2009 NIFS/West: Numbers Drop But Exhibitors Still Report Business Activity

December 11

00:00 2009

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FEATURE

INxSQL booth at 2009 NIFS/West

EZ Sockets booth at 2009 NIFS/West

The recession took its toll on the 13th annual National Industrial Fastener Show/West as numbers dropped, but many exhibitors reported satisfaction with customers they met with.

• The 602 total booth number was down 26.5% from 819 last year. The NIFS record was set in 207 at 829 in 10×10 booths.

There were 497 exhibiting companies compared with 633 last year and 688 in 2007.

The total number of companies was down 21.5% despite 88 new exhibiting companies this year.

• NIFS reported overall registration totaled 3,943 – down 19.7% from 4,913 in 2008. The NIFS record was set in 2007 at 5,620.

• Distributor registration was down 23.4% to 1,052. The West show distributor registration record was set at 1,577 in 2007 and the NIFS high mark remains 1,733 in 1995 in Columbus.

• Total 2009 attendee registration was 2,058, down 16.3% from 2,460 last year. The NIFS record from 1996 stands at 3,341.

Actual attendance is not known as NIFS figures include advance and onsite registration. NIFS management does not use an independent verified attendance system. Show management does provide a registration list to exhibitors.

Show management pointed out that many trade shows reported drops in attendance of 30% or more. Some trade shows – including the 2009 NIFS/East – were cancelled for the year.

• There was growth in the number Asian-based exhibiting companies. A total of 54 of the 88 (63%) new NIFS/West exhibiting companies this year listed Asian addresses.

Of the 497 exhibiting companies, 145 listed in the 2009 Show Directory – or 29.2% – listed Asian addresses.

Largest Show Title

The combination of the growth of Fastener Fair Stuttgart and the numbers decline for the 2009 NIFS/West gave the “World’s Largest Fastener Show” title to the show in Germany this year.

• In October a total of 5,993 people entered the doors at the 2009 Fastener Fair Stuttgart. There were 3,943 registrations for the November NIFS/West. FFS even topped NIFS’ record total registration of 5,620 set in 2007.

NIFS provides registration numbers including advance and onsite rather than actual attendance figures so the gap in the number of people participating at the shows is likely to be larger than the 2,050 difference between FFS attendance and NIFS registration.

• There were 625 exhibiting companies at the show in Germany vs. 497 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

• Stuttgart exhibit space totaled at least 107,600 net sq ft. (226,044 gross sq ft) vs. 60,200 net sq ft for the 2009 NIFS/West.

NIFS’ largest booth total was 829 in 2007 – or 82,900 net sq ft.

• NIFS reported registrations from 36 countries vs. 70 for Fastener Fair Stuttgart. However, Europe totals many more countries than North America’s U.S., Canada and Mexico.

FFS reported 83% came from 27 European countries. Adding Russia and CIS countries the total is 89% from “Europe.”

Direct comparisons to trade shows in China are difficult as many exhibitors have only “posters” instead of booths and expos are frequently co-located non-fastener shows which increase numbers.

FFS registration is handled by Showdate Systems – an independent company – and reports attendance numbers to show management. There is a separate analysis of those register in advance but do not actually walk through the show entrance. That number was about 500 this year and is not included in the FFS published figures.

The next NIFS/West is scheduled for November 8-10, 2010, at Mandalay Bay. Show management has yet to announce dates or location for 2011.

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