SHOW NEWS: Bumping Distributor Shows in 2006

John Wolz

Fastener distribution-oriented trade shows will be bumping each other in 2006.
” The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association will hold its 30th annual convention Monday through Wednesday, November 13-15, 2006, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. STAFDA starts with a tech fair and roundtables on Monday. There are general and conference sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and the trade show during the afternoons.
The National Industrial Fastener Show / West will follow STAFDA on Thursday and Friday, November 16-17, 2006, at the Paris/Ballys hotels in Las Vegas. NIFS events begin on Wednesday with conferences and the evening opening reception.
The STAFDA closing party may be during the NIFS opening reception. STAFDA had been scheduled two weeks later but the cancellation of the giant Comdex computer show opened the earlier dates at the convention center.
The 2006 schedule is a departure from STAFDA”s traditional Sunday through Tuesday format.

” The Southwestern Fastener Association will hold its tabletop show on Saturday April 30, 2006, at the Harvey Hotel/DFW Airport in Irving, TX. The show is held during even-numbered years in conjunction with the association”s spring meeting, which begins April 27.
The NIFS / East show will follow on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, in Columbus, OH, with conferences and the opening reception preceding on Monday.
Both NIFS/East and Southwestern are regional shows that are frequently staffed by regional sales managers and draw primarily regional distributors. Exhibitors participating in both will need to fly from Texas to Ohio after the Saturday show.

NIFS has scheduled all 10 of its 10 West shows within less than two weeks of STAFDA”s conventions. STAFDA moved its show closer yet for 2006 and one exhibitor was pleased with the new dates because “bumping shows are better than being a week or two apart. It is one trip away from home and away from the office rather than two trips.”
The change could boost both shows. Some fastener distributors who haven”t been to STAFDA in several years may come to Las Vegas a day early for the trade show and some STAFDA members may stay an extra day to visit the fastener show on Thursday.
STAFDA was originally scheduled after Thanksgiving. Executive director Georgia Foley explained that Comdex had taken the Las Vegas Convention Center for all of November but has the giant computer show subsequently has been cancelled.
The Mid-West Fastener Association has not announced plans for 2006.

For NIFS information contact show manager Susan Hurley. Tel: 614 895-8348 Fax 614 895-3466 E-mail: nifsco@fastenershows.com Web: fastenershows.com
For STAFDA information contact member services director Catherine Usher. Tel: 262 784-4774 or 800 352-2981 Fax 262 784-5059 E-mail: info@stafda.org Web: stafda.org
For Southwestern information contact SFA executive director John Elsner. Tel: 713 952-5472 Fax 713 952-7488 E-mail: swfa@swbell.net Web: sfa-fastener.org \ �2005 FastenerNews.com