Possible Move for the Buyers Market

According to The Rosen Group, unexpected and unexplained labor cost increases are the reasons The Rosen Group is considering a move for its semiannual Buyers Market of American Craft, held for eight years at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

At the winter Buyers Market, held Feb. 14-18, an additional $50,000 for union labor was billed, translating into a 30 percent increase in labor costs. These costs are incurred by the show decorator, but could eventually be passed through to The Rosen Group and exhibitors, says Wendy Rosen, president of The Rosen Group. When the show decorator renews its contract with The Rosen Group, these costs will certainly become a factor, she says.

Rosen says the Carpenters’ Union, responsible for the majority of additional charges, has been vague in explaining the costs. Policy discrepancies regarding what “labor” exhibitors are permitted to perform without the aid of a union carpenter have also been noted by The Rosen Group.

Rosen sent a letter to convention center officials in February requesting an explanation of Carpenters’ Union policies and an assurance that the Buyers Market can be held “without future problems and unexpected cost increases.”

At press time, The Rosen Group was still awaiting a response and was planning site visits to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., for possible relocation.

Co-location with the American Craft Council (ACC) market in Baltimore is unlikely, says Rosen. “We do not have a working relationship with ACC … and because there has been no attempt for this on the part of the ACC, we would be reluctant to pursue it.”

Any decision made regarding a move, says Rosen, will involve an exhibitor vote and consent of the board. The first show to be affected by a potential move would likely be the summer 2003 show.
The Rosen Group hopes to work things out in Philadelphia, says Rosen, but a move is definitely an option.

The Rosen Group acknowledges that union problems seem to be typical of many convention centers, but is considering the fact that the Pennsylvania Convention Center has six unions, while the Baltimore Convention Center, for example, has only one.

Up until now, says Rosen, the show has had no problems with the unions.