LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. birth rate may be flat, but parents are spending more than ever. Recently the All Baby & Child (ABC) Kids Expo (www.theabcshow.com) was held in Las Vegas, featuring over 1,000 companies that shared their newest products designed to help parents better care for their baby. The show is organized by All Baby & Child, a non-profit corporation that also acts to support many aspects of the juvenile industry.
One of the fastest-growing trade shows in the U.S., the ABC Kids Expo is the second largest baby show in the world with more than 14,000 attendees from 65 countries attending this year. Although the majority of exhibitors are U.S.-based, the show has been attracting an increasing number of non-U.S. companies that want a piece of the American juvenile market, which according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, amounted to $2.8 billion in wholesale dollars. This year, for the first time, there were special pavilions from the UK and China, each sponsored by their local juvenile trade associations.
“The juvenile industry is a constantly evolving business with manufacturers not only refreshing their lines with new colors and designs, but also conforming to very strict safety standards that are an important part of our business,” comments Scott Krueger, chairman, ABC. One of the missions of the ABC organization is to work towards uniform safety standards internationally so products can be more readily available in other countries.
The baby industry is always improving on itself, developing products that are safer, quicker, and more versatile than last year's models. It attracts young entrepreneurs, among them moms and dads who have developed products to meet a personal need. Many have gone from home-based businesses to multi-million-dollar companies in a short period of time.
According to the ABC Corp., it’s also a very female-friendly industry. In a recent survey among exhibitors to this year’s show, more than 60% report that the company is owned, operated or created by a woman.
This year’s show featured special areas to help attendees plan their visit: the Modern Child Pavilion included products of contemporary design, Naturally Kids catered to the growing sub-category of organic/all-natural products, and Maternity Square Pavilion and Runway presented a maternity fashion show during the expo. A "New Product Showcase" highlighted products that are brand-new to the market.
The ABC Kids Expo is also a great way to get a sneak peek at what will be in stores in coming months. Among the innovations that were unveiled at the show were a bassinet that pivots two ways in order to move into and out of the parents' bed so baby sleeps safely and is in view at all times, a car seat that lets you know if you haven’t installed it properly, and an instant bottle maker that works like a one-cup coffee maker, creating one perfect bottle at a time.
The All Baby & Child organization also supports children as well as families in need, having donated over $3 million to select children’s charities such as First Candle and Kids in Distressed Situations. The organization has also started a matching grant program for Crib for Kids, and many exhibitors donated their products at the end of the show equaling almost $500,000.
Plans are already in place for next year’s ABC Kids Expo which takes place September 7-10 in Las Vegas.
