April Trade Show Attendance and ... - Conference News | TSETSE’s ZOOM Trade Show Locator and Gold...
Transcript of April Trade Show Attendance and ... - Conference News | TSETSE’s ZOOM Trade Show Locator and Gold...
TSE DASHBOARD SPONSORED BY
26 June 2013 | Trade Show Executive
Oceanside, CA – Larger crowds, busier aisles, and more expansive exhibit fl oors highlighted a productive and encour-aging April for trade show organizers. Exhibit space and attendance were up 3.3% over April 2012, and the only red ink in the Trade Show Executive Dash-board of Monthly Trade Show Metrics was a modest (0.6)% southerly drift in the number of exhibitors.
Th e fi rst month of the Second Quarter produced metrics similar to what has been seen in recent months: a few percentage points of growth in some categories that was off set by equally modest slippage in the others. In the First Quarter, which included robust performances by the TSE Gold 100 shows in January, exhibit space and exhibitor metrics were up more than 2%, but attendance was down ever so slightly by (0.6)%.
Th ere were 20 exhibitions that made up the April Dashboard. Of that total, nine were 100,000 nsf or larger, and six joined the elite ranks of the TSE Gold 100. Th ere was also one event, Aviation Week MRO Americas in Atlanta, whose 2012 edition was honored as a TSE Fastest 50 show at ceremonies held by TSE and 38 sponsors in Chicago in May.
For the Dashboard analysis, TSE used adjusted fi gures, which excluded outliers and shows that did not have a consecutive two-year comparison. Adjusted total exhibit space in April reached 2,953,652 nsf. Th at compared to nearly 6 million nsf
in March. Th e exhibitor tally was 9,466 and attendance reached 258,525. Th e totals worked out to a per-show average of 147,683 nsf, 473 exhibitors and 13,607 attendees.
Th ree April shows saw their metrics decline in all three categories. Eleven of the 20 shows reported growth or no change in all three metrics.
The Big BroadcastOne of the 11 shows with an uptick in size was also the largest show held in April. Th e NAB Show, which last year placed 11th on the Gold 100, reported 878,500 nsf of exhibit space, up a healthy 9.1% from the 805,000 nsf last year. Th e
growth in exhibit space was even more impressive because the number of exhibi-tors grew by just six companies to 1,581. Attendance increased 1.9% to 7,850.
Th e National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) again invited key television industry executives and producers to Las Vegas to headline its conference. Th e strong international component to the show continued. Nearly 600 overseas exhibitors were on the fl oor and international attendees made up 27% of the crowd.
“Once again, NAB Show was the premiere event for content and commu-nications professionals from around the globe,” said Dennis Wharton, NAB executive vice president of media rela-tions. “We're delighted that NAB Show’s brand remains a powerful force for technological advancement in media.”
Growth Leaders� Th e Reliable Plant Conference and Exhibi-tion. Th e show took place in Columbus, OH and boosted its exhibit space 28.6% to 99,000 nsf and its attendance increased more than 50%. Th e impressive move upward in the metrics was credited to the power of strong marketing. Th e sales outreach was ratcheted up for this year’s show, and it paid off with a 51.2% increase in attendance. Strengthening the confer-ence portion of the show and adding more networking opportunities also added to the show’s appeal.
April Trade Show Attendance and Exhibit Space Metrics Move Up; Exhibitors FlatBY DARLENE GUDEA, president; CAROL ANDREWS, editor-at-large, and HIL ANDERSON, senior editor
The fi rst month of the
Second Quarter produced
metrics similar to what
has been seen in recent
months: a few percentage
points of growth in some
categories that was
offset by equally modest
slippage in the others.
TSE’s ZOOM Trade Show Locator and Gold
100 directory. All responses were cross-
checked by TSE editors for discrepancies.
The Trade Show Executive Dashboard
was created to give show organizers and
CEOs a fast read on trade show perfor-
mance at a time when up-to-date, quality in-
formation is paramount to making decisions
in today’s business world. We recognize that
simple statistics don’t tell the full story about
a show, and year-over-year growth is not the
key factor in a show’s value to the industry
it serves. The TSE Dashboard still provides
the traditional metrics of show growth but
also lists other signifi cant characteristics
and accomplishments such as quality of
attendees, international attendance, sales
transactions and conference and sponsor-
ship growth.
