ATLANTA -- The FloraWorld event, which in January 1998 will combine the annual meetings of the Floral Marketing Association and the Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America at the Georgia World Congress Center here, will be accompanied at the same venue by the AmeriChristmas Trim-a-Home Exhibition.
sed that both events will remain separate, and are co-locating in the Georgia World Congress Center for the convenience of buyers and exhibitors. The agreement is for one year, to allow all parties to evaluate the concept.
"We feel it is imperative to bring greater unity to our industry by making it as easy as possible for buyers to find everything they need in one place at one time," said Kerry Herndon, chairman of the Newark, Del.-based FMA, explaining the decision to hold the two meetings concurrently. "This is a milestone for the floral industry; we may see others as more groups jump on this bandwagon."
The agreement, which provides AmeriChristmas with about 185,000 square feet of exhibit space, also ensures that the educational programs for FloraWorld and AmeriChristmas do not overlap.
AmeriChristmas is an exposition, held by the San Diego-based Epic/Production Group International, that features decorative items for the home geared specifically toward Christmas. The Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America is based in Vienna, Va.