Duane Kelly, the owner of the Northwest Flower &Garden Show, released this press release to The Herald. Watch Heraldnet.com for more details in the next 24 hours.
After 21 Year Run, Founder Sells Nation’s Second-Largest Flower Show
SEATTLE – Duane Kelly, founder of the Northwest Flower &Garden Show, announced today that he has reached an agreement to sell the show to Portland-based O’Loughlin Trade Shows, Inc. The family-owned company is the West’s largest producer of consumer trade shows, including the Portland Home and Garden Show and the Tacoma Home and Garden Show.
“Gardeners in the Pacific Northwest are now assured that their flower show will continue to bloom,” said Kelly.
The 2010 Northwest Flower &Garden Show is scheduled for February 3-7 at the Washington State Convention Center.
Kelly said that he received several offers to purchase the Northwest Flower &Garden Show and selected the O’Loughlin offer because of their 60 years of show production experience, financial stability and commitment to the show’s high quality.
“My brothers and our staff are proud to be acquiring the nation’s second largest flower show and continuing its high quality and world-class reputation,” said Bill O’Loughlin, president of O’Loughlin Trade Shows, a fourth generation family business with offices in Portland and Tacoma. “We are excited to add the Northwest Flower &Garden Show to our line-up of shows, including the region’s largest fall and spring home and garden events.”
O’Loughlin Trade Shows veteran Jeff Swenson has been named show manager for the event. Two of the flower show’s key long-time employees, Garden and Feature Manager Cyle Eldred and Exhibits Manager Linda Knudsen, will be retained in the transition. Kelly will remain involved as a consultant.
Kelly owned and produced both the Northwest and San Francisco Flower &Garden Shows. His shows earned an international reputation for the quality of the display gardens, seminars and commercial exhibits. In June Kelly sold the San Francisco show to a group of Bay Area businessmen.
Terms of the sales of both shows were not disclosed.
For more information on O’Loughlin Trade Shows, please visit www.otshows.com.
What do you think of the news? Comment below or, to be included in a story about the sale, contact Sarah Jackson at sjackson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3037.
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