We are grateful to the organizers who
shared both quantitative and qualitative data.
MethodologySurvey questionnaires were sent
to shows held in April as listed in
SPONSORED BYSPONSORED BY
www.TradeShowExecutive.com | June 2013 27
Great Reception. The NAB Show continues
to be the premier trade show in the continually
evolving broadcast industry with attendance
up 1.9% and exhibit space topping 800,000
nsf. NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith
(inset) had plenty of good news to share in
his address to the membership.
q Is That Carpeting?.The aisles at the Wood
Flooring Expo were packed and included 54 new
exhibitors. The show’s sold-out exhibit fl oor was
16.3% larger than last year.
p Turn on the Lights, the Party’s Started.
LIGHTFAIR International lit up Philadelphia with
a record crowd and 13.1% increase in exhibit
space. Solid gains in fi rst-time and international
exhibitors drove metrics higher.
� Th e National Wood Flooring Association Wood Flooring Expo. Th ere were no scuff s in this show’s performance, and in fact, there was an infl ux of 54 new exhibitors. Th e infl ux contributed to a 16.3% increase in exhibit space on the sold-out fl oor. � LIGHTFAIR International. Th e show organizer, AMC, Inc., reported across-the-board gains in Philadelphia. Exhibit space led the way with a 13.1% increase to 233,850 nsf. Exhibitors increased 6.5% and attendance was up 6.5%. A closer look at the statistics found healthy gains in international and fi rst-time exhibitors from the commercial lighting industry. A pavilion for street lighting was added along with new exhibitor categories for solar-powered lighting and soft ware to control the lights in large commercial buildings.
Secure HorizonsExpanding the exhibit fl oor for the International Security Conference & Expo West (ISC West) paid off with 5.1% increase in exhibitors and 2.3% growth in exhibit space to 298,200 nsf. ISC West has been on the rebound since 2009 and was No. 65 on the most recent Gold 100. Th is year, the show had a 2.3% increase in exhibit space to 298,200 nsf. Just over 1,000 exhibitors were on hand with a record number of
Continued on page 28
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MONTHLY OVERVIEW: EXHIBITORS
TSE DASHBOARD
Dashboard Snapshot – APRIL TRADE SHOW METRICSTrade Show Executive
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MONTHLY OVERVIEW: ATTENDEES
3.3%
t Gaining Momentum?.Exhibit
space (top left) increased 3.3% over
the previous April. The gains continued
upward momentum for another month.
p More With Less. Exhibit space
increased in April but the number of
exhibitors (top right) did not. The ex-
hibitor count actually declined slightly
compared to last year.
t Making the Scene. Attendance
at trade shows was also up by 3.3%
in April. The gains reversed a slight
decline in the crowds during the
First Quarter of 2013.
Of the nearly 3 million
net square feet (nsf) of
exhibit space tallied for the
Dashboard, nearly half of it
was located in Las Vegas.
The Strip hosted nearly
1.5 million nsf, including
four Gold 100 shows.
Chicago was in second
place with 356,000 nsf.
28 June 2013 | Trade Show Executive
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Continued from page 27
new electronic security products ranging from school lockdown devices to the lat-est solutions to Internet hackers. “We had an increase in attendance, an expanded show fl oor, and increased exhibitor renewals for next year,” said Ed Several, vice president of ISC Events, a unit of Reed Exhibitions. “Th e industry seems poised for a great year.”
Fastest 50 SpeedsAft er cracking the Gold 100 and Fastest 50 rankings in 2012, GlobalShop turned in another good show this year. GlobalShop was 99th on the Gold 100 and could move up the ladder a few rungs this year thanks to a 6.5% increase in exhibit space
to 198,700 nsf. Nielsen Expositions also said attendance climbed a heft y 26.7% to 14,054, making 2013 the third year in a row the crowd had grown by double digits. In 2011 and 2012, attendance was up 11%.
“Th e new events and innovative features on the expo fl oor attracted a number of attendees this year who either hadn’t experienced GlobalShop before, or hadn’t been to the show in several years,” noted Show Manager Todd Fearney.
