Global Fastener News

SHOW NEWS: Morning Beats Afternoon At 5th Las Vegas Show

John Wolz

�There is energy here,� one exhibitor described the 5th annual National Industrial Fastener Show/West in Las Vegas.
Indeed many exhibitors rolled out their best booths this year.
The extra effort in booths drew attendee attention. Earnest Machine Products not only took the prime space at the main entrance but hauled its 1937 Ford delivery truck to Las Vegas from Cleveland to catch distributors� interest.
G.L. Huyett set up its Old West Saloon in a two-booth display. The 1896 structure was once in a Kansas wheat field. The Huyett staff dismantled it and practiced setting it up before bringing it to Las Vegas.
During the morning rush Huyett staff handed out �Libation Tickets,� which were valid starting at �High Noon.� That brought distributors back in the afternoon for beer.
�We got to talk to them twice,� a Huyett salesperson grinned.
Overall, exhibitors expressed satisfaction with the Las Vegas show. �Good� edged out �okay� as the most frequent word exhibitors used to describe the show. Other one-word descriptions ranged from �phenomenal� to �adequate.�
Numbers Down
Without the National Fastener Distributors Association holding its fall meeting in conjunction with the show and bringing in Colin Powell as a keynote speaker, and with a sagging economy, the events of September 11, 2001, and a commercial plane crash earlier in the week, the Las Vegas attendee registration slipped 34.9% below the 2000 total.
According to numbers announced by show general partner Jim Bannister, total attendee registration in 2001 was 1,515, compared with 2,329 last year. The numbers include distributors, manufacturers, importers, manufacturer reps, forming/cold header, miscellaneous and others.
A total of 304 registered for $20 spouse/guest passes this year, compared with 432 last year registering for the $295 NFDA super badge, which included the Powell luncheon.
The number of occupied booths was up to 611 from 550 last year, and exhibitor staff registration rose correspondingly from 1,764 last year to 1,962 this year.
This year exhibitor personnel represented more than half of the show registrations.
Overall registration, including spouses and booth staff, was down 16.4% to 3,781. The 2000 figure � bolstered by the NFDA meeting � was 4,525. At 3,800, the 1999 show edged out this year�s overall registration.
Show management�s numbers include advance and onsite registrations. Show management does not use a verified system to determine actual attendance, so the results may or may not vary significantly. The show is not audited by an independent trade show quality assurance program.
�We are quite pleased with this turnout, considering the circumstances,� Bannister said in reference to the weak economy and terrorism.
�The fastener community really rallied around and supported the show at a time when many other exhibitions were postponed or cancelled outright,� Bannister noted.
The show may have gained from lowered expectations after September 11. �I don�t think anyone expected it to be great this year with everything that has happened,� one exhibitor explained.
A software supplier declared the show to be �very good.� He explained that because of the nature of his business he has never met some of his clients. At Las Vegas he met several current customers for the first time.
One Ohio exhibitor said he was surprised at the number attendees from the Midwest.
There was one frequent complaint, as numerous exhibitors found attendee traffic waning by lunch time.
�Medium,� one exhibitor rated the one-day show. �It was busy at 11 a.m. but slow in the afternoon.�
�Good morning, but over at noon,� the next concurred.
�They left for lunch and never returned,� another exhibitor noted. �There is too much distraction in Las Vegas.�
�I was happy with my results by noon, but we could have closed for the afternoon.�
A multiple-booth exhibitor first termed the afternoon �quiet,� and then diplomatically added �peaceful.�
One exhibitor blamed show management for the slow afternoon: �They had time to offer special incentives to distributors to come to Vegas, but as far as I could tell, they did nothing either proactive or reactive.�
A sampling of other exhibitor comments: �It was good for us.�
�Not that good.�
�Too many shows.�
�Kinda slow, but it had its moments.�
�Good until 1 p.m. but slow after that � though not as bad as Columbus.�
�Surprisingly good � I was expecting something less.�
�Not bad,� another exhibitor said. �Better than the last few shows I�ve been to. This one�s a keeper.�
�We accomplished what we came to do.�
Several exhibitors couched their ratings of the show until they find out if exhibiting at Las Vegas yields sales.
�It has been okay. I�ve had several good prospects. If one comes through, it will pay our costs.�
One cautious exhibitor said attendees had been �fishing and looking� and deferred judgment until he sees if prospects turn into customers. �I�ll let you know next year.�
One remained irritated that after 90% of the booths were sold show management cancelled the Thursday hours. �They could have had space for the Thursday evening event if they had stopped selling the extra booths. It appears selling $1,300 booths was more important to them than honoring the Thursday hours in their contract.�
Thursday/Friday in 2002
Show management announced that the 2002 show will expand to a day and a half. The show will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2002, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
Exhibitors offered mixed reactions to the additional half day. For distributors serious about seeing most of the 600+ booths the extra hours are necessary. It also gives suppliers another evening to meet with distributors.
But for exhibitors it means another day out of the office, another hotel night and another day away from families.
�If the show managers do their job of bringing in distributors all day, both days, everybody will be pleased,� an exhibitor who plans to return next year predicted. �But if they leave us standing idle the second day, they will deserve the response they�ll get.�
For information on the 2002 show contact general manager Gloria Crase. Tel: 614 895-1279 Fax 614 895-3466 E-mail: nifsco@fastenershows.com Web: fastenershows.com
No Long-Term Schedule
The Fastener Industry Coalition met with show partner Mike McGuire in hopes of eliciting show plans for the next five years. Six months ago the FIC asked for a long-term schedule so industry associations could plan events around the shows.
McGuire told the FIC the shows are committed in Columbus, OH, and Las Vegas through 2003, but plans are not firm after that.
Association officials said they have suggested consolidating the two shows to have one show per year and alternating between Columbus and Las Vegas.
The next FIC meeting will be held June 19, 2002, in conjunction with the Chicago Bolt, Nut & Screw Association’s 50th annual golf outing and 21st annual expo.\ �2001 FastenerNews.com