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A few stats:
There were just under 700 registrations for the show. Between 50-100 registered but didn’t show up — my guess is they got caught in one of the many storms crossing the nation. We have no idea how many Composites attendees walked the show since they got free admission with their Composites pass, which did not go through our registration. My guess is it was around 50 people.
Most conferences had between 30-40 people in the audience. The last day of the show attendance fell to more like 20-25 people per conference.
The Dream Sweeps Giveaway Drawing gave out a lot of prizes, which included: A a case of caulk from Color Rite, a sink from Domain, 2 Gorilla Grips from Monument Toolworks, 8 sets each of a case of adhesive, an applicator gun and the stone repair kit from ITW Plexus, a $500 gift certificate from Integra Adhesives and a trip for two to Spain from Cosentino. A big thank you goes to all of our generous sponsors!!!!!
Most of the design awards went to concrete countertop entries, although Gene won the Green award and Sterling Surfaces won the best commercial installation and Best of Show.
There were about 150 at the Super Bowl Party at Ricardos on Sunday afternoon. All the chips and salsa you could eat and a buffet dinner at halftime. It was a smashing success.
The Networking Luncheon was a sellout. In fact we ran out of food and tables, but the Mandalay Bay staff quickly stepped up to the plate (another pun, groan) and made the necessary arrangements.
ISFA Awards:
Associate of the Year: Colonial Saw
Innovator of the Year: David Cranke of Interfab
The Envision Award: ITW Plexus
Fabricator of the Year: Thierry Delles, CREA Diffusion
Hall of Fame: Richard ChristAnd for the record, SANDY MILROY did a fabulous job putting this all together. She was ably assisted by Meg of the ISFA staff. Next time you talk or email with either of them, please thank them for a superb performance.
Sorry folks. I have several more pics, but I can’t figure out how to do it — keep getting error messages.
Andy, I think you are correct — everything these days MUST have a positive ROI attached to it, or companies simply can’t afford to participate. Maybe that’s why the #1 question we are asked is “Who else is going to the show?”, which is a very valid question.
Making the decision on whether to attend ICE, or any show, based simply on who else will be there certainly makes sense in that it implies you will have a richer Expo experience if the whole gang is there. Of course, it would be a lot of fun to bring back the old days of expensive parties, car giveaways and lavish grand openings. We all know that ain’t gonna happen anytime soon.
Personally, I believe the best reason for a fabricator to attend a show is the prospect of making more money or becoming more profitable. Meeting with mfgs is a piece of that puzzle. The educational conferences are another piece and so are opportunities for creating and developing relationships with other countertop professionals.
That’s why the ISFA Area on the show floor will feature over 40 different Ask The Experts sessions, a slew of fab demos, and open-air seminars scattered throughout all three days of the show. That’s in addition to the conferences. These are all informal opportunities to get to know some of the best and the brightest in our industry.
I have been to every solid surface/ISSFA/Cygnus show from the beginning. Some have been very exciting and quite glitzy. This show won’t have a lot of the glitter, but I have a hunch a fabricator can make more money by participating this year than in many of the recent shows combined.And speaking of fabulous Mexican Restaurants, ICE has just upgraded its Big Game Football Party (Super Bowl) to Ricardo’s Mexican Restaurant, which is just off the strip. Ricardo’s has been consistently voted Vegas’ #1 Mexican restaurant several years running. As it stands right now, we’ll have the whole restaurant to ourselves.
It will be a more intimate atmosphere, more TVs showing the game and much, much, better food than what we were gonna get at Hard Rock. Of course, they have a bar as well.
Actually the ACMA is bringing in Mitt Romney for their keynote address and they invited ICE attendees to come if they like.
The deal is ICE and Composites 2010 are co-locating sorta, in that we share some expenses and help fill the room block. Both shows are in separate halls and each organization has its own programming. If you buy a pass to ICE you get into Composites 2010 and vice versa. When ACMA sealed the deal with Romney they were kind enough to extend an invitation to anyone at ICE would wanted to attend.
Nice gesture on their part.Normal
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font-family:”Times New Roman”;}Andy, you’re
right. It’s all about (well, mostly) the fun. Here’s a list of the fun stuff
for the show. Has it hit the mark yet?- Big Game Football party at
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – beer, burgers, snacks (plus the Colts –
sorry Jon). - Networking Reception just
before the exhibit hall opens (lunch and fun). - 20 Shop Tours in a Day video
tours of shops across the world in the ISFA booth. - Live fabrication of countertops
on the show floor, which will be judged in the design contest. - Dream Sweeps Giveaway on the
show floor, where industry supporters provide free materials, trips,
supplies, etc. in a free giveaway drawing. - Exhibitor Demos – 15 minutes
demos in vendor booths continuously throughout the show.
The
idea behind ICE is to bring back the relationship building that used to occur
in the old days. That’s why it’s in a hotel and why there are lots of
activities to bring people together. It will not be a large show – more of a
boutique affair – but it’s focused on the fabricator. Nothing else.Russ
- Big Game Football party at
