A new addition to the Coverings 2010 show floor is a pavilion space reserved exclusively for distributors who have an office within a 100-mile radius of Orlando.

“The concept for the Regional Distributor Pavilion,” said Jennifer Hoff, president of events for National Trade Productions, which manages and produces Coverings, “is to bring together the area’s strongest distributors and centrally locate them on the show floor. The pavilion will enable local distributors to exhibit the product lines that they carry, with a lounge environment, as well, for more relaxed meetings and networking. We envision this to be an active hub where these distributors not only can take advantage of exposure to potential new clients and customers, but also where they can comfortably do business with current vendors and any prospective new resources they may come across from among the global representation of Coverings exhibitors.”

The Regional Distributor Pavilion will be anchored by the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) and is but one of several initiatives that are distributor-driven.

A Distributor Incentive Program will also be implemented in 2010. Based on a similar 2009 concept, this referral program gives distributors the opportunity to earn cash rewards by promoting Coverings to clients. When a guest registers for the show using a distributor’s unique referral code, the distributor will receive a cash incentive.

The Distributor VIP Program, originally rolled out in 2007 in collaboration with CTDA, is back in 2010. Offering distributors the opportunity to host busloads of clients to Coverings, it is an added value perk benefiting all that also has helped extend the Coverings experience to scores of retailers, designers and other specifiers who might not ordinarily have attended on their own but were attracted to the group trip and their distributor’s personal invitation.

D&B Tile Distributors, which sent a convoy of over 100 client guests to Orlando for Coverings 2008, expects to have 150 architects, designers, contractors attend the 2010 show. “We had such a terrific response last time that we asked CTDA if we could do it again in 2010,” said Dennis McLennand, sales and technical director at D&B Tile. “Coverings is the premier tile show in the country, and we want to take advantage of the fact that it’s in our backyard.”

According to McLennand, there was something for all of D&B’s clients at the show. “Our guests were wowed by the incredible product presentations in the booths—in fact, some of the designers specified projects with product they first saw at Coverings,” he said. “Meanwhile, the contractors were most interested in the many tool and equipment displays, and the product demonstrations.”

Also taking advantage of the Coverings 2010 Distributor VIP Program is Master Tile, which expects to send 80-100 guests from its locations on Florida’s east and west coasts. In light of the economic downturn that’s affecting the industry, Master Tile is focusing heavily on the commercial sector, and will be sending mostly architects and designers who specify commercial projects.

“Coverings 2008 was a great experience—we still get comments praising the show from our clients who attended then, and from clients who couldn’t come in 2008 but want to definitely come next year,” said Steve Stone, regional sales and operations manager for Master Tile. According to Stone, the firm’s attendees were astounded by the myriad tile applications they saw at the 2008 show. “They were amazed by the vast array of products available, and the many ways tile can be used, literally above and beyond the floor,” Stone said. “The sheer magnitude of the show was also a real eye-opener for our guests—it gave them a first-hand look at the impressive scale and dimension of the tile and stone industry itself. We can’t wait to see what Coverings 2010 holds in store.”

Participating in the program for the first time is Specialty Tile. With four locations in Florida and Georgia, the company is sending some 50 guests on a road trip to the show. “Coverings is by far the best tile and stone show in the Western hemisphere, and a very efficient way to reach thousands of our target customers,” said Gary Moore, Specialty Tile’s owner. “It’s the place to go to spot new trends in the industry, and an ideal opportunity to network with our colleagues and clients.”  

A full track of conference sessions developed for the distributor audience also will be part of the four-day show, and will include everything from trend-spotting updates to practical business advice, all completely free of charge.