SHOW NEWS: 2016 Las Vegas Features 2 ‘Firsts’ Plus Another Booth Record

6/27/2016
HEADLINES
SHOW NEWS: 2016 Las Vegas Features 2 ‘Firsts’ Plus Another Booth Record

There will be at least two firsts with the 2016 National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo plus another booth record:  

 • The trade show will change to a Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday format for the October 25-27, 2016, at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.  The day change is due to space availability at Sands.

 • The 36th annual show will be the first under the ownership of Emerald Expositions LLC. NIFMSE was acquired by Emerald after the 2015 trade show. Emerald operates more than 50 U.S. business-to-business trade shows plus face-to-face events in total, including conferences, summits and other events. 

Emerald executive vice president Karolyn Sprouse said not to expect many changes this year while the acquiring trade show company learns the industry and listens to exhibitors.

  • The 2016 NIFMSE will set a record number of booths for the third year in a row. Show director Susan Hurley told FIN currently 651 companies have reserved 866 booths – already topping the 829 booth record set last year.

Previous NIFMSE booth records were set in 2007 at 821 and and 822 in 2014.

“Our goal is 1,000,” Hurley declared.

The starting booth price is $2,150.

The booth record for the original show held in Columbus, OH, was 678 booths in 1998.  

The Las Vegas show was first held in 1997.

Emerald executives, led by Sprouse, have been introducing themselves to the industry via meetings with industry leaders and associations (See FIN, April 4, 2016).

Sprouse has emphasized the trade show company understands the difference between the “total number attending” and “quality attendees.”

Sprouse has been asking exhibitors: “Who aren’t you seeing at the show?” and promising Emerald has “a team to go out and get them.”

NIFMSE traditionally has a distributor-only policy.  Beyond traditional CEOs, Emerald has been inviting purchasing staff and engineers.

A pre-show change is a updated website launched by Emerald: fastenershows.com. The website features include travel accommodations – including discounted hotel rates, directions and transportation instructions; conference schedules; floor map; press registration; up-to-date vendor list; speaker sign-up sheet; mobile app download information; and attendee and exhibitor registration options.

“We’re pumping life back into what has been a tired scene for quite some time,” stated marketing director Linh Vu. “People are now able to engage with the show in a way they have never before been able to.”

 

NIFMSE 2016 Schedule

There will be a poolside opening reception from 6 pm to 7 pm Tuesday at Treasure Island.

The NIFMSE Hall of Fame presentation will be at 2:30 pm Wednesday on the trade show floor. Bruce Wheeler of Star Stainless will be honored and Ryan Kertis will be given the Young Fastener Professionals award.

The education schedule includes: 

• The all-day Tuesday Fastener Technology Workshop will be taught by Bengt Blendulf of EduPro US Inc. and focus on the “practical aspects,” including standards, heat treating, thread types, corrosion, quality, vibration & locking and tightening tools.

• Darryl Rowinski, president of Business Credit Management Association, will present “How to Maximize Sales While Avoiding Financial Risk” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

• Anne Marie Houghtailing of the Institute for Sales & Business Development will teach a Pacific West Fastener Association session on “Remain Competitive and Grow Your Business” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

• The Women in the Fastener Industry will present Eloqui co-founder Deborah Shames speaking on “Own the Room: Business Presentations that Persuade, Engage & Get Results” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday. 

• The Young Fastener Professionals will repeat their 2015 speed networking event from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday. The round robin style program is free and open to all ages.

• Houghtailing will present a half-hour PacWest session on “Creating Change for Higher Performance” at 10 a.m. Wednesday on the show floor.