28 September 2000



Pet Index 2001 Back On Course

Pet Index, the pet industry business opportunities exhibition is set to take place in April next year as planned.

Scotching recent rumours about the future of the 2001 expo following financial difficulties experienced by partners The Dog World, Nick Grierson, CEO the Pet Care Trust (PCT) has announced that the PCT board voted unanimously to buy up full ownership of Pet Index.

He said:

"I am pleased to say that the Pet Care Trust is now in full ownership of the show, it is going ahead and manuals will be going out next week to all previous exhibitors."

For bookings contact:

Tel: 01234 273 933 or mail: info@petorg.co.uk
(note that this replaces the contact information given on the Pet Index web-site)

Following complaints at last year's exhibition about disturbances caused to some exhibitors close to the events ring, that part of the event is to be dropped and will be replaced by a new, educational 'Wall Of Life'.

Essentially this is to be an avenue at the back of the exhibition attended by experts who will be displaying best practices to retailers and pet owners in fields of animal care.

Mr Grierson said:

"I think some people may have got away from the focus of what we do which is of course 'pets'. It is in the interest of the pet shop owner to ensure that their customers receive the right information and look after their pets responsibly."

"After all there is little profit in the sale of animals, income is made from the ongoing sale of everything that comes with owning them."

Operations for Pet Index are being dealt with in-house by the PCT which is currently looking to recruit a sales manager for the exhibition. Discussions are going on with a number of main flagship companies many of whom have not exhibited at the show for some time.

Mr Grierson, who attended the recent GLEE expo said that he spoke to 45 companies of whom he said:

"Thirty-eight have said they are going to exhibit at Pet Index this year, indications are better than expected."

In recent years attendance at the show has been falling away so the trust is planning a drive to increase this over the coming months.

Although the contract with Birmingham NEC is due to expire in 2002, Nick Grierson stressed that:

"We have plans to seriously invest in Pet Index in the future."

The trust is carrying out consultation exercises with members and the rest of the industry to find out what is most needed and how best to improve the content of the exhibition.

Costs to exhibitors:

Floor Space Only: £100/sqm
Shell Space: £120/sqm

There is a discount of 5% to PCT members.



Copyright 2000 Steve O'Malley (UKPets).
This article may be reproduced with permission of the author and correct attribution to the source.