National Bulk Vendors Association
2004 Annual Convention

Chicago, IL USA - The return to Las Vegas produced almost record numbers for the 54th annual convention of the National Bulk Vendors Association. Convention Chairman Jim Hinton (Oak Manufacturing in California), announced total registrations jumped from 605 to 793, while the number of exhibitors grew from 48 to 54 and the number of booths edged up from 109 to 111. The success has prompted the officers to review past results in Las Vegas toward a view of returning to Las Vegas more frequently.

The bulk vendors are determined to obtain more sales tax exemptions after a two year hiatus, especially in states where deficits have been eliminated or costs have been brought into control. Phil Brilliant, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, announced the selection of Pennsylvania, Kansas and Minnesota. To enable and support the aggressive campaign, the Board of Directors doubled the maximum amount in the annual budget available for the lobbying program.

A new Toy Safety Standard was proposed by the Executive Committee at its September meeting and was adopted by the Board of Directors. All toys and novelties sold by members of the NBVA are already tested extensively before sale, so the new Standard will not have significant impact on the suppliers and importers. Each toy or novelty must be tested by one of the established testing facilities, such as Bureau Veritas or Intertech. The suppliers are expected to maintain copies of the test certifications for at least 2 years and to furnish the test results to operators upon request. Correspondingly, the operators are expected to buy only from suppliers who maintain comprehensive testing programs and to request test reports on products initially ordered by the operators.

Workshop Chairman Steve Siegel, Great American Vending Machine Co. in New Jersey, opened the program with a first ever film of the warehouse and office facilities of Tropical Vending in Puerto Rico, Theisen Vending in Minnesota, Great American Vending in New Jersey, Sugar Daddy Vending in New York, Folz Vending in Long Island and The Amusement Factory in California. The program was so well received that Chairman Siegel was inundated with requests for the DVD, to be supplied to members at cost. Other subjects included Toy Safety and Testing with Phil Brilliant of A&A Global and Bureau Veritas representatives, Cheryl Lynn Schwetzer and David Simonson; Growing Your Business Through Financing with Tom Theisen (Theisen Vending), David Cohen (Firestone Financial) and Mitchell Roth (Much Shelist); The Secrets of Cranes for Bulk Vendors featuring George McAuliffe (Pinnacle Entertainment) and Dan Silberman (New York Toy Exchange); and How Does the Small Operator Prosper with Scott Schill (Gums N Roses), Steve Schechner (Capital Vending) and Phil Dobin (Millennium Partners, Inc.).

The same slate of officers were re-elected for another year. The President is Frank A. LaVecchia, Jr. (Tropical Vending in Puerto Rico); the Vice President is Howard Smuschkowitz (Concord Confections in Canada); the Secretary is Daniel L. Case (Tejas Distributors in Texas); and the Treasurer is Peter Becker (What's Up LLC in Wisconsin).

The 2005 convention will be at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida from April 21-23, while the NBVA will return to the Caesars Palace Hotel in 2006. Interested parties may contact the Association office at 191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1800, Chicago, IL 60606 or you may call the Association at 312.521.2400