You are in:
Signed, sealed and delivered
Any fears regarding the effect the economic climate might have on Sign and Digital UK were unfounded, as true to form the show brought large numbers of high quality visitors to the stands of those exhibiting.
Event director, Rudi Blackett, commented: "This year we were impressed with both the quality and quantity of the visitors that attended the show. We were confident that such a comprehensive exhibitor list and range of products would draw the crowds, even more so when you combine that with the various topics covered in the different seminar theatres at the show.
"That said, exhibitors reported a higher quality of visitor than ever before, as well as a higher level of on-stand commerce than many had thought possible. I would like to thank exhibitors and visitors alike, for contributing to the success of Sign and Digital UK 2009."
A number of big-name visitors were once again in attendance at the show. Representatives from Delta Display, Signs Express, Sign-A-Rama, FastSigns, Linney Group, Hawes Signs, Augustus Martin, C3 Imaging, Service Graphics, Gardners, Harrisons Signs, St Ives Group, Bezier, JC Decaux, Monster Digital, McLaren Racing, British Airways, Cadbury, Legoland, Harrods, Ikea, Co-operative Group, Waitrose, Ministry of Defence, Motorola, Hampshire County Council, Somerset County Council, Wolverhampton Council, Basingstoke Council, University of Sheffield, University of Leeds, South Yorkshire Police and Cheshire Police and many more visited the show over the three days.
Chairman and manager at Alpha Engraving, Roger Masheder, having just purchased a printer from Graphic Printing Technologies, commented: "It's twenty years since we were last here and while some things are the same, there's a lot that has changed. The show today has been good."
Perusing with purpose
Exhibitors also reported better than expected levels of trading within the show.
Managing director of Graphic Printing Technologies, Stuart Cole, explained: "This year we found people have been coming up to buy, probably more so than ever before. We've taken some strong enquiries and done business on the stand."
Head of product management at Roland, Brett Newman, also reported a successful show: "We took orders from the first day, even within a couple of hours of the show opening. That's obviously what we are here to do and because of the class of people coming through the door, they're purposefully coming to make a purchasing decision at the show.
"Every year we prove that it is simple to justify the costs of exhibiting - we walked away with high quality leads, orders, motivated staff and we've seen customers, new and existing."
Marketing manager at Robert Horne Group, Amy Le Corney, was impressed with the quality of the visitors at the show this year: "It's important for us to come to Sign and Digital UK because this is when we get to see our existing customers as well as potential new customers. The quality of visitors this year has been good and although there's slightly fewer than previous years, the quality has been improved."
Hewlett Packard, who had secured the largest stand at the 2009 show, chose to demonstrate several new products. Country manager for sign and display at HP, Nancy Janes, said: "Commercial customers are our target at this show and we believe this is the best show in the UK to be able to bring our products to that customer base.
"Despite difficult times at the moment, the people who are coming are interested in actually looking at new technology, understanding how they can grow and develop their business and also understand how they can finance that business and move into new applications for the future."
Marketing co-ordinator of Europoint Display, Margaret Brobbin, also commented: "For the 2009 Sign and Digital UK show we went back to basics to target small to medium sign makers and this has certainly paid dividends with leads on machines and media."
Absorbing know-how
Many features were continued from the show last year, with the Sign Makers Bar and the Massage Zone once again serving to rehydrate, refresh and revitalise both visitors and exhibitors, while each of the seminar theatres, including a significantly expanded Adobe Theatre, were well attended throughout the show.
Brian Carter of B Scene commented: "I visited several workshops and seminars during my visit to the show. Adobe and Corel Draw were the ones that stuck in my mind as they were interesting and gave insight into how these packages can be utilised to great potential."
Doug of Peach Design reiterates the quality of the Adobe workshop: "Terry Steeley and Richard West are great speakers. They make everything easy to understand and the demonstrations on Leopard and CS4 were extremely helpful."
Finally, marketing manager for the show, Alan Caddick, concluded: "There were numerous features that received great feedback from visitors, such as the F1 competition, where Nigel Franklin, Darren Worthington and Janet Smith were the three winners, as well as the massage zone - these will definitely be featured again next year along with a wealth of new features."
