Following record attendance in 2012, the premier entertainment technology trade show in the North has attracted even more companies that are keen to access the 50% of visitors who do not attend any other trade show during the year.
Mark Priestley, project manager at Unusual Rigging explains the rationale behind their decision to book for the first time: "Although a committed supporter of PLASA, 2013 will see Unusual Rigging making its exhibitor debut at PLASA Focus. We have completed a lot of projects in the north of England and Scotland but we believe we will be able to introduce our range of services to new customers at Leeds. When we visited the show last year we liked the more intimate atmosphere, which gives real time to talk to people and understand their needs."
Another company making its debut at PLASA Focus: Leeds is HD Pro Audio. "We see this as an ideal opportunity to expand our customer base; it is renowned for being small and friendly - that and the comparatively low cost makes it good value," says sales manager Andy Huffer.
Also new to PLASA Focus in 2013 will be Pearce Hire. Managing director, Shaun Pearce explains why. "Exhibiting at PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 is part of our company strategy to expand our rental operation more into the northern market. There is no other regional exhibition servicing the live touring and outdoor event industry that offers us this opportunity. We have made significant investments in new equipment over the past year, and it is important for us to now increase our brand awareness nationwide. We know that PLASA Focus will help us achieve this."
Returning exhibitors are enthusiastic about why they come back year after year as Erik Larsen, marketing manager at ETC confirms, "PLASA Focus in Leeds provides us with close contact with our end users in the North, many of whom do not have the opportunity to visit shows in London. Its uniquely casual and informal atmosphere allows us to spend more time talking to visitors. We are currently working on a range of new products; some of which will be ready for PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 - it's too early to release details but I can promise news in ETC controls, ETC dimming and ETC luminaire lines."
Ambersphere Solutions Ltd also sees the show as a suitably prestigious platform to unveil new product. "PLASA Focus is a really cost effective way to meet and network with many of the key players in the region; we establish new contacts and provide opportunities to show our key products to visitors. Although details are not yet available we can announce that Clay Paky's Sharpy Wash will make its UK debut at PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013," says managing director, Glyn O'Donoghue.
Nexo UK sales manager, Gareth Collyer agrees: "PLASA Focus in Leeds is one of the most cost-effective trade shows in the calendar. We see a diverse audience of professionals, but critically, these are people who don't attend other shows, and visitors seem willing to spend quality time with exhibitors. We will bring some of the STM Series elements with us, and use our time at PLASA Focus to explain the unique concept behind a system that can be matched to a corporate AV gig, an intimate jazz concert, a full-on rock 'n' roll production or a large-scale outdoor stage with a 100,000 crowd."
Exhibitors keep emphasising the special atmosphere at the Royal Armouries. Camilla Park S°rensen, sales & marketing coordinator at Martin Professional says, "It's not as frantic as the big international exhibitions so you can spend more time with customers. We will be using it to launch more fixtures from the Viper family as well as a very exciting and entirely new product range which is still very much under wraps!"
PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 is the on
