Anyone Going to the HPBExpo?

bradsh98

bradsh98

Bradshaw Billiards - Authorized Olhausen Dealer
Silver Member
I'm debating on whether or not I want to attend. As a billiard product dealer and pool table technician, I'm wondering how much value I would see in the networking opportunity. I really wish that this group would attend the Super Billiards Expo, which has a long-standing history, and is almost exclusively dedicated to billiards. And for my own selfish reasoning, because it is only about 3 hours from me.


www.hpbexpo.com

HPBExpo | The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo

HPBExpo is the industry’s premier marketplace for barbecue technology, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, stoves, chimneys and venting, outdoor living products, and accessories delivers more of what matters most.
www.hpbexpo.com www.hpbexpo.com

March 3-5, in Atlanta.

The BIG founders (Brunswick Billiards, Championship Billiard Fabric, Dynaspheres, Imperial USA, Legacy Billiards, Koda Sports, Presidential Billiards, Rame Game Room, Plank And Hide) will be in attendance.

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Sounds like a vendor/client Expo vs the SBE which is more of a pool event with minor sales opportunity (cues & such)
 
Is that show that use to be in Las Vegas? Friend went to it years ago.

Said should be called home and outdoor living,

Not much Pool aka the Pool Table stuff, swimming pool yes.
 
Is the main point of the BIG to get rid of the BCA? They appear to have identical functions: billiard marketing.
 
Is the home, hearth and BBQ going to have hundreds of pool tables set up for both amateur and pro competition? A gambling section? Another shit load of tables just for test driving cues? Oh yeah, and thousands of cues to look, fondle and do said test drive?

As a billiard consumer I'm very happy to have SBE back. My first time there was mid-week, days before the really big crowds would get there on the weekend. I was astonished at how far away I had to park. The plates on the cars, trucks and campers from all over the country say this is a big event with serious players and consumers attending.

The other show is to sell furniture tables to those looking to keep up with the Jones down the street. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But that customer will have no need of a skilled mechanic tuning a table or installing a $10,000. Gold Crown. Their table is destined to be used for folding laundry until they move.
 
As far as I can tell, the HPB Expo is not open to the public. From the association's website:

Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) is an international not-for-profit trade association first established in 1980 to represent and promote the interests of the hearth products industry in North America. In 2002, the Hearth Products Association (HPA) merged with the Barbecue Industry Association (BIA) to form HPBA. The association includes manufacturers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers’ representatives, service and installation firms, and other companies and individuals – all having business interests in and related to the hearth, patio, and barbecue products industries. For more information on the activities of the HPBA, please visit our website, HPBA.org.​
​
HPBA’s members manufacture, import, distribute, sell, service, and represent products that include:​
  • Factory-built fireplaces, gas logs, inserts, and accessories
  • Wood, pellet, coal, gas and electric stoves
  • Barbecues, grills, smokers and accessories
  • Patio furniture and accessories
And, if you are a manufacturer, rep, distributor, dealer, or service provider in the hearth, barbecue, and/or outdoor living industries, and are interested in being included amongst our prestigious list of members, please click here to see the benefits of membership.​
​
Doesn't seem like a very good fit for billiard products.
 
Bob Jewett said:
As far as I can tell, the HPB Expo is not open to the public. From the association's website:

Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) is an international not-for-profit trade association first established in 1980 to represent and promote the interests of the hearth products industry in North America. In 2002, the Hearth Products Association (HPA) merged with the Barbecue Industry Association (BIA) to form HPBA. The association includes manufacturers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers’ representatives, service and installation firms, and other companies and individuals – all having business interests in and related to the hearth, patio, and barbecue products industries. For more information on the activities of the HPBA, please visit our website, HPBA.org.​
​
HPBA’s members manufacture, import, distribute, sell, service, and represent products that include:​
  • Factory-built fireplaces, gas logs, inserts, and accessories
  • Wood, pellet, coal, gas and electric stoves
  • Barbecues, grills, smokers and accessories
  • Patio furniture and accessories
And, if you are a manufacturer, rep, distributor, dealer, or service provider in the hearth, barbecue, and/or outdoor living industries, and are interested in being included amongst our prestigious list of members, please click here to see the benefits of membership.​
​
Doesn't seem like a very good fit for billiard products.
Click to expand...
Correct, you either buy badges or roll with a company that provides. Anyone in the business who wants a hook up on badges, HMU, I got a sweet link for you.

TFT

p.s. My Team is going ! We have a ton of things in the works right now, Gonna be a great time.
 
Bob Jewett said:
And is part of the idea of BIG to make the BCA irrelevant as a billiard trade group?
Click to expand...
Bob, Why on earth would you ask lil ole me??

Since ya asked here it is: I have never been to a BCA trade show and I never plan on going either. From my investigation it would be a total waste of money and more importantly: my time. I have extensively researched both "big" trade shows, the Expo is the other. I can't seem to find a reason to go to either?? I would end up spending a TON of money and most likely not make a penny, to then be super upset for wasting my time, when I could have been out working!!!??? <<<I make money when I work, donating my time at a tradeshow annnnnnnd having to pay?? EEEEK, sounds like a train wreck of a plan!!

IMO pool needs NEW customers, we already have what we have population wise in the sport.

I sell very high end equipment and I am interested finding new customers that like my products and want to buy them :) That is all.

TFT

P.S. My business opinion: What ever works will prevail.

Remember this lame fact: The BCA allowed Craig Connelly, a non pool playing/ furniture maker, choose the BCA table specifications, they still sit and are very dated. Why would I want to support that? AHAHAHAHHAHA, That guy is poison, how does that decision get put in his hands??
 
bradsh98 said:
I'm debating on whether or not I want to attend. As a billiard product dealer and pool table technician, I'm wondering how much value I would see in the networking opportunity. I really wish that this group would attend the Super Billiards Expo, which has a long-standing history, and is almost exclusively dedicated to billiards. And for my own selfish reasoning, because it is only about 3 hours from me.


www.hpbexpo.com

HPBExpo | The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo

HPBExpo is the industry’s premier marketplace for barbecue technology, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, stoves, chimneys and venting, outdoor living products, and accessories delivers more of what matters most.
www.hpbexpo.com www.hpbexpo.com

March 3-5, in Atlanta.

The BIG founders (Brunswick Billiards, Championship Billiard Fabric, Dynaspheres, Imperial USA, Legacy Billiards, Koda Sports, Presidential Billiards, Rame Game Room, Plank And Hide) will be in attendance.

View attachment 628508
Click to expand...
I hope to see you there.

TFT
 
There are 185 total exhibitors. Weber will be there.

Here are the recreation exhibitors:

Brunswick Billiards
Championship LLC
Dynaspheres
Koda Sports https://playkodasports.com
R and R Outdoors (outdoor pool tables)
Presidential Billiards
RAM Gameroom
Legacy Billiards
Imperial International
Plank & Hide (makes an all steel pool table)
 
trentfromtoledo said:
I hope to see you there.

TFT
Click to expand...
DID ANYONE GO?? My new partner and got passes and everything, but, I had too much work to stop and go. Let's hear from anyone who went?? I think we already heard from the doubtful ones? Wes Bond told me it was a killer time!!

TFT
 

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