Nielsen said the show included some new features. Breakfast and lunch were turned into working educational sessions. Th e “best of show” pavilion showcased the more intriguing off erings in the exhibit
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(0.6)%
t Quarter Turns. Positive signs
on the exhibit fl oor in Q1 were
offset by a continuing downward
trend in attendance. Crowds in
the period were down (0.6)% from
2012, but exhibit space and exhibi-
tors were both up more than 2%.
© 2013, Trade Show Executive Magazine, Oceanside, CA
SPONSORED BY
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CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL OVERVIEW
2010 20122011
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CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY OVERVIEW
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Q1Q2Q3 Q4 Q3 Q4 Q3 Q4 2013
Exhibitors
Attendees
NSFAttendees
NSF
Exhibitors
t Respectable Growth (right).
2012 took the trade show industry
on the same moderate growth
path as 2011. Of the three metrics,
attendance growth was in the lead.
www.TradeShowExecutive.com | June 2013 29
hall and gave attendees the opportunity to vote on the ones that caught their eye.
Springtime in VegasOf the nearly 3 million nsf of exhibit space tallied for the Dashboard, nearly half of it was located in Las Vegas. Th e Strip hosted nearly 1.5 million nsf, in-cluding four Gold 100 shows. GlobalShop and the big BIO International Convention placed Chicago in second place with 356,000 nsf. Philadelphia tallied 233,850 nsf thanks to LIGHTFAIR International.
How Did May Shows Perform?An early Summer arrived in May along with scores of attendees pouring
into convention centers nationwide. Trade Show Executive is now gathering performance data on shows such as CTIA Wireless; Th e National Restaurant Association’s NRA Show; RECon, the Global Retail Real Estate Convention; and the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Th ese show reports and others will be published in the July issue of Trade Show Executive. TSE
Better Than eBay. The retail industry continues
fl ocking to GlobalShop. Nielsen put on another
good show that included a 26.7% jump in atten-
dance and 6.5% increase in exhibit space.
SHOW INFORMATION 2013/2012 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013 VS. 2012
April 2013 Show Site Net SF of Exhibits Exhibitors Total Attendance Qualitative Data
GROWTH LEADERSTOP CITIES* BENCHMARKS:
AVERAGE GROWTH
TOP INDUSTRY
SECTORS*
*Based on total nsf
BY CAROL ANDREWS, editor-at-large
TOP MGMTS.*
Dashboard – APRIL TRADE SHOW METRICSTrade Show Executive
SPONSORED BY
� Reliable Plant
Conf. & Exhibition
� NWFA Wood
Flooring Expo
� Lightfair Intl.
� Las Vegas
� Chicago
� Philadelphia
� NSF: 3.3%
� Exhibitors: (0.6)%
� Attendance: 3.3%
� Broadcasting
� Security
� Architecture/
Interior Design
� National Association
of Broadcasters
� Nielsen Expositions
� Reed Exhibitions
30 June 2013 | Trade Show Executive
American Occupational San Diego 41,200 4.0% 371 6.6% 7,160 10.6% There were more than 900 sessions
Therapy Association Indianapolis 39,600 348 6,473 and posters, the most ever. The show
The American Occupational also had the second largest profess-
Therapy Association ional attendance ever (only the 1996
www.aota.org show in Chicago was larger) and the
second largest number of exhibitors
(only the 2011 show in Philadelphia
had more).
American Public Charlotte, NC 26,400 (33.8)% 131 (24.7)% 1,521 (29.9)% Attendance and exhibit sales were
Works Association North Milwaukee, WI 39,900 174 2,170 lower in 2013 due to the southern
American Snow Conference location. However, the smaller show
American Public Works Assn. featured the newest equipment and
www.apwa.net/snow products available, quality education
programs and technical tours, and
opportunities to exchange ideas.
AVIATION WEEK Atlanta 118,900 10.3% 690 13.5% 10,150 26.9% Show management initiated an
MRO Americas Dallas 107,800 608 8,000 aggressive marketing plan, including
AVIATION WEEK enlisting exhibitors to invite customers
www.aviationweek.com/events to the show. It also introduced
13 education tracks to expand
content and job functions, which
resulted in increased attendance.
BIO Intl. Convention Chicago 157,800 (12.6)% 1,713 (14.4)% 13,594 (17.6)% More than one-third of attendees
Biotechnology Boston 180,550 2,000 16,505 were international, representing
Industry Organization 65 countries. Attendees came
www.bio.org from the leading biotech companies,
pharma companies, more than 300
academic institutions, major research
labs, government agencies, and
leading service companies.
