Date: Fri 10-Apr-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: DAVIDS

Quick Words:

Triple

Full Text:

Triple Pier

w/cuts

NEW YORK CITY -- "No matter what your fancy, there will surely be something

here to strike it," said a jubilant Mark Goodman as he dashed from booth to

booth with a couple of packages under his arm during the second week of the

Triple Pier Expo.

With more than 600 dealers participating on each of the back-to-back weekends

and with each of the three piers categorized, it must be surmised that Goodman

was correct. It would be hard not to find something that would float your boat

at the Triple Pier Expo.

Show managers Irene and LeAnn Stella billed their Expo as "peerless," and

indeed the show is incomparable. It is truly unique. The staggered openings

for each of the piers takes place an hour apart, creating a buying frenzy that

lasts for more than three hours. This is one place that segregation rules,

each pier is divided into categories; Twentieth Century, Americana and

Classical. Naturally each pier has its own clientele, but no one lets their

prejudices show as they line up at each pier with equal enthusiasm.

Management at the Triple Piers has grown into a family affair over the past

few years.

Show manager Irene Stella said she has all but handed over the reigns of the

show to her daughter, LeAnn. "LeAnn runs virtually everything now," said

Irene, who this year had the help her seven children, their five spouses and

one grandchild, some coming from as far as Michigan to help.

The first weekend of the Triple Pier had dealers, customers, and shoppers in

an uproar. For the first time the show's dates conflicted with Atlantique

City. Management was forced by the Port Authority, who controls the usage of

the piers, to use the dates provided as Stella's regular dates posed a

scheduling conflict.

Both Irene and LeAnn Stella commented that they were unhappy about having to

compete with another major show in such close proximity, but that it all

worked out. Their gate, according to management, was down slightly, and they

said some dealers felt the effect of clients being elsewhere for the weekend.

Others, however, stressed management, did better than ever at the show. The

second week of the show ran conflict-free and attendance was back up with

larger-than-normal lines forming at opening.

Despite the adversity of this year's event, Triple Pier once again came off

without a hitch. As these photos reflect, the show is both diverse and

voluminous, yet it still retains good middle-line to upper-end merchandise.