GIE+EXPO (the Green Industry & Equipment Expo) and Hardscape North America (HNA) will co-locate in Louisville again in 2015.
The two shows, to be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, will draw industry members worldwide Wednesday through Friday, October 21-23, 2015.
GIE+EXPO is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS). HNA is produced by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) and endorsed by the Brick Industry Association and National Concrete Masonry Association.
The presence of HNA not only offers expanded education, a fast-paced hardscape Installer Championship and business growth opportunities for the thousands of lawn and landscape professionals who attend GIE+EXPO, but also provides benefits for the design-build contractors, distributors, dealers, architects and engineers who participate in Hardscape North America.
Glenn Switzer with Switzer's Nursery and Landscaping in Northfield, MN, said, "Having HNA and GIE+EXPO in one location works to everyone's advantage. It allows you to peek into the other side and find even more products and ideas to help your business grow. The opportunity to see equipment in action is important. Comparing what's new is vital to making purchasing decisions."
GIE+EXPO offers participants a long list of features and benefits together in one centrally located venue:
- 750 exhibits showcasing their latest innovations in 700,000-sq.-ft. - indoors and out. The 19-acre Outdoor Demonstration Area will be open Thursday and Friday during the show.
- New this year: The GO EXPO and GO HNA apps will be available in August. Attendees will be able to access the exhibitor list & floor plan, search by product, plan their schedules and contact exhibitors directly from the app. All who download one of the apps and login will be entered to win $5,000. The apps are sponsored by Gravely.
- A Dealer Day preview for dealers, distributors, retailers and media on Wednesday. The tradeshow will be open Thursday and Friday to all in the industry.
- The Dealer Resource Pavilion will combine education for dealership owners and managers, training and certification for technicians, a dealer-only lounge and Internet Café, information on managing a profitable parts and service department, as well as networking among dealers from around North America.
- New this year: Attendees will have the opportunity to attend Latino Link - a series of seminars presented by the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance (NHLA). The series targets three GIE+EXPO audiences: a breakfast session for dealers, three seminars for owners and managers of landscape businesses and two Spanish-language sessions for members of the Hispanic workforce.
- Additional educational opportunities for dealers include a three-session Dealer Summit offering tips on using social media to grow your business, manufacturer forecasting and dealers sharing best-practice advice.
- GIE+EXPO Workshops feature ten informative sessions for landscapers, including tracks on hardscapes and snow & ice management.
- By attending one of the two hardscape-related GIE+EXPO Workshops on Thursday, attendees will gain admission to six hours of hardscape installation demonstrations in the HNA Outdoor Arena tent. The HNA demonstrations can also be accessed with a $25 registration upgrade.
- New Products Showcase featuring exhibitors' latest innovations.
- Three free concerts featuring chart-topping entertainers - Grand Funk Railroad with From Paris on Wednesday, Kellie Pickler with The Crashers on Thursday and The Rigbys with Lyndsey Henken on Friday.
- Giveaways, including a $5,000 drawing sponsored by STIHL Inc. during the Dealer Day reception on Wednesday and a $10,000 Fabulous Friday Giveaway sponsored by Belgard Hardscapes. One lucky winner will be drawn at 4:00 p.m., and the winner must be present to win. To be eligible, register for GIE+EXPO. An entry form will be mailed along with badges and will include instructions for returning it on-site.
Show Director Warren Sellers commented, "With the combination of new products, exciting exhibitor-sponsored events, educational opportunities and the co-location of HNA, GIE+EXPO is an extremely valuable business investment for exhibitors and attendees alike."
Pre-registration for a three-day pass to the tradeshow is only $15 per person until September 10. Beginning September 11 the fee will increase to $30. The tradeshow admission for those who wait to register onsite will be $60.
To register online, go to www.gie-expo.com. Additional details about the show are available on the website or by contacting Sellers Expositions at 800-558-8767/812-949-9200.
Other contact points: Facebook, info@gie-expo.com, Twitter @GIE_EXPO.