The Car Wash Show Las Vegas 115,000 (0.9)% 303 (1.6)% 5,900 est. 3.3% The show saw steady fl oor traffi c
Smith Bucklin Las Vegas 116,050 308 5,714 and a 12% increase in the number
www.thecarwashshow.com of attendees who took advantage
of education sessions focusing on
operations, business management,
and marketing and brand strategy.
The keynote speaker was NBA legend
and entrepreneur Magic Johnson.
ExpoCam - Canada’s Montreal 91,147 (3.0)% 254 5.0% 14,583 est. 3.8% Attendees were fl eets-for-hire/
National Truck Show Montreal 93,948 242 13,503 private/public; owners-operators;
Newcom Media Quebec heavy duty wholesalers/distributors;
www.expocam.ca manufacturers; new vehicle dealers;
and industry service providers.
The Highway Star of the Year
Award presentation recognized a
professional truck driver in Canada.
Continued on page 32
Th is show is biennial; therefore,
we interpolated the data for 2012,
the in-between year. Numbers for
2013 and 2011 were averaged to
determine a usable number for 2012.
Dashboard – APRIL TRADE SHOW METRICSTrade Show Executive
SPONSORED BY
SHOW INFORMATION 2013/2012 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013 VS. 2012
April 2013 Show Site Net SF of Exhibits Exhibitors Total Attendance Qualitative Data
Continued from page 30
32 June 2013 | Trade Show Executive
GlobalShop Chicago 198,700 6.5% 626 1.5% 14,054 26.7% This was the third consecutive year
Nielsen Expositions Las Vegas 186,512 617 11,089 that the show saw double-digit
www.globalshop.org growth in qualifi ed attendees. New
events and innovative features on the
show fl oor attracted attendees who
hadn’t experienced the show before
or who hadn’t been to the show in
several years.
Imprinted Sportswear Orlando 19,100 0.1% 108 (5.3)% 3,768 (5.9)% The show attracted embroiderers
Show Orlando Orlando 19,090 114 4,005 and screen printers from Florida,
Nielsen Expositions Georgia, North and South Carolina
www.issshows.com and beyond. There were business
seminars on pricing and marketing
as well as sessions on embroidery
taught by industry experts.
Intl. Security Conference Las Vegas 298,200 2.3% 1,009 5.1% 27,400 4.2% Exhibitor and attendee satisfaction
& Expo (ISC) West Las Vegas 291,600 960 26,300 scores were higher than in any year
Reed Exhibitions since tracking began. A record
www.iscwest.com number of new products were
introduced at the show. Exhibitors
represented a wide range of physical
security products and attendees
came from all segments of the
physical security buying channel.
Intl. Sign Expo - ISA Las Vegas 202,275 7.0% 593 9.8% 19,500 est. 19.2% By better managing data and
International Sign Association Orlando 188,975 540 16,355 understanding its audience, the show
www.signexpo.org has been able to reduce its marketing
spend by nearly 45%. Two new
education tracks, Architectural
Design and Dynamic Digital Design,
brought in leading educators and
boosted attendance.
ISA Calgary Show Calgary, Alberta 36,170 (0.3)% 151 0.7% 4,702 12.8% The show attracted decision-makers
dmg events (Canada) Inc. Calgary, Alberta 36,285* 150 3,634 representing engineering/design/
www.isacalgary.com/exhibition construction, technology/service
suppliers, oil and gas producers/
operators, consultants, etc. 57%
of attendees were decision makers
and 37% were infl uencers.
Jewelers Intl. Showcase Miami Beach 28,300 4.8% 180 4.7% 8,427 26.4% The show was one of the most
Jewelers Intl. Showcase, Inc. Miami Beach 27,000 172 6,669 successful Spring buying events
www.jisshow.com JIS has ever produced. There was
an increase in buyer attendees who
hailed almost entirely from Latin
America and Florida. On opening
day, a large number of buyers lined
up early, eager to start purchasing
for the upcoming retail season.
