GIE+Expo: The Complete Guide
Green industry trade expos are incredible events where industry professionals and businesses can gather under one roof and connect.
They can discover, buy, and sell the latest industry advancements and technologies and grow their networks and businesses.
Equip Exposition, aka GIE Expo – The Green Industry & Equipment Expo, is the best and biggest trade event in the world for outdoor living professionals, landscapers, and lawn care technicians.
GIE+Expo exhibitor list attendees can shop, network, and learn from the best in the industry and gain a competitive edge over other businesses here.
Are you excited to learn more about this leading trade show? Join us as we delve into its history, significance, and benefits for attendees and exhibitors.
What Is the Gie+Expo?
Earlier called the GIE+Expo – The Green Industry & Equipment Expo, the Equip Exposition is one of the world’s top trade events serving the landscaping, lawn care, and green industry.
It is held every year in October at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. This expo brings industry folk together on a single platform and helps them easily find and partner. They can also browse innovative products and services and attend high-value educational seminars, demo sessions, and concerts.
Additionally, attendees can test-drive new equipment at the expo’s Outdoor Demo Yard before purchasing it.
The trade event is the largest industry showcase in the USA and Canada—if not the world—for outdoor power equipment, light construction equipment, lawn and garden products, landscape equipment, and leisure items.
As one of the green industry’s most productive and efficient marketplaces, the Equip Exposition attracts tens of thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors annually.
Moreover, this leading equipment exhibition is held concurrently yearly with another top trade event, Hardscape North America (HNA), at the same venue.
Hardscape North America caters to hardscape contractors and distributors.
Together, these shows allow participants to explore diverse product categories under one roof and get more than they bargained for.
History of the Gie+Expo
The GIE+Expo or Equip Exposition was launched over four decades ago by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Inc. (OPEI).
The OPEI, the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) sponsor the event.
Since its launch, the show has been held in Louisville, Kentucky, and has called the city its home.
The last few years have seen OPEI fully bring the equipment exhibition under its management and make impressive changes in how the expo is run.
Spearheaded by OPEI President Kris Kiser, it has added many more exciting and interesting events and features like increased networking events that participants can look forward to.
The three-day trade event also features an increased number of exhibitors across different product categories. In 2022, OPEI also renamed the GIE+Expo as Equip Exposition. This opened up a new chapter for the green industry’s largest event.
As the show continues to evolve, it has emerged as the largest industry showcase for green industry products and services.
Who Is the Gie+Expo For?
The GIE+Expo serves a wide range of green industry professionals from across the USA and the world. The annual event draws the following industry segments:
- Landscaping technicians
- Manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of lawn and garden products
- Lawn and garden care operators
- Park and recreation crews
- Servicing dealers
- Power sports retailers
- General contractors
- Forest and land managers
- Golf course superintendents
- Industry media professionals
- Other green industry experts
Why Should I Attend the Gie+Expo?
The GIE+Expo or Equip Exposition is the largest show in the USA for the landscape and outdoor power equipment industry. People attending this three-day equipment expo in Louisville can enjoy the following benefits:
Innovative Offerings
The expo is the green industry’s biggest showcase for the latest outdoor power tools and non-power products in the consumer and commercial space.
It regularly features over 1,000 exhibits across the 675,000 square feet inside the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Attendees wait all year to get their hands on the most innovative products and services from leading and budding software manufacturers, landscape equipment dealers, and contractors.
Moreover, they can source these products at attractive rates within their budget. This makes this outdoor living and equipment exposition a must-attend event for green industry professionals.
Outdoor Demonstrations and Test Driving
The expo’s Outdoor Demo Yard features over 20 acres where attendees can test brand-new gear before investing.
The outdoor demo booths here stock everything from the latest lawnmowers and weed eaters to skid steers and chainsaws.
Attendees can visit the outdoor area adjacent to the indoor exhibits and check out the product demonstrations. They can also go on test drives and talk to company reps who will answer all their doubts and questions.
Ambassador Meetups and Giveaways
Attendees can participate in ambassador meetups to connect with and speak to landscaping and lawn care experts.
They can also try their luck at product giveaways that ambassadors and exhibitors hand out. Prizes include equipment, gift cards, and hard cash!
Workshops and Seminars
The expo offers virtually endless educational opportunities for various industry segments. Visitors can participate in educational workshops and seminars to learn about the industry.
They can receive updated landscape contractor education and attend classes covering different topics like tree care and irrigation.
They can also earn certification or licensure, boosting their professional skills and keeping them ahead in the industry.
Networking Opportunities
The GIE+Expo offers an excellent opportunity for green industry professionals to meet and network with their peers and partners.
At the exhibit halls, they can connect with hundreds of outdoor power equipment manufacturers, dealers, distributors, retailers, landscape contractors, and other industry trailblazers and participants.
Some key networking events where you can connect with your colleagues and potential vendors at the expo include:
- Welcome reception
- Mulligan’s 5K Fun Run and Walk
- Equip Expo Concert Series at Fourth Street Live
- UTV Test Track
- Networking breakfast event
Hardscape North America
This trade event runs congruent with the Equip Exposition at the same venue. Although the event is part of the expo, it has a separate area dedicated to hardscapes.
