The principals of Metropolitan Expositions LLC are, from left:
Elaine and John Dunn, John J. Nunes, and Richard E. Murphy
New Group Operating Metro Expo Shows
Sept. 1, 2006 — The newly formed Metropolitan Expositions LLC has announced the purchase from Metropolitan Expositions, Inc. of its operating assets as well as the New York and Washington, DC shows run by that organization.
The very successful Metro Expo New York and Washington shows have been produced by Michael Stern of Towaco, New Jersey, for more than 18 years. Metropolitan Expositions LLC is the product of a partnership formed by three successful show promoters in their own right, and their acquisition of the New York and Washington shows has been warmly received by participating dealers and collectors.
The Partners
Richard E. Murphy
Richard E. Murphy of Northborough, Massachusetts. has staged his own First Sunday shows in Dedham for more than 20 years, as well as producing the annual NESS/Metro Boston show and managing recent NEASDA shows in Massachusetts. Murphy also operates a stamp business under his own name.
John J. Nunes
John Nunes of Scotia, New York, operates a number of shows in midstate New York, including Cover Mania, Post Card Mania, the RS shows in Rochester and Capital District Stamp Shows in Albany, as well as the Paper Mania show in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He is a partner in the Tonure Group’s Weekday Stamp Shows held throughout the Northeast. Nunes also operates a stamp and cover business under the name Nunesnook in the United States and Canada.
John and Elaine Dunn
John and Elaine Dunn of Merrimack, New Hampshire, operate the Connecticut Stamp Collecting Festivals, which began in 1972 as the Second Sunday Stamp Shows. Mr. Dunn also produced three-day Connecticut Festivals in the Hartford Civic Center. The Dunns own Stamp News, which publishes Mekeel’s & Stamps weekly and U.S. Stamp News monthly.
Our Pledge
In announcing the acquisition, the Metropolitan Expositions LLC principals pledged to continue to work in cooperation with existing organizations and shows, including the ASDA Postage Stamp Mega-Events that are held semi-annually in New York. In a joint statement, they explained, “The goal will be to increase the total number of collectors in areas where Metropolitan Expo shows are conducted. We have all promoted our own shows in the local non-philatelic media as well as through the philatelic media and will carry over to Metro Expos our previous success in recruiting new collectors to organized philately. We seek growth, and invite the participation of any organizations, large or small, local or international, who want to work with us to increase the size of the stamp collecting pie instead of just trying to carve out a larger slice from a shrinking pie.”
While the acquisition was finalized in advance of the September New York Metropolitan Stamp Show, the first event that will be operated by the new owners will be the free-admission December 8–10 New York Metro Expo, which will be held at the Midtown Holiday Inn, 440 West 57th Street. The first DC show under the new owners will be held January 12–14, 2007, at the Hilton Washington at Dulles Airport.
In addition to all of the features that have made this show popular for more than 18 years, the new owners have plans to increase the size and appeal of the shows by stepping up marketing efforts, and increasing the number of drawing power of the participating dealers. Additional sites and show acquisitions will also be considered on a case by case basis.
Visitors who register upon arriving at the show will be eligible to win “the World’s Largest Kiss”, a huge, hollow, Hershey’s chocolate Kiss product with more Hershey’s Kisses inside. The drawing will be held at the end of the show and to assure freshness, the “World’s Largest Kiss” will be shipped by Metro Expos directly from Hershey’s to the winner.