Stand bookings are currently at 82%, with top names such as Vari-Lite, Sennheiser, Martin Professional, Denon, BSS Audio and Total Fabrication already booked. The show pulls in over 13,000 visitors from the UK and abroad each year, having become the main marketplace for the £11billion entertainment technology industry.
"The show is evolving continually," commented Saint, "and one of the key trends emerging is the growing number of manufacturers choosing to exhibit in their own right, rather than rely solely on representation through distributors. In addition, many long-standing exhibitors, including Numark, Peavey, Sound Technology, Avolites and SGM, have reaffirmed the importance of PLASA by booking larger stands. Other major industry players are also recognizing the role the show can play in developing their businesses and this year will see Marantz, Tascam and Duran Audio exhibiting for the first time. All this is happening at a time when the economy generally has been talked down, but the increased interest in the show is clear evidence that the market is picking up and that the PLASA Show is an integral part of the exhibitors’ marketing armoury."
Steve Warren, sales director of Avolites, an exhibitor at the show for the past 13 years, added: "The PLASA Show is clearly the most important industry show in terms of generating business for us worldwide. We plan our research and development dates around PLASA to ensure that we can launch our new products to the large number of international visitors and distributors who attend the show."
Linda Irvin of Sennheiser, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sound and communications systems, said the PLASA Show was a cornerstone event in their marketing strategy and they had been exhibiting at the Show for more than 10 years. "It’s the single most important event for our company because it allows us to launch new products, meet existing customers as well as generate new ones, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to network within the entire light and sound industry," said Irvin. "We generated phenomenal sales from last year’s show, so this year we have decided to more than double our exhibition space. Every year the show just seems to get better," she added.
Lisa Papi of Italian-based theatre and architectural lighting company LDR added that PLASA was one of the few industry shows that attracted people from all over the world. "PLASA allows us to reinforce our connection with our existing network of distributors and open up new markets and possibilities. We use PLASA to launch new products and definitely see the results in sales directly after the show."
Each year, the show organisers take soundings from exhibitors and visitors to gauge views on the outcome of the show - both commercially and aesthetically. As a direct consequence of this feedback, key developments are planned for the 2002 show, including a revamped Pavilion Area and enhancements to the New Technology Gallery and the respected Masterclass Programme. Companies wishing to find out more about the PLASA Show or wanting to book a stand should contact Nicky Rowland of Clarion Events on +44 (0)20 73708231.
