Exhibitors expressed mixed verdicts on the two recent fastener trade shows in Chicago and Detroit and the upcoming event in Las Vegas.

The Fastener Fair USA directory for the May 2019 trade show in Detroit listed 261 exhibitors. The Fastener Tech directory for the June show in Chicago listed 132 exhibiting companies. The International Fastener Expo is projecting 850 exhibiting companies for the September 17-19, 2019, trade show in Las Vegas.

“Both shows – Fastener Fair and Fastener Tech – were good regional shows,” one exhibitor reflected. “They both draw predominately from the neighboring states.”

“We ended up with four to five ‘suspects’ from each, of which there were one or two real ‘prospects’ for us.”

“Both shows felt very regional and not to the level of the IFE in terms of size or attendance,” one exhibitor reflected. “It did not help the timing of them being so close.”

One veteran master distributor expressed the same reaction that numerous exhibitors have about the second day of trade shows: “I only attended the Chicago show and it was a really good day one – not so on day two.  But a weak second day “seems to be the standard of the second day at trade shows.”

“I would love to say that it would help to shorten the second day,” the exhibitor reflected. “Especially at Fastener Tech – day two was dead. However, one good prospect showed up in the last hour of that second day. How do I argue with that?”

A multi-decade exhibitor described the Detroit show as “fast-moving, very busy with over 200 visitors and a number of very good prospects, which kept the booth people occupied most of the time.” She added that Fastener Fair USA was “well-organized” and “efficient.”

The Chicago show had fewer registrants meaning fewer leads, the exhibitor from both shows found.

An exhibitor and Mid-West Fastener Association board member said numerous exhibitors told him they had quality leads and attendees. “I was able to meet with several customers and quite a few potential customers,” he said speaking for his company.

Fastener Tech was “well-planned, well run and economical show that is easy for exhibitors.”

He did not exhibit at Fastener Fair because the MWFA show’s profits are “put back into the association for the scholarship fund and educational seminars.”

Multiple exhibitors criticized Fastener Fair USA for scheduling so close in time and geography to the established Fastener Tech. “Fastener Fair apparently did not consider that could affect show attendance. More cooperation and consideration among trade show organizational leaders could avoid bumping into established show dates.”

Fastener Fair had the “better turnout with more leads than Fastener Tech,” but the Detroit show still needed better numbers “as the cost to exhibit was substantially more,” an exhibitor based well-away from either show said. “Pricing was not suited for a national show and there was definitely not national exposure. I believe Fastener Fair USA infringed on their show attendance by being in the Midwest two weeks beforehand.”

“The Detroit show was not what I expected – we did not have the crowd the space of the facility allowed for. I was hoping for a larger crowd.”  Insufficient parking and hotel rooms hurt attendance.

“The Chicago show was a lot better with the travel flow and the addition of the plating show (SUR/FIN) next door made for a very interesting and great turn out.”

The current three shows may draw distributors, “but not manufacturers looking for suppliers,” said one exhibitor looking for machinery-oriented attendees.

One exhibitor calculated that the biennial MWFA tabletop is a better investment for exhibitors.  It is one day and a fraction of the cost of a full trade show, yet exhibitors see about the same number of customers, he finds.

“Fastener Fair was a pleasant surprise to me,” one exhibitor found. “It was busier than Cleveland (2018), which was nice and we gained some solid local leads.”

The next Fastener Fair USA is slated for May 20-21, 2020, in Charlotte.

Suggestion Box
Show managers should be focused on drawing customers into the aisles for the exhibitors, one veteran exhibitor asked. “That will sell booths for them the next year.”

Trade show managers should check on the convention center’s staffing. He noticed “garbage was everywhere and overflowing, bathrooms ran out of everything and the lines for food / drinks resembled Disneyland.”

“Customers. That is what we want from a show,” said an exhibitor on how show management should evaluate their results. “We don’t care about the total number of booths.”

Multiple exhibitors pointed out that the two shows so close together hurt both. MWFA has a long tradition of an early June show.

“There seems to be three major shows. If show owners / planners would communicate with each other, or at the very least, look at each other’s calendars, these shows could be spaced three months apart.” That would benefit everyone instead of “hurting each show by lower attendance.”

“There are too many shows and consolidation is needed,” an exhibitor saying what others expressed.

One exhibitor rated both shows “successful,” but added “both could easily have been one day.”

“I personally and think many others have event fatigue,” one exhibitor and past NFDA board member said. “There are too many events planned in a matter of months. I would like the associations to collaborate on creating one large national event. We really only have room for one trade show in our industry.”

One exhibitor urged others to send a message by not returning to any show or reducing its number of booths where they didn’t have good traffic.

Another said exhibitors should put staff on airplanes at noon of the second day. “We want show management to see the hall near empty to send them a message.”

Regional shows should invite other associations for joint meetings to create a larger turnout, a participant in many fastener association events suggested.

Regional associations should consider alternatives to traditional trade shows such as the one-evening distributor social, an exhibitor asked.

One exhibitor called on the IFI and NFDA to step in and help their exhibitor members by encouraging a limited number of shows with limited hours. Web: FastenerFair.com – MWFA.net – FastenerShows.com