People interested in these products can connect with contractors and suppliers and explore and buy their offerings.
Why Should I Exhibit at the Gie+Expo?
The GIE+Expo or Equip Exposition is a leading international expo for the outdoor living, landscape, and equipment industry.
Considered the Super Bowl of the green industry, it offers exhibitors the following benefits:
New Product Launches
As the GIE Expo is held annually in the fall, it offers manufacturers the perfect timing and opportunity to exhibit their latest products.
Exhibitors can showcase a wide range of product categories, like lawn and garden products, outdoor leisure items, outdoor power equipment, landscape, and light construction equipment, and so on.
By unveiling their new product lines here, they can create and increase demand for their goods and sell them quickly. This helps them generate new leads and revenue faster and grow their business.
Business owners and innovators can also explore thousands of offerings from hundreds of other manufacturers and find inspiration for their own businesses here.
Outdoor Demo Yard
Entrepreneurs can showcase their exhibits across the Kentucky Exposition Center’s 675,000 square feet and on its turf area outside. The expo offers exclusive outdoor demonstration space with an indoor space contract.
This allows businesses to present their latest big machines and equipment for test-driving and demonstrations across 22 acres of the Outdoor Demo Yard.
Networking Events
As the epicenter of the outdoor living, landscape, and equipment industry, the show organizes top-notch networking events.
Businesses can connect with their industry peers and get direct access to thousands of decision-makers here.
The expo is a hotspot for industry leaders like landscapers, home centers, general contractors, retailers, dealers, and distributors for consumer, professional and rental use.
Other industry stakeholders that attend the event include golf course superintendents, park and recreation crews, and forest and land managers.
Exhibitors can partner with new vendors and consultants, gain greater brand visibility and media coverage, and grow their businesses exponentially.
The networking opportunities continue beyond the end of the day.
The Fourth Street Live event held in the evenings provides a fantastic arena for show participants to connect with potential business partners in a relaxed setting. Food, drinks, and entertainment are all in plenty here!
Educational Seminars
Business owners and executives can attend seminars, workshops, and other learning events at the expo that cover different topics.
These opportunities for business education can help them gain fresh insights into growing their business and offerings while helping them improve their operational efficiency and bottom line.
Brand-Building Opportunities
Besides the business promotion opportunities listed above, the world’s largest trade show for landscape and lawn products features special pavilions for OEM suppliers and dealers of ice and snow management products.
Businesses can also build their brand image and stand out among the crowd of exhibitors by sponsoring a service or event at the expo.
This will help them get featured in the show directory and news releases as an official sponsor and set themselves apart from their competitors.
Brands can also attract more booth traffic using great trade show displays, fun games, swag product giveaways, and other cool marketing tactics.
When and Where Is the Gie+Expo?
The dates for the next edition of the GIE+Expo are October 18 to 20, 2023. The venue is the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, Kentucky 40209, USA.
Accommodation Guide
OPEI, which controls and manages the Equip Exposition, has partnered with the Louisville Housing Bureau as the expo’s official hotel booking partner. Reserving your hotel room with this company helps you get the best rates.
To book hotels and lodging options directly with the Louisville Housing Bureau, check its or the expo’s website as the expo dates get closer.
The Equip Exposition has also listed hotels on the shuttle route for the expo. Check them out below:
- Hyatt Regency Louisville
- The Seelbach Hilton Louisville
- Embassy Suites Louisville Downtown Hotel
- Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Downtown Hotel
- The Brown Hotel
- Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Expo Ctr
- Four Points by Sheraton Louisville Airport
- Courtyard by Marriott Louisville Airport
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Louisville Airport
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Louisville Downtown
- Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport
- Galt House Hotel
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Louisville Downtown
- Omni Louisville Hotel
- Hampton Inn Louisville Downtown Hotel
- SpringHill Suites Louisville Downtown
- Louisville Marriott Downtown
- Cambria Hotel Louisville Downtown-Whiskey Row
- Aloft Louisville Downtown
- Moxy Louisville Downtown
- Hotel Distil
- Courtyard by Marriott Louisville Downtown
If you want other accommodation options, we have listed the top hotels near the Kentucky Exposition Center below:
- Tru by Hilton Louisville Airport Hotel
- SpringHill Suites Louisville Airport
- Homewood Suites By Hilton Louisville Airport
- Residence Inn by Marriott Louisville Airport
Conclusion
The Equip Exposition offers a wonderful platform for green industry professionals and businesses to come together and celebrate new industry advancements.
It helps them discover new products and services, sell new product lines, network with well-known experts, and learn about different niche topics.
Note that the trade expo also hosts Hardscape North America, which serves the hardscape industry.
This makes the two popular events a must-visit for landscapers, manufacturers, vendors, contractors, and distributors from these industries.
Join the fun and frenzy and boost your business and client base.
If you’re planning to visit or set up a booth at this expo, you will need the best trade show materials and supplies to help you stand out from the crowd.
American Image provides exhibitors with a wide range of beautiful booths, graphics, reliable trade show logistics assistance, and other trade show booth essentials.
We sell our products and services at affordable rates. So, you can easily source whatever you need for the show without worrying about blowing your budget.
Check out our impressive selection of products and services on our website, or contact us to learn more.
