Visual Connections is planning to shift all its industry shows to midweek following a ‘disappointing’ Saturday attendance at Visual Impact Sydney.
There was heavy promotion leading up to the show, which boasted 100 wide format industry exhibitors, and a comprehensive seminar program.
However, general manager of show organiser Visual Connections Peter Harper says despite high attendance on Thursday and Friday, the Saturday show failed to meet expectations.
“It is not Visual Connections policy to give out numbers, but I can tell you the numbers were pleasing with both Thursday and Friday being well above previous years, however Saturday was disappointing. Overall our numbers were up by just under 10 per cent on previous years,” he tells Australian Printer.
“Given the numbers for Saturday I cannot see us holding a show on Saturdays anymore, but that will be a decision for our members.”
According to Visual Connections, 80 per cent of attendees were from New South Wales and 52 per cent were owner, CEO, MD or directors of companies.
Harper adds, “Overall I think it was an enormous success and to date I have not heard any complaints from exhibitors.”
The Sydney show attracted 50 per cent more visitors than its Brisbane counterpart, however Harper says, “We cannot compare Brisbane with Sydney as Brisbane is more of a regional show, which is an important market to our members.”
At this year’s show, many of the exhibitors sought to stand out by offering visitors something a little different.
Wide-format supplier Canon drew in the crowds with its ‘As Committed As You’ themed stand which aimed to express commitment to the wide format industry and a guarantee in R&D.
Surprising everyone at the show was signage supplier Jetmark which boasted a stand double the size of its competitors, complete with its own coffee cart.
And making its first public debut since being purchased by Starleaton was the DES stand which spruiked Epson wide-format machines and OKI ColorPainter ecosolvent engines.
OKI itself was at the show for the first time, having entered the wide format market with its acquisition of what was the Seiko wide format printer manufacturing business, with ColorPainter as its core product.
Spicers has its new Elitron Kombo TH dual gantry cutting table, which sales manager Jason Hay says makes it super productive. Hay was also highlighting the range of LED signage that Spicers had on the stand.
Neopost focused on education, bringing a host of market analysis to the show enabling printers to see where new opportunities lay. Neopost also showed its wide format hardware from manufacturers including HP and Epson, as well as a host of media.
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