11/8/2013 2:39:00 AM
NEWS BRIEFS
Exhibitor Booth, Registration Numbers Up at 2013 NIFMSE
From exhibit booths to overall registration, numbers were up for the 2013 National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo.
Show management reported total registration rose to 4,577 – up from 4,238 in 2012.
Though by multiple measures the trade show numbers were up, none rose enough to set records for the October 2013 event at the Sands Convention Center & Expo in Las Vegas.
• Distributor registration totaled 1,330, up .06% from 1,260 for 2012.
• There were 609 companies taking the 794 booths at the October 2013 trade show in Las Vegas, compared with 596 companies and 770 booths for 2012.
The booth record for NIFMSE’s 33 year history stands at 829 in 2007.
• The percentage of exhibitors listing foreign addresses edged up again for 2013 – putting it above 40%.
In 2010 it was 35.7%; 2011 edged up to 36.8%; last year 38.1%; and 40.7% this year.
• At 2,474, exhibit staff this year exceeded the total of all other categories of industry registrants, which combined were 2,103.
This year’s number of exhibitor staff was up from 2012’s total of 2,311.
• Though most numbers were up, attendee registrants came from two fewer countries. This year they came from the U.S. plus 37 other countries for a 38 total. Last year there were a total of 40 countries represented.
• According to NIFMSE numbers, there were a total of 184 independent sales reps registered – up from 160 for 2012.
• Suppliers – including manufacturers, reps and master distributors – totaled 479 registrations vs. 424 in 2012.
• People representing various services totaled 110 registrations, compared with 87 last year.
The NIFMSE total registration record remains at 5,629 set in 2007 and the highest distributor registration is 1,577 the same year.
The NIFMSE numbers are total registration rather than actual attendance.
Show general manager Susan Hurley acknowledged that the general statistics include everyone registered to attend. She said there were 77 exhibitor staff and 111 attendees who registered but didn’t pick up badges.
Show management provides a registration list to exhibitors.
Exhibitor Comments
“For the first time since 2008 the show had full life,” one veteran exhibitor declared.
“Crazy good show for us.”
“The show was a winner for me.”
“Thursday morning at the show was well attended.”
“I thought that the show was the best it has been in many years. On Thursday, we had continual traffic in our booth up until the lights went out closing time. Friday was pleasantly surprising because we again had more activity than in the recent years past and even had several potential customers still in our booth when the show closed.”
“I thought the show was one of their best,” an East Coast exhibitor reflected. “Attendance was good, interest was high and folks seemed to spend a lot more time on the floor. Even Friday was busy.”
“The show went very well for us,” said a Midwest exhibitor. “We all thought it was one of the best in recent years.”
“Couldn’t ask for anything better,” said another happy exhibitor.
This is the third year of the International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association holding its machinery show within NIFMSA. Several machinery exhibitors declared 2013 to be the best. “I would not change anything,”
“We thought the show was better than recent years. Even Friday was not bad.”
Not everyone was satisfied with the results: “Not much to cheer about on the show,” said a veteran of many trade shows. “Busy from 9:30 ’til 12:30, then everything slowed down. Second day was a bust. Nothing new about that.”
“Friday has become a total non-event,” said an exhibitor who has some staff head back to the office Thursday evening.
Suggestion Box
Friday is the subject of most exhibitor suggestions.
Without show management adding something on Friday, “this show is strictly a one-day event.” One option mentioned was allowing distributors in free on Friday.
Instead of opening at 9 a.m., “They could start the show at 10 on Friday – making it 10-1 or just eliminate the next day.”
Another suggested show management provide a buffet breakfast for exhibitors from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. to allow booth staff to meet each other. Then draw visitors with a free brunch between 10 and noon “with stations set up evenly throughout the hall.”
• The opening night party sponsored by show management drew generally positive comments and a call for more time: “One hour is short for the bash – 90 minutes would be better.”
• “Having the show on Wednesday and Thursday may draw more of a crowd so that the people could enjoy the weekend in Vegas.”
• One exhibitor mentioned pros & cons of the Sands location vs. Mandalay Bay, where NIFMSE was from 2007 to 2010. The exhibitor found “more ‘nays’ than ‘yeas’ from my perspective” to returning to Mandalay Bay.
Another exhibitor suggested the trade show should alternate cities. “I am so tired of Vegas. ‘Been there, done that.'” Why not alternate with Nashville or Orlando to draw distributors not coming here?”
“How many distributors pass on the show because they ‘can go next year’? If we rotated among desirable locations, they’d have to go more often.”
Alternating cities could improve distributor turnout as several exhibitors observed attendees skewed toward the West.
“Greater effort needs to be made to attract East Coast distributors from New England to Florida. The dwindling attendance from mid- and smaller Midwest distributors is evident.”
Another exhibitor found “attendance was heavily tilted to the West Coast and some additional Southwest visitors.”
“The California team had a productive show and accomplished its major and secondary objectives,” one exhibitor noted.
• Moving cities could also enliven the show. “The show lacks excitement and newness,” an exhibitor reflected.
But new locations “would require show management to work. Just repeating last year is easy for them.”
NIFMSE has announced dates at the Sands through 2015.
• If NIFMSE management wants more machinery demonstrated at the show they need to create a separate entrance and run the machinery show extra hours on Friday or an extra day. “That way the people working their booths on the fastener side could visit the machinery side” on the third day,” one machinery supplier recommended.
Fastener machinery shows used to draw huge production machinery, but one exhibitor with a small machine noted the convention center service contractor had difficulty bringing in even that in.
• One exhibitor suggested changing to a spring show. “Too much going on in the fall with things like STAFDA, holidays, etc.”
An Association Show?
Decade-after-decade fastener association leaders report they know of no contributions NIFMSE has made to any industry cause.
This year the Fastener Industry Coalition began new talks on how associations can work together and one of the topics is the possibility of funding member benefits with a Coalition-owned trade show.
One Las Vegas exhibitor criticized regional associations for failing to serve their members by participating in a national trade show benefiting the industry. “If only we could get everyone on board and showcase our industry within itself, and share in the rewards,” one exhibitor and an associate member of multiple associations said.
“The associations are losing at least a million dollars a year each and every year they wait to work together on a trade show,” a manufacturer pointed out. “Instead associate members pay higher dues and get fewer benefits from associations.”
This was the 33rd year for NIFMSE, which was which was originally known as the National Industrial Fastener Show & Conference and was first held in June 1981 in Columbus, Ohio.
The next NIFMSE will be October 22–24, 2014, in at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.
For information contact NIFMSE general manager Susan Hurley, 34 N. High St., New Albany, OH 43054 USA. Tel: 614 895-1279 Fax: 614 895-3466 Email: info@fastenershows.com Web: fastenershows.com
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