FireSprint.com
Trade Only Screen & Digital Sign Printing
Man I hope not. Have my tickets & hotel already! I was really looking forward to this. :-(
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Printing United 2021 Canceled?
- Thread starter FireSprint.com
- Start date
balstestrat
Problem Solver
Would it really be that big of a surprise?
YardSignsResellers.com
New Member
I just received this: https://whattheythink.com/news/107389-printing-united-expo-2021-cancelled/
White Haus
Not a Newbie
Damn, that's a shame. So much for the comeback of tradeshows and events 
Maybe next year??
Maybe next year??
Christian @ 2CT Media
Active Member
HP Pulled out, they are the Platinum Sponsor... Unfortunately, it had to be canceled at that point.
FireSprint.com
Trade Only Screen & Digital Sign Printing
My heart is literally broken.
ABA Visibility Products
Premium Subscriber
Important Update on PRINTING United Expo 2021 | PRINTING United Expo
It's official.
Josh Martinez
X-Edge Products Excellent Speed, Excellent Quality
Yes this is sad. But if you don't have the attendance, you don't have a show. I was really hoping to meet a lot of you that where going. Hope to see you guys soon.
WildWestDesigns
Active Member
I would be very surprised if trade shows make a come back. Certainly not at the level that we once had.
There is a trade group that I am apart of and they had 3 shows a year at different locations. All 3 were cancelled last year (big surprise with that one), none are slated for this year, as far as I'm aware, not even an attempt was made for any of them. Once you start having people get out of the habit of something, it's very hard for things to come back.
With the cost of everything going up as well, then the aforementioned lack of attendance (for a variety of reasons), it just isn't worth it for vendors as well. Substantial cash outlay to where ROI is dubious at best.
There is a trade group that I am apart of and they had 3 shows a year at different locations. All 3 were cancelled last year (big surprise with that one), none are slated for this year, as far as I'm aware, not even an attempt was made for any of them. Once you start having people get out of the habit of something, it's very hard for things to come back.
With the cost of everything going up as well, then the aforementioned lack of attendance (for a variety of reasons), it just isn't worth it for vendors as well. Substantial cash outlay to where ROI is dubious at best.
FireSprint.com
Trade Only Screen & Digital Sign Printing
I agree for the little shows. There's too much setup for that. But the people that run Printing United knew this and that's why there's now a unified show. There needs to be one HUGE show that get's everyone together. That show makes the setup and cost worth it.
For us, it's all about reconnecting with our current suppliers and just seeing what's out there. It's like a family reunion.
For us, it's all about reconnecting with our current suppliers and just seeing what's out there. It's like a family reunion.
WildWestDesigns
Active Member
I could agree on the social aspect, that for most that is a huge draw (although with the fear porn going around lately (and getting even more ramped up with the even newer variant, which is not the one listed in the link above from deliverysigns), that isn't even going to be the same as it once was). I would think it would be better if vendors would also go back to only doing reveals at the big trade shows, that might help draw people out there to see the new product and get a first look at it and maybe buy one at the show. I started seeing vendors a few yrs ago dropping new product info/order online, so really the isn't the same type of anticipation as there once was with the show. If the new product was something that didn't interest me, then that was just one less thing for me to be hyped up to go to the show.
Really, the social aspect and being able to claim some type of deduction for travel are perhaps the biggest aspects left in trade shows favor that is still there at this point. And those two can be whittled away very easily outside of whatever the trade show does.
FireSprint.com
Trade Only Screen & Digital Sign Printing
Man I hope you're wrong, but there is certainly some truth to your words.
Get the shows in while you can. There will be a time when many of us will call this period the good ol' days.
Get the shows in while you can. There will be a time when many of us will call this period the good ol' days.
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
I agree. These shows are extremely expensive to display in and most vendors don't get much, if any, return from them. I used to do some where I worked before, the only good thing that came out of it was the after party and free trip. You always go back thinking you had great turn out but in reality, most of the great turnout was from people you already had a relationship with visiting your booth. They nickel and dime you to death to display at them as well. It's a dinosaur method of product promotion really.
FireSprint.com
Trade Only Screen & Digital Sign Printing
Businesses so often look at new business as a measure for a promotion's success. We can't easily measure the additional value that an existing customer, getting yet another touch point, adds.
This kind of measurement might put a nail in the coffin for sure.
I hope that enough of the big spenders realize that cultivating the long term relationships are actually what pay the bills, not necessarily the new sale from today.
This kind of measurement might put a nail in the coffin for sure.
I hope that enough of the big spenders realize that cultivating the long term relationships are actually what pay the bills, not necessarily the new sale from today.
Christian @ 2CT Media
Active Member
Gene, you should create the Firesprint Show!
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
I've visited, volunteered and have been a vendor at various trade shows, attended seminars, vendor at a job fair.... all of it a waste of time, but it was nice to get out of the office and do something different and pretend like it helped the business.
WildWestDesigns
Active Member
Well, it's because that that is such a hard metric and it doesn't always translate to the same metric from one existing customer to the next, I would imagine that's why it isn't use to measure the success of a venture.
Customer, existing or otherwise, just showing up and touching base isn't necessarily going to generate into sales.
Ironically, what keeps customers is what happens after the sale and that isn't really what these shows are about. They are about sales, service etc is someone else's department.
I have to agree and we are seeing paradigm shifts for alot of things that didn't necessarily used to be the case.
In some ways, I don't like it, but in others it has to be done I think. We are in a different climate that isn't so much relegated to central (or one spot) monolithic trade shows or even centralized places of doing business. In some ways, I think that's good overall, but in other ways, it does suck.
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
Yes you are 100% right. The trade shows are essentially about the after party and your big players are there for you to schmooze with. They are absolutely a relationship builder for the big dogs but the question is, would the 10-20k you spent to display in the show be better spent doing something like multiple fishing charters or something similar for your core group? The little guys, the 500 out of 10, get nothing.
FireSprint.com
Trade Only Screen & Digital Sign Printing
We have had a few vendors set up summits where they fly out a hand picked group of owners and decision makers. They wine and dine, then show of their equipment in a very controlled setting over a day or two.
Those are also alot of fun. I think fuji has been leading the pack on events like this at their Chicago location.
I'm curious if those are any better for business than the traditional show.
Those are also alot of fun. I think fuji has been leading the pack on events like this at their Chicago location.
I'm curious if those are any better for business than the traditional show.