“Show Management is very disappointed with the low exhibitor participation and lack of distributor attendance at the 2011 National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo held last week in Columbus, Ohio. We employed our best efforts to heavily promote the event to many thousands of fastener manufacturers, importers, distributors, sales reps and others throughout the world using direct mail, trade journal and web site advertising, multiple electronic bulletins, social media and every other means at our command. We are baffled by the poor turnout.
Conversations with several of our most loyal exhibitors indicate that the fastener industry needs and wants to reduce the number of trade shows held. They say that the National Industrial Fastener Expo in Las Vegas is the one big event everyone points to and that all of the smaller state, regional and national shows are also suffering a decline in exhibitor participation and distributor attendance. There simply are not enough marketing dollars and travel funds to support all of the shows.
We have listened!
We have made a painful decision to end the historic Columbus Show and focus 100% of our energy, talent, time and resources on making the National Industrial Fastener Expo in Las Vegas even bigger and better than ever before. We want the ‘Vegas Show to be the center of the fastener industry universe.
In making this huge sacrifice, we are taking the lead in reducing the number of fastener industry trade shows. We trust that the entire industry will appreciate our initiative and follow our lead.
We also thank all those exhibiting companies and attendees which have supported our Columbus Show for over three decades. We are grateful for the past and look forward to a bright future for everyone in Las Vegas”, say Jim Bannister and Mike McGuire, General Partners.
The National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo will be held October 19-21, 2011 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. For more information contact Susan A. Hurley, CEM, at (614) 895-1279, email info@fastenershows.com or visit the Expo web site at www.fastenershows.com.
