Click here to subscribe to M.A.D.

Cohen and Goodrich to Collaborate on York Shows

In the midst of the highly competitive show environment that has evolved in York, Pennsylvania, two promoters are joining forces. Goodrich & Company Promotions, Inc. will join Barry Cohen's b4rTIME, Inc. in a unique relationship between show management companies.

According to a press release, here's how it evolved. In November 2003, Barry Cohen's York County Classic Antiques Show (formerly the York Tailgate Antiques Show) moved to Memorial Hall West at the York Expo Center for its tenth anniversary season. That space was the longtime home of Jim Burk's Greater York Antiques Show, which migrated across the parking lot to the Toyota Arena. Burk's next-door neighbor was Frank Gaglio's Barn Star Promotions, whose Pennsylvania Antiques Show had its first run in York.

In May, for the spring edition of Antiques Weekend in York, promoter Bob Goodrich will debut the Early American Antiques Show at York, a 65-dealer event, to be held at Memorial Hall East, in the same building with Cohen's show. That brings the total number of Americana shows in York to four on two days, with a total of over 400 dealers.

To improve the shopping experience, the Goodrich and Cohen shows will be held during the same hours. A single $30 ticket for the early buying will cover attendance at both shows, and a joint general admission ticket for $15 will be valid for admission on both days at both events.

"With our new, single-ticket system, buyers will be able to shop the aisles of Memorial Hall—East and West—as if it were one big show," Goodrich pointed out.

"Bob is a well-respected and first-class promoter, so I was delighted he was interested in working together in York," said Cohen.

"Barry and I share similar philosophies in regard to creating dealer- and customer-friendly shows, so working together has been as smooth as one could expect, given that we are still two separate businesses," said Goodrich.

"So far, this has been a very positive experience, and we are looking at other opportunities for this sort of collaboration," added Cohen. "I believe we are setting an industry `first' with this sort of collaborative venture."

The York County Classic Antiques Show and the Early American Antiques Show at York will run May 7 and 8. For further information on Goodrich & Company Promotions and its shows, call (717) 796-2380 or visit the Web site (www.goodrichpromotions.com). For information about b4rTIME, Inc. and its show schedule for 2004, call (703) 914-1268 or visit the Web site (www.b4rtime.com).