Kitchen & Bath New Orleans 174,600 (20.7)% 322 (20.7)% 13,000 (29.2)% The show featured an extensive show
Industry Show - KBIS Chicago 220,300 406 18,374 fl oor showcasing the latest kitchen
Nielsen Expositions and bath products, a relevant
www.kbis.com conference program, dynamic
networking events and world-
renowned industry speakers. KBIS
will co-locate with IBS (International
Builders’ Show) next year.
LIGHTFAIR International Philadelphia 233,850 13.1% 538 6.5% 25,998 est. 7.8% The show set new all-time records
AMC. Inc. Las Vegas 206,800 505 24,121 this year. It included 91 fi rst-time
www.lightfair.com exhibitors and 93 international
manufacturers. Attendees included
representatives from 77 countries.
Two new product categories were
introduced: solar power and software.
Dashboard – APRIL TRADE SHOW METRICSTrade Show Executive
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SHOW INFORMATION 2013/2012 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013/2012 VARIANCE 2013 VS. 2012
April 2013 Show Site Net SF of Exhibits Exhibitors Total Attendance Qualitative Data
Total 2,953,652 9,466 259,825(Sum of all fi gures submitted by show management) 2,858,020 9,525 251,102
Adjusted Total 2,953,652 9,466 259,825(Excludes outliers and shows in which an 2,858,020 9,525 251,102
apples-to-apples comparison is not possible)
Averages 147,683 473 13,607(Based on Adjusted Totals) 142,901 476 13,171
Percentage of Growth 3.3% (0.6)% 3.3%(Based on Adjusted Totals)
DASHBOARD ANALYSIS: Net SF of Exhibits Exhibitors Total Attendance
www.TradeShowExecutive.com | June 2013 33
NAB Show Las Vegas 878,500 9.1% 1,581 0.4% 78,500 est. 1.9% International attendees from 155
National Assn. of Broadcasters Las Vegas 805,000 1,575 77,000 countries represented 27% of total
www.nabshow.com attendance. There were 596 interna-
tional exhibitors, 186 new exhibitors,
and 1,703 media attendees. Special
events featured top TV producers.
National Association Louisville 45,000 4.7% 120 10.1% 772 24.3% The number of fi rst-time attendees
of Sports Commissions Hartford, CT 43,000 109 621 increased 11%, sponsorships
Sports Event Symposium grew 20% and pre-scheduled
National Association of appointments between attendees
Sports Commissions and exhibitors increased 29%.
www.NASCsymposium.com
National Wood Flooring Grapevine, TX 45,410 16.3% 241 14.2% 2,408 (2.6)% There were 54 fi rst-time exhibitors.
Assn. Wood Flooring Expo Kissimmee, FL 39,060 211 2,473 Sponsorship revenue increased more
National Wood Flooring Assn. than 100%, from $36,000 in 2012
www.nwfaexpo.org to $78,250 this year. The show is
dedicated solely to wood fl ooring.
Educational breakouts were offered
in four educational tracks: Marketing/
Sales, Technical Skills, Management
and AIA/IDCEC (for the architecture
and design community).
Navy League National 78,100 2.0% 204 15.3% 5,656 (3.7)% Even with the government challenges
Sea-Air-Space Exposition Harbor, MD 76,550 177 5,875 this year, the show was able to grow
Clarion Events USA National Harbor, MD substantially. New show management
www.seaairspace.org brought new techniques and
strategies to the League’s outreach
and collaborative approach to active
duty Navy leadership.
Reliable Plant Columbus, OH 99,000 28.6% 99 20.7% 1,300 51.2% The show realized signifi cant growth,
Conference & Exhibition Indianapolis 77,000 82 860 largely due to increased marketing;
Noria Corporation more targeted conference sessions,
www.noria.com workshops and case studies;
enhanced registration and lead
retrieval software; additional social
and networking opportunities;
and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle
show prize giveaway.
School Food & Orlando 66,000 4.8% 232 2.2% 1,432 5.2% New this year were Innovation
Equipment Expo Daytona Beach, FL 63,000 227 1,361 Stations where exhibitors hosted
Florida School Nutrition Assn. 25-minute sessions for up to 20
www.fl oridaschoolnutrition.org attendees. Sessions included
roundtable discussions, new
product samples and equipment
demonstrations. Also new was a
lounge room that could be used for
one-on-one appointments.©
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COMING UPNEXT MONTH:
A review of shows held in May