Unique garden terraces, lively music spilling into the streets, exceptional cuisine centered around open-flame cooking… New Orleans is the city that celebrates the very indoor-outdoor lifestyle that our industry creates. 

With Condé Nast Traveler naming it the top “U.S. City for Business Travelers,” New Orleans serves as the perfect host for HPBExpo 2020, North America’s largest indoor-outdoor living industry event, which takes place March 11–14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Consistently ranked by Trade Show News Network as one of the fastest growing events nationwide, HPBExpo provides a full-sensory experience centered around the products and trends shaping the industry. 

Hundreds of worldwide manufacturers are refining designs, refreshing existing lines, and preparing to bring their brand new products to market. Thousands of attendees are planning their itineraries, researching potential partnerships, and assessing their needs for the coming year, all in an effort to meet growing consumer demands. 

Ever-evolving consumer demand has created a 365-day business cycle. 

Outdoor living is officially extended well beyond the traditionally temperate months. With efficient radiant heaters, unique lighting solutions, and sophisticated fire pits, patio usage is a full-time reality; and indoors, new designs and technologies transform traditional heating sources into central features of a home’s personality—no matter the temperature outside. 

Hearth products continue to advance the use of stylized flames, box configurations, fuel efficiencies, and Bluetooth technology in order to expand their role (and usage) in the home. Designers and architects are taking notice, and now sharing the view that the outdoor “room” deserves the same attention and nuance as the rest of the home, despite region or climate. The bottom line is that the traditional sales cycle is changing, providing new opportunities for retailers to capture additional market share in unexpected ways. With the right combination of products, all four seasons are now open season. 

HPBExpo is the place to experience all of these products before your customers begin asking about them. It’s never been more critical to stay ahead of the trends and create new revenue streams.  

Feel the warmth of the products and the people.

“There are things that I didn’t even know existed until today. That’s worth the trip on its own,” says HPBExpo 2019 attendee, Dustin Carey of Northwinds Stove & Fireplace. Experiencing the products is always a huge aspect of HPBExpo, but dig a little deeper and it’s meeting the people behind the products that holds additional value for attendees. “Coming to HPBExpo lets you put a face to a name. You get to know who you’re talking to. I’ve had a catalog from a manufacturer for a year; after meeting them here, we’re now buying from them,” says Kristetta Miller of Louisiana Fireplace. 

From getting helpful tips on how to deal with specific challenges back home to forging friendships, there’s a sense of community at HPBExpo. “This is a great place for us to come and connect with other people, talk about our businesses openly, and get ideas,” says Michelle Bergen of B.C. Fireplace Service. 

A Show as Unique as New Orleans.

Along with several new aspects of the HPBExpo Education Program, there are key features that will set HPBExpo 2020 apart from other events. A showcase of New Orleans-style flair will include a Mardi Gras parade in the Outdoor Burn Area and a variety of NOLA-inspired events and activities. Operation BBQ Relief will also be back, generously providing lunch for veterans in New Orleans. Check HPBExpo.com and social media regularly for updates as the details of these special events continue to come together.

The Key(note) to Better Retail Environments.

Wayne Visbeen.

Presentation is everything. The way a product is showcased, the salesroom layout, and the customer experience are all deciding factors in closing a deal. In an effort to show retailers how to increase sales, this year’s Keynote Presentation will be delivered by Wayne Visbeen, architect and interior designer behind an iconic list of groundbreaking and effective retail environments. As comfortable on a construction site as he is designing a store layout, Visbeen has a deep understanding of custom residential design and the current trends shaping the indoor-outdoor living industry. Generously sponsored by Napoleon Products, the HPBExpo 2020 Keynote Presentation aims to provide unique retail insights and highlight the key concepts you will be able to use for better sales and better customer experiences.

New Products. New People. New Orleans. 

With three hundred years’ worth of history and a mix of cultures, New Orleans isn’t just a city, it’s an international destination. Famous for being a fun place to visit, you’ll also find block after block of colorful architecture, secret gardens, and contagious music. From jazz clubs and marching bands, to fine dining and drinks at over 1,400 restaurants, to people-watching and site-seeing, the city is full of awe-inspiring experiences. However you decide to take in New Orleans, the city perfectly complements the sense of community, authenticity, and inspiration of HPBExpo.

MARCH ONWARD! 

NOW is the time to start planning for HPBExpo 2020. Experience an event and a city like no other. The first step in the MARCH THROUGH ALL FOUR SEASONS begins with registering today at hpbexpo.com. The very next step is to lock in your accommodation with discounted rates in the official HPBExpo hotel block. Then, join the ongoing worldwide conversation by following HPBExpo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. See you there; and see you next March in New Orleans!

The HPBA Journal is intended to provide in-depth information to the hearth and outdoor products industries. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the officers, board, staff or members of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association.

Copyright ©2019 by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association is prohibited. Direct requests for permission to use material published in the HPBA Journal to media@hpba.org.