25 000 came to Novi

America’s Family Pet Expo, presented by World Wide Pet Industry Association (WWPIA), drew throngs of holiday shoppers to the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. More than 25 000 attendees shopped for holiday gifts for pets and pet lovers among 233 exhibiting companies occupying 450 booths. Sharon Smith, president of Diamonds 4 Dogs, says of her first-time participation in America’s Family Pet Expo: “The show was so much more than I ever expected. I had to bring in three more salespeople to help handle the crowds buying our jewellery. Over the three days we sold thousands of pieces.” A total of sixteen sponsoring companies participated in this year’s show: the Petco Foundation and Nutro Pet Foods sponsored the Pet Adoption Fair. Silver sponsors were Pet Sitters International, Precise Pet Products and Schmackos. Bronze sponsors were Hills Pet Nutrition, Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., Oster Professional Products, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council and the Pet Care Trust. Sponsor companies included Better Homes and Gardens, Dog Fancy/Cat Fancy, JeffersPet.com, Marineland, Nutro Products, Inc., Pet Food & More and Seachem Laboratories/Jurassi Pet. America’s Family Pet Expo is scheduled for the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California on 13-15 April 2007 and again at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan on 16-18 November 2007.