ABC Kids Expo Welcomed 12,000-plus Attendees to Las Vegas
November 3, 2016
ABC Kids Expo, organized by All Baby & Child Corporation, welcomed more than 12,000 attendees and 900-plus exhibitors to its 1 million square foot showfloor Oct. 18-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Virtually every significant manufacturer and distributor of products for infants and small children, as well as many startups by parents, showed off their products, ranging from furniture and strollers to smudge-free chalk, timers for milk bottles and a sandwich cutter that turns pb&j into minions.
“We had to expand the new product showcase to accommodate the record number of entries this year,” said John Garcia, media relations for ABC Kids Expo.
The show is becoming more international. This year it set a new record with international attendance from 75 countries and also welcomed two new pavilions – Turkey and South Korea. Garcia is expecting to see an influx of buyers from China thanks to the country’s new two-baby policy.
All Baby & Child Corporation has been working hard to put their show on the map with that buyer category by having a presence at Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME) in Shanghai, China and in Singapore.
Back in the US, buyers could get inspiration at the 2th Annual Celebrity Nursery Exhibit designed by gear expert Vanessa Antonelli and inspired by Janet Jackson and Blake Lively. Future presidents could get a feel for the digs at the White House inspired playroom.
The show is always a showcase of “aha!” parenting products that you wonder how you lived without. One such example was a BabyDam by a British company by the same name. It seals off a smaller space of a bathtub, making it easier and cheaper to bathe a baby. Launching in the US in January, it already was getting lots of interest from retailers, according to exhibitor John Piner. He said: “It’s so simple and so effective you’d think there’d be something on the market, but there wasn’t.”
It’s exciting to see companies that once were small startup exhibitors do well, in part, thanks to the show. Bobbie Rhoads, founder of Funbites, launched her sandwich cutter here four years ago. Since then, her product has been ranked among top ten presented on reality show Shark Tank and she has scored licensing deals for Minions and Paw Patrol characters. “It all started with a guy from Disney just walking by here at the ABC Kids Expo,” she said.
ABC Kids Expo 2017 is coming Oct. 15-18 to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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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