Trade show
A trade fair, also known as trade show, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and customers, study activities of rivals, and examine recent market trends and opportunities.
In contrast to consumer fairs, only some trade fairs are open to the public, while others can only be attended by company representatives (members of the trade, e.g. professionals) and members of the press, therefore trade shows are classified as either "public" or "trade only". A few fairs are hybrids of the two; one example is the Frankfurt Book Fair, which is trade only for its first three days and open to the general public on its final two days. They are held on a continuing basis in virtually all markets and normally attract companies from around the globe. For example, in the U.S., there are currently over 10,000[1] trade shows held every year, and several online directories have been established to help organizers, attendees, and marketers identify appropriate events.
History
Modern trade fairs follow in the tradition of trade fairs established in late medieval Europe such as the Champagne fairs or the Skåne Market, in the era of merchant capitalism. In this era, produce and craft producers visited towns for trading fairs, to sell and showcase products. From the late eighteenth century, industrial exhibitions in Europe and North America became more common reflecting the technological dynamism of the Industrial Revolution.
In the late 19th century, the concept of annual industry-wide trade shows gained traction, spreading from European manufacturing centers to North America. By the 20th century, specialized companies came into existence simply to manage the trade-show industry, and permanent trade show grounds or convention centers were established as venues that featured a rotating calendar of trade shows.
In the 21st century, with the rapid industrialization of Asia, trade shows and exhibitions are now commonplace throughout the Asian continent, with China dominating the exhibitions industry in Asia, accounting for more than 55 per cent of all space sold in the region in 2011.[2]
Use
Trade fairs play important roles in marketing as well as business networking in market sectors that use them. People will seek to meet people and companies at their own level in the supply chain, as well as potential suppliers and potential buyers.[3]
Generally there will be a central trade show floor with booths where people exhibit their goods or services, and throughout the day there will be seminars for continuing education on matters relevant to the industry, like best practices, trends, and regulation. There will also be some shared meals with keynote speakers, and social events in the evenings.[3] Booths range from simple tables to elaborate constructions.[4]
Trade fairs often involve a considerable investment in time and money by participating companies.[5] The planning includes arranging meetings with other attendees beforehand and resources to follow up on opportunities that are created at the fair.[6] Costs include space rental, booth design and construction of trade show displays, telecommunications, travel, accommodations, and promotional literature and items to give to attendees.[3]
In addition, costs are incurred at the show for services such as electrical, booth cleaning, internet services, and drayage (also known as material handling). This local spending on logistics leads cities to promote trade shows as a means of local economic development, as well as providing opportunities for local businesses to grow, and attract new businesses to come.[7]
List of major venues
# | Ground | City | Indoor floor area | Outdoor floor area |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hanover Fairground | Hanover | 496,000 m2 (5,340,000 sq ft) | 58,070 m2 (625,100 sq ft) |
2 | World Market Center Las Vegas | Las Vegas | 460,000 m2 (5,000,000 sq ft) | |
3 | Messe Frankfurt | Frankfurt | 366,600 m2 (3,946,000 sq ft) | 96,000 m2 (1,030,000 sq ft) |
4 | Fira de Barcelona | Barcelona | 365,000 m2 (3,930,000 sq ft) | 50,000 m2 (540,000 sq ft) |
5 | Fiera Milano | Milan | 345,000 m2 (3,710,000 sq ft) | 60,000 m2 (650,000 sq ft) |
6 | Canton Fair Complex | Guangzhou | 338,000 m2 (3,640,000 sq ft)[8] | 43,600 m2 (469,000 sq ft) |
7 | Las Vegas Convention Center | Winchester, Nevada (Las Vegas) | 297,000 m2 (3,200,000 sq ft) | |
8 | Koelnmesse | Cologne | 284,000 m2 (3,060,000 sq ft) | 100,000 m2 (1,100,000 sq ft) |
9 | Messe Düsseldorf | Düsseldorf | 262,740 m2 (2,828,100 sq ft) | 43,000 m2 (460,000 sq ft) |
10 | McCormick Place | Chicago | 248,000 m2 (2,670,000 sq ft) | |
11 | Parc des Expositions de Villepinte | Paris | 246,300 m2 (2,651,000 sq ft) | |
12 | Paris expo Porte de Versailles | Paris | 227,000 m2 (2,440,000 sq ft) | |
13 | Feria de Madrid IFEMA | Madrid | 200,000 m2 (2,200,000 sq ft) | |
14 | National Exhibition Centre | Solihull, UK | 186,000 m2 (2,000,000 sq ft) | 100,000 m2 (1,100,000 sq ft) |
15 | Messe München | Munich | 180,000 m2 (1,900,000 sq ft) | 425,000 m2 (4,570,000 sq ft) |
16 | Messe Nürnberg | Nuremberg | 180,000 m2 (1,900,000 sq ft) | 50,000 m2 (540,000 sq ft) |
17 | Messe Berlin | Berlin | 160,000 m2 (1,700,000 sq ft) | 390,000 m2 (4,200,000 sq ft) |
List of major trade fairs
See also
- Agricultural show
- Buyers Market of American Craft
- County fair
- Lead retrieval
- List of world's fairs
- Rodeo
- State fair
- World's fair
- Hall of Nations
References
- ^ CIC Economic Significance Study Executive Summary p.5 http://www.conventionindustry.org/ResearchInfo/EconomicSignificanceStudy/ESSExecSummary.aspx Archived 2017-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Conventions and exhibitions: Asia-Pacific rising". TTGmice. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
- ^ a b c Applegate, Jane (17 September 2001). "How to Work a Trade Show". Entrepreneur.
- ^ Morgan, Brittney (September 15, 2014). "Trade Show Displays: A Buyer's Guide". Business News Daily.
- ^ Training, Employment, Small Business and (5 July 2011). "Benefits and risks of trade shows and exhibitions". The State of Queensland: Business Queensland. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
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- ^ Bathelt, Harald; Golfetto, Francesca; Rinallo, Diego (2014). Trade Shows in the Globalizing Knowledge Economy. OUP Oxford. p. 86ff. ISBN 9780191019036.
- ^ "Guangzhou - Canton Fair Complex(No. 380, Yuejiang Zhong Road, Guangzhou, China)".
- ^ "Participation Information". Farmonline.com.au. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
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- ^ "Account Suspended". www.euroflora2011.it. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
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- ^ "Abschlussbericht: Gamesbranche bleibt 2009 in Leipzig". Leipziger-Messe.de. August 24, 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
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- ^ "Gitex 2016". Archived from the original on 2017-03-08.
- ^ "International Facility Management Expo 2018 - B-FOR". b-for.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ 2010-09-24T08:53:00+01:00. "InnoTrans 2010 expects record visitor numbers". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
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- ^ "A New Decade, A Crossroads of Opportunity: The NAMM Show, The Global Platform for Innovation in Music Products, Pro Audio and Entertainment Technology Returns to Anaheim" (Press release). January 20, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ [1], Detroit Free Press, "Not a record, but still a strong showing: Detroit auto show attracts more than 800,000." Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ Fieldays 2007 Statistics Archived 2008-01-19 at the Wayback Machine, National Agricultural Fieldays Website. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
- ^ "Report of International Toy Fair 2011: The results" (Press release). Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
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- ^ SIMO e-life 2007 aims to become an annual point of reference for the video-games sector throughout Europe SIMO press release, July 25, 2007. Retrieved on October 11, 2007
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External links
- Media related to Trade fairs at Wikimedia Commons