Association of Fitness Industry Retailers & Manufacturers

News Release

AFIRM Showcase Tour Gains Momentum

FreeMotion, SportsArt, TRUE, Twin Oaks

Join Feb 3-4, 2011 Inaugural Event in Atlanta

              

          SILVER SPRING, MD – October 20, 2010 – AFIRM, the Association of Fitness Industry Retailers & Manufacturers, announced today the addition of four more industry leaders as participating companies at the first AFIRM Showcase Tour event February 3-4, 2011 at the Sheraton Gateway Airport Hotel in Atlanta, GA.

FreeMotion Fitness, SportsArt, TRUE Fitness, and Twin Oaks Software have all committed to supporting the Atlanta event, bringing the number of exhibiting companies to 20 and committed booths to nearly 40, with just 15 spaces remaining.

 “We’re thrilled at the response from the industry,” said AFIRM Executive Director Chuck Leve. “Our lineup of participating suppliers grows stronger week by week. Clearly, there’s substantial interest in the Showcase concept.” 

AFIRM Showcase Tourevents will be intimate, day-and-a-half regional events consisting of Day 1 education and evening networking/product exhibition and Day 2 education and product exhibition. Fifty-five booths will be available at the Atlanta event with no exhibitor allowed to occupy more than six booth spaces.

“We love the Showcase concept,” said Carole Oat, Sales Manager at Twin Oaks Software, the most recent participant and the first from the software/financial services category.  “We agree that small, regional events hold great potential for us.”

Among the unique, money-saving elements of the AFIRM Showcase Tour is that participating manufacturers will pay a single fee that is inclusive of virtually all, typical trade show expenses. There are no fees for drayage, labor, set up, dismantling, and shipping from event to event.

Other exhibitor-friendly regulations include no corner booth surcharges or premium fees to be “by the front door;” a lottery system giving small exhibitors an equal opportunity for best booth locations; free meeting room space for exhibitors to host seminars or private showings; and no competing seminars during Showcase hours.

A “Horizontal Event over Vertical Markets,” AFIRM’s strategy for attracting attendees will focus on market segmentation along with a partnership between show management and its exhibitors, and accessing databases of over a dozen marketing partners.

Focus will be on encouraging “drive-in” attendance from a regional base, targeting thousands of fitness industry professionals who are not currently attending national shows.

The AFIRM Showcase Tour events in 2011 include late June in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore, corridor and late October in Dallas, TX.  The venues in 2012 include Seattle, WA; Kansas City, MO; Hartford, CT; and Columbus, OH.

For further information on AFIRM and the Showcase Tour, please contact:

Chuck Leve, Executive Director
AFIRM - Association of Fitness Industry Retailers & Manufacturers
8505 Fenton St., Suite 211
Silver Spring, MD 20910

847-480-1818 x5599 (office)
847-204-7240 (cell)
cleve@afirmfitness.org

<http://www.afirmfitness.org/>

For further information on AFIRM, please contact:

Chuck Leve, Executive Director
AFIRM - Association of Fitness Industry Retailers & Manufacturers
8505 Fenton St., Suite 211
Silver Spring, MD 20910

847-480-1818 x5599 (office)
847-204-7240 (cell)
cleve@afirmfitness.org

www.afirmfitness.org

About AFIRM

The Association of Fitness Industry Retailers & Manufacturers (AFIRM) is dedicated to developing benefits, products, and services specifically for fitness industry manufacturers and retailers. AFIRM will address fitness industry issues, help raise revenue and reduce expenses on behalf of its members, lobby Congress for pro-fitness legislation, and develop appropriate research.  AFIRM will disseminate information through educational events, publish a bi-weekly newsletter for its constituents, and develop money-saving programs for its members.  For more information, please visit www.afirmfitness.org.

About SGMA

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products industry.  SGMA helps lead the sports and fitness industries by fostering participation through research, thought leadership, product promotion, and public policy.  More information about SGMA membership and SGMA's National Health Through Fitness Day can be found at www.SGMA.com.

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