Sign World Atlantic City, NJ

[northeastsigns]

Did anyone happen to make it to the annual USSC Sign World event this past weekend in Atlantic City, NJ? Wow was that sad! It's amazing how much the show has shrunk over the years. Is it due to the state of the industry, the economy or a reflection of the USSC?

[Erik Sine]

From what I hear from Vendors it's more economics, it's been more important for them to show up at the annual ISA Expo if they had to only choose one, and the traffic has gotten smaller every year. A shame too, the last couple years they had some interesting seminars I would have liked to attend.

I heard this year it was 5 aisles

[jerseysign]

I attended, seemed about the same size as last year. Dave Fellman did a great 5 session sales and time management seminiar. Always good to see and thank the vendors. A few new EMC and Digital SIgnage players this year. Much of everything else was the same. It has been a rough economy but if you talk to some of the vendors you know they ar busy, 5 and 6 lead times for wholesale, most of which has only been recent.

These things are what we make of them, the attendees (us) also need to attend (and contribute) or the vendors will say the same thing. i dont go to just to see the latest machinery or "show specials" my buying habits require more time and research...I go to build on my relationships, to thank the partners that have helped us and yes, always looking for new vendors as well. For those of us that are local its a great convienent way to get and remain connected - i always get something out of the semiars and take as many as I can.

if it dissapeared all together i think we would be sorry, what we need is positive messages to motivate members and attendees and get it growing again.

[Matt@Excellart]

We had one of our Reps out there for it and he said the same thing about it being a smaller turnout. Although we would have liked to attend and make a presence at the show, unfortunately due to the expenses of attending we were unable to do so. Hopefully next year things will be better and we can make it out to some of the smaller, local shows to visit with current and new customers.

[thermoform]

This topic came up on ISA's LinkedIn discussion board... The gentleman was complaining about the creativity of exhibitors and why nothing much has changed. Some of my answers on the subject...

I went to the show on Thursday night. To be fair, the show is less than half the size it was only 10-15 years ago. I think there is some "location fatigue" at work. Same city, same venue, same marketing approach every year. It hasn't changed since the Internet and it's no longer a must-see show like it was in the mid-90's. I remember when Sign World was the premier show in the Northeast and drew attendees from manup and down the coast, as well as overseas. Might be time for a fresh location and marketing approach.

-and-

I don't think it's a question of showing the same old product. It's more a question of where to invest marketing and travel dollars on new product. There are so many avenues available now compared to where we were back in the 90's. Atlantic City, for all the updates and improvements in infrastructure, simply cannot sustain itself as an attractive annual "off season" venue. It's isolated, hard to get to if you have to fly in and the city has little to offer in December outside casino action and the show itself. If USSC wants to focus on the Northeast (since ISA doesn't at all), then how about Boston or Washington DC? Expand the Bullpen significantly on the show floor to include a greater range of "how to" product demonstrations that are more relevant to bigger shops. Offer exhibitors more creative ways to help explain and sell their products and the show becomes more valuable to exhibitors and attendees alike.

-and-

I used to exhibit in AC every year, so I understand exactly what you are saying about the same old, same old. As a trade show veteran, Sign World was always in my top three venues to exhibit. Today, it wouldn't crack my top ten. This show has been been on a death spiral for years. The exhibitors that have stuck with USSC through this decline should be praised for keeping the show alive, not criticized for showing their most tried and true product. Criticise the companies that weren't there. The exhibitors from last week's show should at least be given the opportunity to communicate with you so they can give you a full range of offerings and win some of your business. It's up to USSC to do something about their tired show format and location before their most loyal exhibitors give up on it as well.

Edited December 7, 2011 by thermoform

[Signsfast]

anyone see the altec sign crane prototype? My buddy who helped collaborate with design got to drive it home to his shop to test it for a week or two. I cant wait to see it.