11/21/2011
HEADLINES
Fastener Business & Show Participation “Better” for 2011 

“Better” was the word of the 2011 National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo.

Show participants noted both the increased attendance and improved overall business mood. 

Numerous participants mentioned the earlier October schedule and the move to the Sands Expo & Convention Center as improvements.

Indeed overall numbers were up for the 2011 show (see “2011 NIFMSE Numbers Up” on page 7).  Booth and attendance numbers did fall short of the pre-recession NIFMSE records.

It was the first NIFMSE at the Sands Expo in the central Las Vegas “Strip” area.  For the past four years the trade show had been at Mandalay Bay on the south end of the strip.  From the first NIFSME in Las Vegas in 1997 through 2006 it was at Paris/Ballys.

“I think the move was a positive – it is a better location and people enjoy being on the main part of the strip,” one exhibitor found.

Also new this year were the October dates.  After 14 years of scheduling close to or in conflict with the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association annual convention in November, show management moved its show a month apart.

Show management proclaimed the 2011 trade show a “huge success by any measure” and noted an “upbeat atmosphere.”

“The show was pretty good this year,” one exhibitor reflected. “Most exhibitors, as well as attendees, were commenting on business being ‘good’ and a positive feeling surrounded the show.”

“We had the most fantastic show we have ever had,” declared one exhibitor. “I actually got an order on the show floor. We were busy all day both days.”

“I found the show to be quite active and even paced. However, I don’t believe that there were as many visitors as there were previously in the show’s best years before the economy tanked in 2008.” 

“The first day as usual was very steady,” another found.

“Second day attendance has always been a problem,” one exhibitor said. “However, one good contact or meeting on the second day could make the day.  Most exhibitors seem to walk the show on the second day.  I think that there are just not enough exhibitors to attract 2nd day distributor attendance when all booths can be seen in the allotted time in one day.”

“We had a very good show, particularly the first day. The second day, as usual, was soft, but that seems to be ‘normal’.”

“We felt the attendance was better than the last couple years,” one exhibitor found.  But he also missed “many large distributors who chose not to attend this year for some reason.”

One exhibitor reported meeting about eight potential customers in addition to talking to existing customers.  Others stopping at the booth were “just curious as to what our products are used for” or to sit and rest. The manufacturer also had steel salespeople approaching.

“Went well for us, busy both days!” one exhibitor declared. “It’s such a huge show, it’s tough for anyone to walk the whole thing on Thursday. Friday was busy for us, but there were a lot of others not so busy,” he noted. 

“The show was not as good as in years past,” another found. “When people left for lunch on Thursday they did not come back.”

One exhibitor complained about the cost. In addition to the NIFMSE booth price the company paid for airfare for four, rooms, dining, etc.

“Vegas NIFMSE is one very costly show that may, for many, show little return for time and money investment,” the exhibitor commented. “Yet, we attend. Overall, we believe it was worthwhile to be seen.”

One exhibitor active in fastener associations noted that because industry associations do not own the industry’s main trade show that associate members pay both higher booth prices plus higher dues.  STAFDA booths were $1,100 this year, compared with $1,895+ for NIFMSE.

 

Machinery 

In contrast to distribution-oriented exhibitors, the machinery exhibitors want more time. “We thought it was a busy show, but I think for machines it needs to be another day,” one International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association leader commented.

In the 1990s the IFE machinery trade show had three-day events and most companies shipped machinery to the show.

One machinery exhibitor rated the show “ok,” but wants a new configuration: “Move the section to the front and focus on machinery every other year. In those years, make the show two-and-a-half days.”

Others have suggested having machinery in an adjacent hall and opening either a day earlier or staying open a day later.

One noted they were introducing a new machine and “and it was a good show for the machine and we got a lot of interest.”

Suggestion Box 

Exhibitors varied in what they want for show hours.

“I believe this should be a one-day show as the majority of customers either leave the second day or simply do not attend the show. This has been the pattern for the last five to six years and it seems to be more and more pronounced each year.”

One veteran exhibitor suggested a one-day 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. show.

One distributor who said she “got lots out of the show by meeting new vendors and being reminded by old vendors of products they carry,” but added, “we left Thursday after the show.”

