Global Fastener News

Want to Comment on Spring 2011 Shows?
In addition to NIFS/East, the fastener industry has two other trade shows in the spring of 2011:

• Fastener Tech 11 is held every other year and is next scheduled for June 13-15, 2011, in Rosemont, IL – near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

• A first time show this year – All American Fastener Show – is scheduled May 12-13, 2011, in Branson, MO.

Too many or not enough fastener trade shows in the spring of 2011? Want to suggest other locations? Want to suggest pricing or marketing ideas? Suggestions for how to make the shows successful?

Send your confidential comments to FIN. We will summarize all comments and send results to all show organizers.

E-mail: editor@GlobalFastenerNews.com

Fax 503 335-3451

©2010 GlobalFastenerNews.com

The National Industrial Fastener Show/East opens this week with less than half the number of booths of its last show in 2008 – and even that show was one of the smallest of the decade.

NIFS lists 70 exhibiting companies totaling 74 booths.

The low numbers should be good for exhibitors as attendees will be divided between fewer booths.

The numbers make the 2010 the smallest in NIFS history. The first NIFS in 1981 drew 90 companies totaling 103 booths.

There were 164 booths at the last NIFS/East in 2008. The 2009 show was cancelled.

NIFS/East has averaged 242 booths since 2000. The largest show in Columbus was 653 booths in 1998.

Both Fastener Training Institute seminars were cancelled due to lack of registration.

Earlier this month show management announced 245 distributors had registered to attend. The smallest number of distributors registering for NIFS/East was 321 in 2008.

Back to Battelle Hall in 2011

NIFS/East will return to the hall where the show was first held in 1981 and is adding Mill Supply Expo to its name.

The maximum number of booths in Battelle Grand Hall is 219 on the main floor and 73 on the mezzanine – indicating show management is not aiming for the trade show to return its previous levels.

Larger shows are held in the full Greater Columbus Convention Center, which can accommodate about 2,500 booths. Battelle is attached to the convention center.

Battelle Hall opened in 1980 as a multipurpose ballroom with Rodney Dangerfield as the first entertainment event. Battelle events this month include the Columbus Beerfest and an Eagle Scout recognition dinner.

NIFS management is hosting a Battelle Hall tour for exhibitors on Tuesday, May 25, in conjunction with this year’s show.

©2010 GlobalFastenerNews.com