The Women's Show is Girls' Day Out for the big girls.
The three-day extravaganza of women's events and entertainment, which begins Friday August 27 at Auckland Showgrounds in Greenlane, caters to a slightly more mature female than its counterpart held in March, says the organiser.
Ros Warren of Lifestyle Expossays events like home and small business presentations appeal to women with more than fads on the brain. The Women's Show, she says, aims to "educate, empower and enlighten women".
She hopes women will be inspired by presenters like Annette Presley, founder of internet provider Slingshot, who gives a half-hour seminar called "Super Success Story! From Garage to $100 million Turnover Company".
Beauty, food and interior design also get an airing in presentations, while in the main exhibition hall, mini-makeovers compete with taekwondo, kickboxing, ceroc, hip hop, belly dancing and Pilates displays for the ladies' attention.
The Women's Show was held for the first time last year at the North Shore Events Centre in Glenfield.
Ms Warren said positive feedback inspired her company, also organiser of The American Express Christmas Shopping Expo and The Bow Wow Meow Pet Expo, to move to a bigger venue this year.
The show has more than 170 exhibitors, and exhibition spaces don't come cheap - $2500 for a 3.6m by 3.6m site, and $4800 for a 7.2m by 3.6m site, GST excluded.
But Ms Warren said the prices were a bargain in terms of exposure for retailers. "There's nothing like getting right in front of your target market."
The show also had the advantage over print, radio and television advertising of allowing consumers to touch, smell and feel products, she said.
And retailers knew the importance of connecting with women.
"There's a huge demand from exhibitors that really rate women as powerful and independent consumers."
Of the people who attended last year's show, 56 per cent earned more than $35,000 a year and 21 per cent earned $50,000 to $60,000 a year.
The largest group - 30 per cent - were aged between 30 and 40.
Women accounted for 97 per cent of visitors.
Expos targeting female consumers have become big business. The annual Girls' Day Out, also held at Auckland Showgrounds and lasting three days, attracted more than 30,000 visitors this year - double the 15,000 at the first expo in 2001.
Entry to The Women's Show is $15 for women and free for men.
