13,810 people (subject to ABC Audit), up by 4.2 per cent from last year, visited the PLASA Show to see the array of new product launches, attend the Masterclass Programme, network with industry colleagues and strike up new business relationships. PLASA managing director, Matthew Griffiths, said the show bucked the exhibition industry’s recent downward trend as many exhibitors conducted good business at the show, citing an optimistic mood about the state of the industry.
The show’s acting director, Nicola Rowland, commented: "Without doubt, this has been an extremely successful show. I’ve spoken to many exhibitors and the response has been overwhelmingly positive and it has laid the foundations to make the show even better next year. The show offered the industry a platform to revive the sluggish start to trading this year, with many exhibitors sounding bullish about the opportunities for the coming year after securing significant new business deals at the show."
Laurie-Jane Greene, international marketing manager for Martin Professional, described the PLASA Show as the "most important event" of the year. "It stimulates business in the industry and as a result we are experiencing a significant increase in the pace of business in our European offices. The industry is in a strong position to capitalize on the positive start the PLASA Show has generated," said Greene.
Rob Moore, managing director of Music Factory, said he was delighted with the show, having secured lucrative contracts with various companies and signed up several new dealers throughout the UK and Europe. "We have secured over £50,000 worth of new business from companies like HMV, Thompsons and Boots. We have also signed up five new UK dealers and three new European agents. It’s in our best interests to come to PLASA," said Moore.
Managing director of beyerdynamic (GB), John Midgley, supported the view that the PLASA Show provided the best platform to explore new business opportunities and, more importantly, promote the company. "PLASA is an excellent place to introduce new products, meet existing and prospective clients and network. It’s an opportunity to meet the largest number of people in the shortest possible timeframe."
"This has been the best show ever," said Karen Cronin, director of Total Fabrications. "We don’t normally take orders at the show, but on this occasion we actually did. So it’s been really good and there have been more international visitors than I expected."
(Lee Baldock)
