Marketplace Events Expand Portfolio with Shows in Indiana, Virginia

September 27, 2016

Marketplace Events continues to expand its fast-growing portfolio, most recently with a few more shows in Indiana and Virginia.

The company bought two shows in Indianapolis, Ind., and three home shows in Richmond, Va., bringing its portfolio to 51 shows including 47 consumer home shows and four holiday shows.  

The company purchased the Indiana Flower & Patio Show, which began in 1958, along with the 67-year-old Christmas Gift & Hobby Show, from HSI Show Productions of Indianapolis. 

Both shows run at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where Marketplace Events already runs the Indianapolis Home Show, one of the longest-running home shows in North America.  

“We have worked alongside the HSI show team in Indianapolis for a very long time.  They produce quality events that deliver solid results for their exhibitors, many of whom are already customers of Marketplace Events,” said Brent Keller, vice president at Marketplace Events who also spent 15 years as manager of the Indianapolis Home Show. 

He added, “We are very enthusiastic about folding these events into our portfolio, growing these shows and expanding our business in the Indianapolis market,” he continued.

The Richmond acquisition includes the purchase of three home shows from Royal Productions and comes just five months after announcing that Marketplace Events planned to launch a new home show at the Convention Center in February 2017.  “Richmond is a strong and thriving market,” said Tom Baugh, CEO of Marketplace Events. “This move allows us to consolidate and deliver a quality home show experience three times a year—two events at the Richmond Raceway Complex and our launch at the Convention Center.”

The acquisitions are a continuation of the company’s aggressive growth strategy, which has seen the company acquire 11 shows and launch nine others in the past two years alone.  Of those, seven were added since February 2 of this year when Marketplace Events was purchased by Sentinel Capital Partners

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