Another exhibitor suggested lower or no attendee fees on the second day as an incentive for more regional distributors to attend the second day.

One exhibitor suggested OEMs be invited on the second day. Show management officially prohibits OEMs, but three times tried to have a separate OEM fastener trade show.

“If we had two half-days with seminars etc taking up the other half the show would be strong on both days because there would not be enough time to see all suppliers in one half-day show.” Exhibitors could attend seminars too.

One distributor noted that the second day allowed his company to bring in a second group and “for us from the first day the next is a chance to refine our booth visits.”

One exhibitor has learned to set appointments for more in-depth conversations on the second day.

The “most-likely-to-succeed” suggestion was that show management sponsor a drawing among attendees for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle at noon on the second day. Distributors must register for the drawing between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.  

“They’d be here,” the exhibitor declared.

Bring back the best booth awards, said one disappointed booth planner. 

“Having even a small amount of competition on the booths makes companies try to be more creative and make the show more interesting for all.”

 • One distributor suggested “fully separate the Asian booths.”

“Too many importers,” declared one domestic manufacturer.  “And they didn’t appear to be that busy,” he added. (SEE percentage of international exhibitors in “2011 NIFMSE Numbers Up” on page 7)

One industry leader urged show management not to schedule sessions before 9 a.m.  He noted less than 20% of the seats at the 7:30 a.m. panel discussion were filled. 

Several exhibitors were offended by show management’s warnings about closing down early.  

“The militant messages about early breakdown were annoying,” one termed it.

One recipient was especially offended because he said his company has never broken down the booth early.

Instead of threatening messages to exhibitors, one noted “a simple solution: If show management has enough distributors in the aisles, companies wouldn’t shut down early.”

Despite a crowd at the opening reception and abundance of food, one exhibitor complained about it being held at Harrah’s down the strip from the Sands. “The opening cocktail party should not be in a different location from the show.”

Another exhibitor suggested the opening reception be in the trade show hall.

Unlike when the show was in Columbus, OH, in “Vegas we do not really have one area that everyone congregates before or after the show.”

“Better” was the word of the 2011 National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo.

Show participants noted both the increased attendance and improved overall business mood. 

Numerous participants mentioned the earlier October schedule and the move to the Sands Expo & Convention Center as improvements.

Indeed overall numbers were up for the 2011 show (see “2011 NIFMSE Numbers Up” on page 7).  Booth and attendance numbers did fall short of the pre-recession NIFMSE records.

It was the first NIFMSE at the Sands Expo in the central Las Vegas “Strip” area.  For the past four years the trade show had been at Mandalay Bay on the south end of the strip.  From the first NIFSME in Las Vegas in 1997 through 2006 it was at Paris/Ballys.

“I think the move was a positive – it is a better location and people enjoy being on the main part of the strip,” one exhibitor found.

Also new this year were the October dates.  After 14 years of scheduling close to or in conflict with the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association annual convention in November, show management moved its show a month apart.

Show management proclaimed the 2011 trade show a “huge success by any measure” and noted an “upbeat atmosphere.”

“The show was pretty good this year,” one exhibitor reflected. “Most exhibitors, as well as attendees, were commenting on business being ‘good’ and a positive feeling surrounded the show.”

“We had the most fantastic show we have ever had,” declared one exhibitor. “I actually got an order on the show floor. We were busy all day both days.”

“I found the show to be quite active and even paced. However, I don’t believe that there were as many visitors as there were previously in the show’s best years before the economy tanked in 2008.” 

“The first day as usual was very steady,” another found.

“Second day attendance has always been a problem,” one exhibitor said. “However, one good contact or meeting on the second day could make the day.  Most exhibitors seem to walk the show on the second day.  I think that there are just not enough exhibitors to attract 2nd day distributor attendance when all booths can be seen in the allotted time in one day.”

“We had a very good show, particularly the first day. The second day, as usual, was soft, but that seems to be ‘normal’.”

“We felt the attendance was better than the last couple years,” one exhibitor found.  But he also missed “many large distributors who chose not to attend this year for some reason.”

