PLMA has canceled ‘World of Private Label’ event, virtual show to come
The Private Label Manufacturers’ “World of Private Label” International Trade Show has been canceled due to the ongoing concern of COVID-19 and its impact on the Netherlands and other European countries. A virtual trade show will be held in its place, with more details coming on the virtual event in a few weeks, the PLMA said.
This is the second time the global show had to be canceled due to the pandemic. The spread of the virus caused the initial date of May 26-27 to be moved to Dec. 2-3, held at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam, and now the December show will be replaced with the virtual event using business-to-business video networking to bring companies together.
PLMA said it will have more details on when and what the virtual show will offer in mid-September, but said it will include video networking that connects exhibitors with retail buyers, with specific days dedicated to specific categories.
The association recently announced an in-depth virtual experience in lieu of its Private Label Trade Show in Chicago that had to be canceled because of COVID-19 safety.
That event will take place Feb. 1, 2021, and will run for an entire week, including educational sessions, video reports on news and product trends, and one-on-one virtual meetings between retail buyers and product manufacturers. Each day will also be dedicated to a different group of product categories to showcase online exhibits and hold private virtual meetings.
The “World of Private Label” virtual event could be a similar experience. The in-person show was known as the largest trade event for private label, presenting more than 2,800 exhibiting companies from more than 70 countries, and attended by more than 15,000 trade professionals from 120 countries.
PLMA President Peggy Davies said, “Over the last 35 years the ‘World of Private Label’ trade show has grown to become the industry’s leading event. We understand the disappointment that our members and others may feel at the news that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has once again upended our plans to hold an in-person international trade show in Amsterdam. Therefore, we are committed to moving forward with a virtual event that will provide the worldwide private label industry with valuable sales and marketing solutions when these are most needed.”