager will be Mr Mervyn Missen, who is in charge of the trade-promo-tion section of the department. Also expected is Miss Elizabeth Lash of that department, as well as officials on loan from other New Zealand trade offices in North America. “And we will need from six to a dozen New Zealand girls to help as hostesses at the show,” Mr Spanjaard said. The office in Los Angeles will negotiate with the United

States Government for work permits for their temporary employment in America. An American public-re-lations firm will be employed soon to promote the exhibit among American importers and distributors. Fifty thousand brochures are being mailed to such potential customers throughout the American West and Hawaii. Categories of exhibitors who have signed up for the show are building materials and hardware, furniture and furniture components, textiles and apparel, gifts and toys, marine equipment, sporting goods and processed foods.