The Producer

There is no business like show business for Stuart Galloway.

For the past 23 years he has entertained, enlightened and enticed millions of people across the country. However you will not see his act on stage or screen. Stuart’s performance takes place behind the scenes and his role is to ensure all the other acts blend seamlessly together.

Stuart Galloway is a Show Producer. “I produce trade shows, consumer shows, conferences and industrial shows,” said Stuart “I am the largest independent show producer in the country.”

He has staged events at B.C. Place in Vancouver and the 700,000 sq ft International Centre in Toronto. He has a Boat, R.V. Home & Cottage show in Kingston; a Home & Garden Show in Chatham and Stuart is the long time producer/owner of the Windsor Home & Leisure Show now called the Windsor Home & Garden Show.

The Toronto born, London raised, University of Windsor business graduate did not start out on the path to show business. In fact his first business venture was a Publishing company.

“We published a local weekly newsletter called, ‘The Student’s Voice’ which was distributed free to area high schools. We printed articles and stories written by students.” Stuart explained.

The newsletter was a pre-internet form of social media, giving students an opportunity to express their opinions and concerns in a public forum. Advertisers loved it, but school boards, not so much. Stuart’s company also published the T.V. Facts magazine and Caveat, a monthly law journal for university students.

For a time the publishing business was doing well. But like most publishers revenues were depended on paid advertisements. And as anyone in Print Media knows, collecting advertising dollars is sometimes more elusive than finding advertising dollars. Throw in a recession and it becomes a fight for survival.

“The economic recession forced many business to cut back. Many cut advertising costs which of course directly affected us.” Stuart said.

“We needed to expand to other markets if we were going to survive. We made a pitch to the Toronto School Board but in the end they voted down our proposal.” As Stuart’s company struggled his own efforts were turning increasing away from sales to accounts receivable and collections.

“I was chasing after our money,” He lamented. “I was spending more time trying to collect overdue accounts than I was bringing in new business.”

In 1989 Stuart’s company landed a contract to produce the show guide for the Windsor Home & Leisure Show. It helped but without the Toronto market for ‘The Student Voice’ and without those sorely needed advertising dollars the future for Stuart’s publishing company was bleak. Two years later the decision was made to sell the company to Sun Media.

Close one door and open another. In 1991, Stuart and his publishing partner were offered an opportunity to run the Windsor Home & Leisure Show for a 50% share.

“Neither of us had any show business experience,” Stuart mused, “my partner declined but I was still in my twenties, still naive enough to think it would be easy work. So I agreed.”

Of course the work was anything but easy, still the move was not such a great leap into unknown territory for Stuart.

“In the publishing business my primary job was advertising, selling ad space in our magazines, newsletters and brochures. In show business I am still selling space, temporary space in buildings for exhibits and promotions,” he said, adding, “the difference is I am getting paid before the show opens as opposed to waiting until after an advertisement has been published.”

Although Stuart could find similarities between the two businesses he also could not help but notice the differences. Show business is a much quicker pace environment than the publishing world and people are more demanding.

“I have never run so hard or slept so little as I did that first year.” Stuart recalled. “And the people were much different than those we dealt with in the publishing business. People were more impatient and more in-your-face.”

Perhaps the greatest difference Stuart faced was understanding just how much really does goes on behind the scenes.

“Even today it is the part of this business people don’t see. The planning and preparation part; the permits, leasing and licensing parts. The knowing municipal by-laws and codes parts; the fire and safety regulations parts and of course the working with hundreds of vendors and ensuring that the thousands of visitors who attend the show see no signs of all the work that goes on behind the scene.”

Holding tightly onto the logistical reins is just part of the show and something Stuart can control but he said the most important challenge is the part he has no control of and that is the finding the right location part.

“There are not many cities which have buildings with dedicated floor space for these kind of shows and events. Places like the International Centre in Toronto or Cobo Hall in Detroit.”

Stuart explained that more often than not he has to compete for space in sports venues, or buildings normally used for other activities and are therefore many times lacking the amenities and conveniences of buildings intended to host trade and commerce shows.

All of this Stuart would face in the coming months and years as he began his new career in show business. Perhaps not as glamourous as life in the lime-light but despite the hard work and organized chaos, Stuart said, “it has all been worth it.”

And although the learning curve was more like a straight-up line, Stuart was able to rely on someone who he has been able to depend on for more than 25 years.

“Barb Price is definitely the glue that holds everything together.” He said. “Barb was the designer for our publishing company and she came over with me when I took over the Windsor

Home & Leisure Show. I can’t tell you how important she has been to the business and to me for all these years.”

During the next 12 years Stuart enjoyed success with the Windsor Home & Leisure Show and he expanded his business. He was traveling the country and producing a variety of industrial, commercial and consumer shows in Edmonton, Montreal as well as Toronto and Vancouver.

The Waste Disposal Show Stuart hosted (for seven years) at the International Centre in Toronto gained international attention and attendance grew steadily. Then, at what some might think was the peak of success, Stuart began selling his businesses.

He sold the Waste Disposal show to a German corporation and by 2003 he had sold everything else except the Windsor Home & Leisure Show.

“I wanted to be able to spend more time with my family.” He said, adding, “and because we still live in this community I wanted to hold on to the show.”

For the next three years Stuart spent time at home and with his family but by 2006 the show business bug was biting again and he began planning new productions.

He launched a national women’s consumer show and began again producing a variety of trade and consumer shows across the country. By the way, Stuart pointed out that there is a significant difference between a trade show and a consumer show.

“Trade shows are industry specific, generally only those involved in that particular industry would be interested.” He said, adding, “while consumer shows are public attractions. Many people label everything as a trade show but they are not the same.”

It is now 23 years later. Much has changed over the years but for Stuart show business is still show business. He is still working as hard as ever. After 23 years he still has the passion but he has learned to take time and step away once in a while. To take time for himself and his family and to never lose sight of the fact that his two daughters, 12 year old Nicole and 14 year old Sydney are the prize of his life.

Meanwhile The Windsor Home & Garden show has changed too. It has a new home and is now three shows in one. Stuart explains.

“We have moved into a 160,000 square foot warehouse on Sprucewood across from the (former) Windsor Raceway. We can now accommodate a much bigger show, adding more vendors and more variety. Now we offer three distinct sections, one for recreational vehicles, one for boats and one for home and garden. Three shows, one admission price.”

Although it was a career choice he had never considered and while he does not dismiss the vagaries of life where fate can intervene to twist and turn our direction, Stuart Galloway can not help but acknowledge that the change was for the best and for him there really is no business like show business.

“I have had a blessed life.” he said. “There is not much I would go back and change. But if I had to choose between this and that, I’ll always take show business.”

For more information please visit the website: ontariotradeshows.com or telephone: 226-363-0550.

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