First report: STAFDA 2019 kicks up its heels in Nashville
STAFDA enjoys its largest convention in 10 years.
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They don't call it Music City USA for nothing. If you are still coming down from the high points of the 2019 STAFDA Convention & Trade Show earlier this week in Nashville, you aren't alone.
A near-record crowd of nearly 5,000 industry professionals took advantage of the strong economy to shop and network with their peers in one of the country's newest and best convention centers. They also enjoyed the nightlife of Nashville's thriving entertainment district just a short walk from the convention center and host hotels.
Uncharacteristically cold weather did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm at the show, which boasted STAFDA's largest Tech Pavilion ever -- on top of 489 trade show exhibitors in 691 10x10 booths and 10 50x50 islands.
As evidence of the anticipation for this year's show, all four main convention hotels sold out their entire room blocks by 3:00 p.m. the first day registration opened — even after STAFDA added more rooms earlier in the day. In all, STAFDA needed nine hotels to meet attendee demand.
In her opening remarks at the General Session, STAFDA CEO Georgia Foley noted the current health of the organization, saying, "STAFDA membership currently stands at 2,439, which represents 1,131 associates, 293 rep agents and 21 affiliates in the trade press."
"But what's most impressive is that our 992 distributor companies have 7,170 branches bringing their total market reach to 8,162 locations! That's 3,874 more locations than Home Depot and Lowe's combined!"
Stay tuned for our full STAFDA 2019 Show report coming in the December/January edition of Contractor Supply. Learn more about STAFDA at www.STAFDA.org.
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