Press Releases
Marketplace Events Expands Reach into Sport/Outdoor Category With Purchase of Four Shows from O’Loughlin Trade Shows
March 25, 2024
Marketplace Events (MPE), North America’s largest business-to-consumer show producer, today announced the acquisition of four shows in the Sport/Outdoor category from O’Loughlin Trade Shows (OTS), the premier consumer event producer in the Pacific Northwest. OTS is the same company from which MPE purchased two holiday shows in January of this year.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – March 25, 2024: Marketplace Events (MPE), North America’s largest business-to-consumer show producer, today announced the acquisition of four shows in the Sport/Outdoor category from O’Loughlin Trade Shows (OTS), the premier consumer event producer in the Pacific Northwest. OTS is the same company from which MPE purchased two holiday shows in January of this year.
The Sportsmen Shows in Portland and Redmond OR and Puyallup, WA, along with the Portland Boat Show will be MPE’s first foray into the consumer Sport/Outdoor Show category, a natural progression of the company’s rapidly expanding multi-category B2C event footprint in North America.
In a unique transition partnership, the O’Loughlin’s will continue to run these four events for several years on a management contract and consult with MPE on growth opportunities. In addition to their two holiday shows, MPE also acquired two home and garden events in Seattle and Tacoma from OTS in 2018. OTS will continue running their RV shows.
“In the Outdoor category, the OTS Sportsmen shows are recognized as top-of-class, legacy events. We are thrilled to have them join Marketplace Events,” explained MPE CEO Tom Baugh. “This acquisition is transformational for MPE because it ushers our entry into an exciting new consumer category with passionate attendees, engaged exhibitors, and terrific sponsors – an equation for massive future growth.”
Bill OLoughlin, President of O' Loughlin Trade Shows added, "Nothing changes for our customers. My brothers and I, our sales and office staff, venues and shows all remain the same. This acquisition benefits our exhibitors and attendees. Marketplace Events brings world-class financial and organizational resources and a national reach that will assure the growth and integrity of these shows into the future. We could not be happier or more excited by the opportunity this opens for everyone associated with these shows."
MPE has dominated the consumer home and garden events category from its inception. In 2014 they acquired the Kansas City Holiday Boutique, their first holiday shopping show. Today the company has grown that business into 14 highly successful holiday shows while they continue to produce 60 home and garden events – 15 in Canada and 45 in the US. “Our playbook is straightforward - we are always looking for opportunities to grow our Home, Holiday and now Outdoor show portfolios,” said Baugh. “We plan to announce a few more holiday show acquisitions in the near future and immediately begin growing the Sport and Outdoor Show category in the same way,” he continued.
The Sportsmen Shows in Portland and Redmond OR and Puyallup, WA, along with the Portland Boat Show will be MPE’s first foray into the consumer Sport/Outdoor Show category, a natural progression of the company’s rapidly expanding multi-category B2C event footprint in North America.
In a unique transition partnership, the O’Loughlin’s will continue to run these four events for several years on a management contract and consult with MPE on growth opportunities. In addition to their two holiday shows, MPE also acquired two home and garden events in Seattle and Tacoma from OTS in 2018. OTS will continue running their RV shows.
“In the Outdoor category, the OTS Sportsmen shows are recognized as top-of-class, legacy events. We are thrilled to have them join Marketplace Events,” explained MPE CEO Tom Baugh. “This acquisition is transformational for MPE because it ushers our entry into an exciting new consumer category with passionate attendees, engaged exhibitors, and terrific sponsors – an equation for massive future growth.”
Bill OLoughlin, President of O' Loughlin Trade Shows added, "Nothing changes for our customers. My brothers and I, our sales and office staff, venues and shows all remain the same. This acquisition benefits our exhibitors and attendees. Marketplace Events brings world-class financial and organizational resources and a national reach that will assure the growth and integrity of these shows into the future. We could not be happier or more excited by the opportunity this opens for everyone associated with these shows."
MPE has dominated the consumer home and garden events category from its inception. In 2014 they acquired the Kansas City Holiday Boutique, their first holiday shopping show. Today the company has grown that business into 14 highly successful holiday shows while they continue to produce 60 home and garden events – 15 in Canada and 45 in the US. “Our playbook is straightforward - we are always looking for opportunities to grow our Home, Holiday and now Outdoor show portfolios,” said Baugh. “We plan to announce a few more holiday show acquisitions in the near future and immediately begin growing the Sport and Outdoor Show category in the same way,” he continued.
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