ASSOCIATION UPDATES

 

The New Jersey Sanitary Supply Association (NJSSA) hosted their 2008 Supply Line Trade Show, May 7 and 8 in Atlantic City, N.J.

 

Thirty new companies were a part of the 162 exhibitors and 188 booths this year. The show drew 858 distributors and cleaning professionals, which was down from 1,017 in 2006. The show also saw a decrease in total attendees, down to 1,353 from 1,580 in 2006.

Fred Schimanski, president of CleanSmart/Select Wholesalers and president of NJSSA attributed the lower number of guests to uncontrollable factors.

“We definitely saw the impact of a slowing economy and higher gas prices had on buyer attendance,” says Schimanski. “However, attendance was much steadier than past shows and attendance was better the second day. We also had an increase in cleaning professionals the second day.”

The night before the show, guests were invited to the President’s Reception at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. Hank Josephs, owner and president of Spruce Industries, Garwood, N.J., was the recipient of the NJSSA Bob Stader Lifetime Achievement Award.

Josephs joined the jan/san industry in 1973 as sales manager for Rochester Germicide. He purchased Spruce Industries in 1989 and served as president of the NJSSA in 1985-1986 and 2004-2005.

“The NJSSA Board of Trustees is honored to present this award to Hank for his outstanding service to the industry and the association, and for his utmost integrity in all he has done in the jan-san industry,” says Schimanski.

Josephs accepted the award and thanked his peers for naming him the award’s recipient. He also called for younger people to get involved in the NJSSA.

“This association needs us,” says Josephs. We need to bring new people to our meetings. Let’s educate our younger staff on the benefits of the NJSSA and what it can do for them.”

The two-day event also featured a golf outing and three seminars focused on different aspects of the industry.

 

 

Hubert Opens European Office

 

Hubert Co., Cincinnati, a full-service company providing merchandising to the foodservice and retail industry opened its first European sales office in Pfungstadt, Germany on May 15.

“We are expanding the successful Hubert North America business model to Germany by establishing a headquarters and distribution facility in Pfungstadt,” says Bart Kohler, president of Hubert Co. “This central location will enable us to serve the needs of any European customer.”

The German office is the company’s second international facility. A Canadian office was opened in 2005. Hubert plans to open additional offices throughout Europe.

 

NAW Elects Three New Directors

 

The National Association of Wholesale Distributors, (NAW) Washington, D.C., has elected Kathleen Mazzarella, Joseph Nettemeyer and Matthew Rowan to the NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Board of Directors.

Mazzarella is the senior vice president of sales and marketing, and communications and data for Graybar, St. Louis. The distribution company has more than 250 facilities in North America.

Nettemeyer is the president and CEO of Valin Corp., Sunnyvale, Calif. The company serves as a solutions supplier, offering products, services and engineered support.

Rowan is the president and CEO of Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA), Alexandria, Va. HIDA is the international trade association representing medical products distributors.

 

 

ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam Reports Increase In International Guests

 

ISSA/INTERCLEAN® Amsterdam attracted a 10 percent increase in the ratio of international guests from the 2006 show. The ratio of international guests rose to 68 percent this year from 58 percent. The increase in international guests is attributed to a decrease in visitors from Holland, according to Rob den Hertog, senior product manager ISSA/INTERCLEAN.

“We made the strategic decision some years ago to position ISSA/INTERCLEAN Amsterdam as an international trade show and knew and accepted with regret that some Dutch visitors would therefore decide to stay away,” says den Hertog. “This year national attendance went down, especially since the show coincided with a national holiday.”




POSTED ON: 6/1/2008