There are many major pet industry trade shows that promote professional networking, education, and innovation.  Pet industry professionals can benefit greatly from attending these events.  Here is a sampling of the most popular trade shows:

Backer’s Total Pet Expo
Total Pet Expo is a large trade show that is held each September in Chicago.  The show features innovative new products, grooming events, educational events, many all-natural products, cash and prize giveaways, and a buyer rewards program.

  Registration is available at no cost; those who are unable to attend may register to view an encore webinar of the event.

Global Pet Expo
The Global Pet Expo (to be hosted by Orlando, Florida through 2019) is one of the largest pet industry trade shows.  In its tenth year (2014) the Expo drew more than 5,500 buyers, launched 3,000 new products, and drew more than 14,000 total attendees.  The event is traditionally held in March and is only open to retailers, distributors, buyers, and other qualified professionals.

Groom Expo
Groom Expo is one of the world’s largest pet grooming trade shows.  It takes place annually in September at the convention center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  The popular event includes grooming competitions (including the PetSmart Groom Olympics), educational seminars, demonstrations, a trade show with more than 170 booths, and more.  Groom Expo welcomes all pet industry professionals and hobbyists including groomers, trainers, show handlers, and others with an interest in the industry.

Intergroom
Intergroom is also one of the largest international pet grooming trade shows.  The event draws more than 2,000 dog and cat groomers from 20 countries each year.  The program includes competitions, educational seminars, and a large trade show exhibition.  The 2015 show is scheduled to be held in April in New Jersey.

Interzoo
Interzoo is an international pet trade show that is held every two years in Nuremburg, Germany.  The event draws more than 1,700 exhibitors from over 60 countries and it boasts more than 37,000 total attendees, making it the largest show in the European market.  The next Interzoo is scheduled for May 2016.

National Pet Industry Trade Show (Canada)
The Pet Industry Joint Council (PIJAC) hosts the National Pet Industry Trade Show, the largest event of its kind in Canada.  The event takes place each September and is the largest of four shows hosted by PIJAC.  The show features a variety of educational workshops on topics such as grooming, first aid, nutrition, and care.  There are also networking events and celebrity speakers.  The trade show offers free registration, though there are fees for most educational workshops.

PATS (United Kingdom)
The PATS show is the largest show of its kind in the United Kingdom.  Registration is free and includes access to all seminars and demonstrations, parking, exhibitor catalog, and tea or coffee.  The show features more than 160 exhibitors and draws nearly 2,000 industry professionals each year.  The event is only open to pet industry professionals such as distributors, manufacturers, retailers, or others with a vested interest in the pet supplies market.

SuperZoo
SuperZoo is a three day event for pet retailers and is billed as the largest and fastest growing trade show in the industry.  The show is held in Las Vegas each July and draws approximately 1,000 exhibitors each year.  Events include a particularly large educational program called SuperZoo University, networking mixers, a grooming competition, and a large exhibition of industry products.

Zoomark International
Zoomark International is a four day pet industry show held every two years in Bologna, Italy.  It is billed as the second largest European pet trade show (behind Germany’s Interzoo show).  The show is restricted to pet industry professional such as distributors, retailers, dealers, and manufacturers.  The next Zoomark International show is scheduled for May 2015.