One exhibitor reported meeting about eight potential customers in addition to talking to existing customers.  Others stopping at the booth were “just curious as to what our products are used for” or to sit and rest. The manufacturer also had steel salespeople approaching.

“Went well for us, busy both days!” one exhibitor declared. “It’s such a huge show, it’s tough for anyone to walk the whole thing on Thursday. Friday was busy for us, but there were a lot of others not so busy,” he noted. 

“The show was not as good as in years past,” another found. “When people left for lunch on Thursday they did not come back.”

One exhibitor complained about the cost. In addition to the NIFMSE booth price the company paid for airfare for four, rooms, dining, etc.

“Vegas NIFMSE is one very costly show that may, for many, show little return for time and money investment,” the exhibitor commented. “Yet, we attend. Overall, we believe it was worthwhile to be seen.”

One exhibitor active in fastener associations noted that because industry associations do not own the industry’s main trade show that associate members pay both higher booth prices plus higher dues.  STAFDA booths were $1,100 this year, compared with $1,895+ for NIFMSE.

 

Machinery 

In contrast to distribution-oriented exhibitors, the machinery exhibitors want more time. “We thought it was a busy show, but I think for machines it needs to be another day,” one International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association leader commented.

In the 1990s the IFE machinery trade show had three-day events and most companies shipped machinery to the show.

One machinery exhibitor rated the show “ok,” but wants a new configuration: “Move the section to the front and focus on machinery every other year. In those years, make the show two-and-a-half days.”

Others have suggested having machinery in an adjacent hall and opening either a day earlier or staying open a day later.

One noted they were introducing a new machine and “and it was a good show for the machine and we got a lot of interest.”

Suggestion Box 

Exhibitors varied in what they want for show hours.

“I believe this should be a one-day show as the majority of customers either leave the second day or simply do not attend the show. This has been the pattern for the last five to six years and it seems to be more and more pronounced each year.”

One veteran exhibitor suggested a one-day 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. show.

One distributor who said she “got lots out of the show by meeting new vendors and being reminded by old vendors of products they carry,” but added, “we left Thursday after the show.”

Another exhibitor suggested lower or no attendee fees on the second day as an incentive for more regional distributors to attend the second day.

One exhibitor suggested OEMs be invited on the second day. Show management officially prohibits OEMs, but three times tried to have a separate OEM fastener trade show.

“If we had two half-days with seminars etc taking up the other half the show would be strong on both days because there would not be enough time to see all suppliers in one half-day show.” Exhibitors could attend seminars too.

One distributor noted that the second day allowed his company to bring in a second group and “for us from the first day the next is a chance to refine our booth visits.”

One exhibitor has learned to set appointments for more in-depth conversations on the second day.

The “most-likely-to-succeed” suggestion was that show management sponsor a drawing among attendees for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle at noon on the second day. Distributors must register for the drawing between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.  

“They’d be here,” the exhibitor declared.

Bring back the best booth awards, said one disappointed booth planner. 

“Having even a small amount of competition on the booths makes companies try to be more creative and make the show more interesting for all.”

 • One distributor suggested “fully separate the Asian booths.”

“Too many importers,” declared one domestic manufacturer.  “And they didn’t appear to be that busy,” he added. (SEE percentage of international exhibitors in “2011 NIFMSE Numbers Up” on page 7)

One industry leader urged show management not to schedule sessions before 9 a.m.  He noted less than 20% of the seats at the 7:30 a.m. panel discussion were filled. 

Several exhibitors were offended by show management’s warnings about closing down early.  

“The militant messages about early breakdown were annoying,” one termed it.

One recipient was especially offended because he said his company has never broken down the booth early.

Instead of threatening messages to exhibitors, one noted “a simple solution: If show management has enough distributors in the aisles, companies wouldn’t shut down early.”

Despite a crowd at the opening reception and abundance of food, one exhibitor complained about it being held at Harrah’s down the strip from the Sands. “The opening cocktail party should not be in a different location from the show.”

Another exhibitor suggested the opening reception be in the trade show hall.

Unlike when the show was in Columbus, OH, in “Vegas we do not really have one area that everyone congregates before or after the show.”