Visual Impact Sydney has been hailed a resounding success, with more exhibitors than ever before and an increase of nearly 10% on visitor numbers over previous years, says Peter Harper, general manager – Trade Shows & Publications for the show’s organisers, Visual Connections.
The Sydney iteration of Visual Impact is always one of the most well-attended, due understandably to the large concentration of businesses in Australia’s Harbour city, and while final numbers are still being crunched following the show close on Saturday, it seems this year was no exception.
“Initial numbers for the show are looking very pleasing with excellent attendances, particularly on the Thursday and Friday of last week,” Harper reports. “Most were locals, with some 80% of visitors from Sydney and the surrounding region, with the majority of the remainder from NSW regional centres and interstate.
“Importantly for the record number of exhibitors, more than half the attendees to the Sydney show were owners, CEOs, MDs or directors of their companies, proving that Visual Impact is a true ‘decision makers’ show,” he added.
Visitors to the show, which was held at the Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park, were treated to a broad showcase of equipment, technologies, media and other solutions from more than 100 exhibitors covering all aspects of the sign, display and wide format print sector, as well as informative workshops and demonstrations across the three-day event.
Harper says the success of Visual Impact Sydney has once again underscored the importance of this more focused show for his organisation’s members and the wider market, although he says that lower than anticipated Saturday attendance has confirmed Visual Connections’ inclination to keep future shows to weekdays.
“There has been a trend away from weekend attendances for a while now, and this Sydney show was no exception with record attendances on Thursday and Friday, but numbers down quite a bit on the Saturday, so we’ll canvas that with our members with a view to perhaps keeping future shows to weekdays only,” he reports.
Visitor feedback is currently being evaluated, and formal exhibitor and visitor surveys will also be conducted in the coming days, to ensure that future shows continue to reflect the changing needs of this dynamic market – meanwhile, however, Harper says all the indicators are that Sydney was an enormous success.
“We’re very pleased, and are now focusing on a really positive 2017 program, which will be particularly exciting with Visual Impact Melbourne co-locating with the PacPrint 17 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from May 23-26, followed by Visual Impact Sydney, our first at the new ICC Darling Harbour, from October 11-13.”
More information on Visual Impact expos can be found on the Visual Impact website,while the PacPrint 2017 site carries all the information about next year’s VI Melbourne as well as the international print and graphic communications show.