ISH North America Trade Show marks fifth successful edition

ISH North America, the leading trade show for the plumbing, commercial/industrial pipes, valves & fittings (PVF), HVAC and kitchen & bath industries, marked its fifth edition with its Oct. 1-3 trade show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Reflective of the trend toward cleaner building and environmentally conscious construction, the 2008 show highlighted the growing demand in renewable energies. Thousands of contractors, wholesalers, manufacturers’ reps and other attendees were able to see the latest product innovations from leading manufacturers in the exhibit hall, learn from industry leaders at the seminar program and network with peers during the many special events at the show.

‘While the current economic downturn has impacted the industry, exhibitors and visitors remained upbeat about their future business development and strategies,” said Daniel McKinnon, executive vice president of Messe Frankfurt, the show’s organizer.

As the only consolidated show in the industry, exhibitors were excited to connect with a broad range of professionals, from contractors and wholesalers, to builders, manufacturers’ reps and others. In addition, an impressive design and show floor layout was highly regarded by exhibitors and attendees alike.

The ISH North America Seminar Program featured a diverse selection of educational opportunities. Popular business-oriented programs included Kirk Alter’s ‘Recession-Proofing Your Business,” which focused on making the right moves in tough times; and Adams Hudson’s ‘How to Put High Performance Plumbing Marketing in Your Company Instantly,” which offered tips and tools for results-oriented marketing.

Special events included the 2008 Plumbing Apprentice Contest, held on the ISH North America exhibit floor in conjunction with the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association’s (PHCC) annual convention. The winner of the contest was Kyle Holcomb of Pasadena Plumbing in St. Petersburg, Fla., a fourth-year apprentice.

ISH North America ran concurrently with ‘Network,” the annual convention for the American Supply Association (ASA) and PHCC. Other association events included the annual convention for the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating’s famous Maple Leaf Reception.