A market note from: Bob Goodrich,
President of Market Square, Inc.

Through the years, our businesses have been blessed with prosperity and have also faced the many challenges that come along with a multi-faceted marketplace. For over twenty years, Market Square has experienced all the market economic variations and has emerged as the leading source for traditional handcrafted products in the nation.

With difficult times and a bleak economic outlook, now more than ever we must look at ways to strengthen the marketplace in order to bring it back to the level of consistency we all once knew and enjoyed. A marketplace is only as strong as the people and businesses that lead it; they serve as the cornerstones in rebuilding the foundation that it rests upon. Good, sound decision making must prevail by all of us.

Recently, a new “COUNTRY” show, to be held February 7-10, 2009 at Oaks, Pennsylvania, was announced. Many people are asking “why?” including me. Why is an identical show setting up shop in the same neighborhood as an existing niche show of handcrafted products? Due to the current economic times, a new venue could only lead to the division of buyers and a potential loss of revenue to our exhibitors, not to mention the extensive confusion that it will bring to a retailer contemplating a trip to Valley Forge in 2009. A lot of people may ask how the new promoters can justify a new show that so closely mirrors Market Square, and they may be asking questions like:

• Is it because a new building was established?
• Is it because we need more similar handcrafted products in the same basic market location?
• Is it because we need two markets?
• Is it because the buyers want two markets, one week apart?
• Is it because the exhibitors are asking for it and reaching out for a new venue?
• Or, is it because the new promoters are so experienced in producing “COUNTRY” markets?

Instead of attracting new buyers and new exhibitors to become part of the market, is it just easier to make false statements and create rumors to Market Square’s exhibitor base in order to fill the ranks of their aisles? Finally, where are they going with all of this? I personally think that it might have more to do with personal gain rather than filling a need in the marketplace.

I would like to take the opportunity to diffuse and clarify rumors surrounding a potential casino at the Valley Forge Convention Center. First, the Casino has not been approved by the state of Pennsylvania to be at the Valley Forge Convention Center. This takes many township meetings and hearings, the first of which will be held May 21st, 2008. However, Market Square Wholesale Shows believes that there will be a casino. Be that as it may, we welcome it as an added form of nightly entertainment along with the already established on-site gourmet restaurants and pubs. The information that we have received tells us that the casino will be approximately 100’x 130’, or 13,000 square feet, and will be located on the lower level of the Valley Forge Convention Center. Therefore, minimal exhibit space will be lost. Contrary to what is being said, the entire Valley Forge Convention Center will NOT become a Casino in 2010. The minor loss of exhibit space will be retrieved by the introduction of showroom space at the Radisson Ballrooms, which will comprise 16,000 square feet (a net gain of 3,000). In addition, there will be a 23,000 square foot ballroom constructed within the lower level which potentially will provide a unique environment for The Valley Forge Furniture Market starting in 2010. Along with a facelift of the lower level, the balance of exhibit space will remain in tact as we know it today. Buyer registration, buyer dining and storage areas will complete the lower level layout. Probably one of the most significant changes to the Valley Forge Convention Center will be a dual escalator that will connect the main level to the lower level (my legs feel better already!). The Main, the Mezzanine and the balance of the entire facility will remain the same as it has been for many years.

One last issue to address is that the Market Square Show was excluded from the facility in Oaks, Pennsylvania. This is absolutely true and it was done in order to make way for the Philadelphia Gift Show to produce their new “COUNTRY” show.

In closing, the community of traditional artisans and crafts people which have evolved for over 20 years together and formed many long lasting relationships contributing to a common bond not found in any other facet of the gift industry. We need to continue this bond as one and provide to our buyers the very best marketplace for traditional handcrafted products for years to come.