Reed Nixes Book Event, Starts Show for Comics

Reed Exhibitions has canceled one show, serving the publishing industry, and will launch another, serving the comic and pop culture world.

After feedback from focus groups started last year, Reed Exhibitions Canada decided to cancel BookExpo Canada, serving the Canadian publishing industry, as well as the launch of a consumer show, Toronto Book Fair.

“Over the last 18 months, it has become clear that the dynamics of the publishing industry in Canada is no longer best served by a traditional trade event,” said Greg Topalian, senior vice president of Reed Exhibitions. “Our focus on the publishing industry now centers on our event in New York, and we look forward to serving the needs of our customers in North America most effectively with a singular event.”

The 58-year-old BookExpo Canada was scheduled June 19-22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and Toronto Book Fair was slated for early October. Last year's BookExpo Canada had about 200 exhibitors on a 20,000 net square foot showfloor.

In November, Reed Exhibitions officials told Tradeshow Week they planned to hold outreach programs and focus groups in Canada's western provinces in hopes of drawing more attendees from that region to the Toronto show. Topalian said those outreach programs and focus groups led to the company's decision to cancel the event.

“We had asked for and they had provided feedback and insight into the dynamics of the marketplace,” he added.

BookExpo America, No. 94 on the 2008 TSW 200, is scheduled May 28-31 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York.

The success of another Reed event in New York – New York Comic Con – has prompted the company to launch a show structured in the same spirit in Chicago.

The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo will debut April 16-18 at Chicago's McCormick Place. Reed officials said the launch of the show is in response to customer demand.

“We are delivering this event for the industry and for the fans,” said Lance Fensterman, Reed vice president and show manager of NYCC and the new show. “We have heard their wishes, and we are thrilled to bring what we hope will be another massive comic and pop culture event ... to an eager audience in Chicago and the entire Midwest.”

The New York event launched in 2006 and grew in attendance from 33,000 the first year to 67,000 at last year's show. The launch of the Chicago event also allows the New York show to maintain stable dates in October, beginning in 2010, when it is scheduled Oct. 8-10. This year's event took place Feb. 6-8 at the Javits.

“We are pleased with the new timeline and see Chicago as anchoring the spring con calendar and New York Comic Con as ending the con calendar with a major exclamation point,” Fensterman said.

The move to launch a new show also is being lauded in the comics industry.

“We're pleased to be building on the success Reed has had with the New York Comic Con and (look) forward to their adding a Chicago show to their schedule,” said Paul Levitz, president of DC Comics. “Our Midwest fans have a great history of celebrating comics at conventions, and we hope this will be the beginning of a memorable run of events for them.”

Marvel officials also said they thought Reed's move was a good one.

“The expansion of Reed's comic convention schedule to include a Chicago show is very exciting news,” said Michael Pasciullo, Marvel's vice president of merchandising and communications. “Marvel is looking forward to being part of their new Midwest experience.”

Fensterman said the launch includes plans for top talent, such as artists, creators and celebrities from all forms of the popular arts.