SuperZoo Wraps Largest Show to Date at Mandalay in Las Vegas
August 15, 2016
SuperZoo, a pet retail trade exposition and conference produced by World Pet Association, recently wrapped its largest show to date at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, with a more than four percent increase in attendees and eight percent increase in companies attending over 2015, as well as nearly 1,200 exhibitors participating.
The redesigned exhibit hall, with an additional 85,000 square feet of exhibit space, saw more than 820 new products make their debut as part of the popular New Product Showcase.
More than 90 education sessions covered a wide variety of topics including: staff training, human resources, leadership, social media, customer service and marketing, among others.
Grooming and service industry education sessions were geared toward how to build your business by adding rapid growth areas including day care, boarding and dog training.
Animal wellness sessions focused on small animal care in stores and best practices geared toward birds, reptiles and fish.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson - basketball legend and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises - kicked off SuperZoo’s trade show with an inspiring keynote focusing on how he parlayed his skills and tenacity on the court into success in the business world.
“The quality and depth of SuperZoo’s speakers, education sessions, attendees and exhibitors was incredible,” says Doug Poindexter, president of WPA.
He added, “SuperZoo is continually evolving and growing to meet the needs of pet retailers as well as the trends in the industry and this year demonstrated WPA’s sustained commitment to contributing to the pet industry’s continued success.”
“We launched our product, GingerLead, three years ago at SuperZoo and have grown tremendously,” said Liz Rubenstein, founder of GingerLead and a SuperZoo 2016 exhibitor.
She added, “It was our first retail trade convention and it helped vastly expand our business; the quality of the buyers, the number of buyers and exhibiting opportunities at SuperZoo are unmatched.”
SuperZoo also crowned winners in 18 grooming categories, with Ide Kyoko of Tokyo winning Rescue Rodeo, Victor Rosado of Puerto Rico winning the Best In Show award and Catherine Opson of Dana Point, Calif., winning the Best All Around Pet Stylist award.
There were 145 registered Contestants and 226 dogs groomed during the three days of competition, with 15 countries represented and judges coming from five nations.
In addition, WPA announced the winner of its inaugural Show Us Your Good Works social media photo contest. HuggleHounds took home the honors for their program, Huggles for Heroes, which supports Warrior Canine Connection by donating a percentage of sales from selected products.
They will have $1,000 donated in their name by WPA to the National Animal Interest Alliance.
Legendary rock band, Styx, headlined a sold-out concert at House of Blues, treating SuperZoo attendees to an ievening laced with their biggest hits, including “Lady,” “Come Sail Away” and “Renegade.”
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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