Global event organiser and B2B platform Emerald has acquired EDspace, the annual tradeshow and conference run by trade organisation for the educational products marketplace, Education Market Association (EDmarket)
Founded in 1916, the EmA, which now has 400 members, promotes a market for quality educational products and services that are produced and delivered by professional suppliers and dealers.
“The Education Market Association built EDspaces over the past 25 years into a major industry tradeshow with more than 600 booth units along with a strong conference programme of 50 individual sessions. This event is a great addition to the existing Emerald portfolio of design industry related events that will strengthen their presence in this growing sector,” said Nick Curci, president of Corporate Solutions, Connecticut, the exclusive advisor to EDmarket in structuring and negotiating the transaction, which was closed on 21 December 2020 and approved unanimously by the EDmarket membership. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“Through our alliance with Emerald, with its added resources and tradeshow creativity, we look forward to growing EDspaces and making it an even better investment for the exhibitors, buyers, and our industry members,” said Lee Stapp, president of Officescapes and 2021 EDmarket chair of the board.
As part of the business agreement, EDmarket will remain committed to EDspaces by continuing to sponsor and support the event.
The EDmarket team will be working closely with Emerald’s EDspaces team on the transition and will play an integral part in the conference content development.
Joe Tucker, Loraine Coleman and Scott Beyer have joined Emerald and will remain key resources for exhibitor success and continuity. The remaining EDmarket staff members will support the board of directors’ refocusing efforts to improve membership value and enhance growth and opportunity for the education market.
“Moving forward, EDmarket will be able to continue its 105-year history as a key resource and connector to the education marketplace,” stated Jim McGarry, EDmarket president/CEO. “We are excited to work with the Emerald team to deliver the high-quality content the industry has come to expect.”
Emerald runs over 140 events each year across a broad range of industries.
Corporate Solutions added: “Even during this Covid-19 pandemic we still see strong demand for quality tradeshows to acquire. Most of our existing and soon to be announced new offerings are large association owned tradeshows. We expect to announce another association tradeshow sale in the next two weeks.”
