Should ABC be an open show or not?

A few more readers have expressed their opinions about my September editorial on the idea of opening the ABC Kids Expo to all buyers. Even though they take issue with my views I appreciate the emails from George Gunderson and Mike Schaffer and as a journalist I thoroughly support their right of free speech.

Lisa,

I found your editorial on the ABC Expo to be naive and what we would expect from a Wal-Mart shopper. Why should this format bother you? As you probably already have heard from other independent retailers, the boxes and internet only group has the JPMA and private showings with the vendors. I guess you want Home Depot and Lowes to go to the ACE and True Value Hardware shows. There is more to being an independent then your self righteous article claims. We pride ourselves on being different then the boxes and not carrying the dumb downed items they do. By the way the next time you ask for a survey of independent results and merchandise sold from my store," GO ASK THE BOX STORES FOR HELP!!!" seeing that they are your allies.

George G. Gunderson - Owner
Magic City KIDS - Billings, MT

I stand by the points I made in my editorial. I’m not advocating mass merchants over independent retailers because thankfully we have a free economy and live in a democracy where consumers have a choice of shopping venues. I think independent retailers set themselves apart by their very nature—they’re independent. As I said in my note, “Being different is about you, the owner; it’s about how customers feel in your store; it’s about how you display the merchandise and more importantly it’s about customer service.” I realize the mass merchants and big boxes have private shows. It’s very similar to the furniture and other industries where manufacturers invite their best customers in to preview product before the rest of the world sees it; sometimes the manufacturer even goes so far as to make a slight change in finish, color or design to make a product exclusive to a certain retailer. I understand ABC is a show committed to independent retailers, but as we’ve all witnessed, Internet and mass buyers do get in. Vendors who sell to mass and Internet retailers do exhibit there. I find nothing wrong at all with a vendor having an exclusive showroom or one that sees buyers by appointment only. My point is that the show itself shouldn’t exclude buyers; it should be the responsibility of the manufacturer/vendor.

Dear Lisa,

I was very disappointed with your editorial about the ABC Show. ABC is the largest and most successful Juvenile Products Show in the world. It is also, perhaps not coincidentally, the only show devoted to the needs of the independent specialty store. You should know that the mass merchants and the big boxes have their own private shows, to which no independent retailer has even been invited. It is unfair and, perhaps unintentionally, misleading to suggest that ABC’s exclusivity is a one way street. Times and admission policies can change. What I hope and expect will never change is ABC’s dedication to the independent specialty store, and its commitment to leveling the playing field.

Sincerely,
Michael J. Schaffer
Chairman All Baby and Child, Inc.
President
Creations

Comments

[annie smith]

Lisa, perhaps you should get out of the editorial business to fulfill your latent desire to promote big-box retailing.

[maury allen]

Lisa,
What you fail to take into account is that big-box retailers enter into marketing agreements with manufacturers, thereby narrowing the product offerings to those which the heads of industry choose to make available to the consumer. What you forget is the independent advantage: We buy that which is relevant to our marketplace. While your editorial is merely your small opinion, and really should not be given too much weight, it is frightening that someone who bears witness to the plight of the independent retailer would risk the eventual demise of this retailer by making careless remarks that could be taken seriously.

[Lisa Casinger]

Thank you Maury and Annie for taking the time to comment. It's obvious people feel passionately about this issue and I'm glad Kids Today can provide a forum for this discussion.
Best,
Lisa Casinger
Editor/Kids Today

[Jamie Lentzner]

Ouch - wow, people can be mean. I wonder what any of the vendors that spend hard earned money exhibiting at these shows think. I wish that the 'trade shows' would not only cater to the buyers but also to those of that give blood, sweat and tears making unique original products to be sold - in big stores and small ones. It is very hard for us 'little guys' to spend upwards of $7000 to $8000 to go to a show and only open a few accounts.

[Jamie Lentzner]

Ouch - wow, people can be mean. I wonder what any of the vendors that spend hard earned money exhibiting at these shows think. I wish that the 'trade shows' would not only cater to the buyers but also to those of that give blood, sweat and tears making unique original products to be sold - in big stores and small ones. It is very hard for us 'little guys' to spend upwards of $7000 to $8000 to go to a show and only open a few accounts.