A trade fair (or trade show) is an exhibition organised so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent trends and opportunities. Some trade fairs are open to the public, while others can only be attended by company representatives (members of the trade) and members of the press, therefore tradeshows are classified as either "Public" or "Trade Only". They are held on a continuing basis in virtually all markets and normally attract companies from around the globe. There are currently over 2500 trade shows held every year in the U.S. alone.
Trade fairs often involve a considerable marketing investment by participating companies. Costs include space rental, design and construction of trade show displays, telecommunications and networking, travel, accommodations, and promotional literature and items to give to attendees. In addition, costs are incurred at the show for services such as electrical, booth cleaning, internet services, and drayage (also known as material handling).
Consequently, cities often promote trade shows as a means of economic development.
Exhibitors attending the event are required to use an exhibitor manual or online exhibitor manual to order their required services and complete any necessary paperwork such as health and safety declarations.
An increasing number of trade fairs are happening online, and these events are called virtual tradeshows. They are increasing in popularity due to their relatively low cost and because there is no need to travel whether you are attending or exhibiting.
List of major trade fairs
List reviewed on February 18, 2008 - in alphabetic order.
| Title |
Description |
Dates |
Location |
Visitors |
| Ambiente |
Consumer Goods |
13 February - 17 February |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Almost 150,000 visitors in 2008[1] |
| AgQuip |
Agriculture |
19 August - 21 August, 2008 |
Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia |
Approximately 100,000 in 2005[2] |
| Anuga |
Food |
October 13, 2007 |
Cologne, Germany |
158,817 in 2005[3] |
| Bogotá International Agriculture Fair - Agroexpo |
Agriculture |
July 12, 2005 |
Bogotá, Colombia |
236,616 in 2005[4] |
| Bogotá International Automobile Lounge |
Auto show |
October 19, 2006 |
Bogotá, Colombia |
130,000 in 2006[5] |
| Bogotá International Book Fairs |
Books |
April 26, 2007 |
Bogotá, Colombia |
377,310 in 2007[6] |
| Bogotá Home Fair |
Consumer goods for home |
September 4, 2007 |
Bogotá, Colombia |
240,000 in 2007[7] |
| Bologna Motor Show |
Auto show |
December 7, 2006 |
Bologna, Italy |
1,200,000 in 2006[8] |
| Buenos Aires International Book Fair |
Books |
April 23, 2009 - May 11, 2009 |
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
1,240,000 in 2008[9] |
| Cairo International Book Fair |
Books |
January 24, 2007 |
Cairo, Egypt |
2,000,000 in 2007 - largest book fair in the world[10] |
| Canton Fair |
Consumer and Industry Products |
Oct 15-19 2008 Oct 24-28 2008 Nov 2-6 2008 |
Guangzhou, China |
192,013 in Spring Session 2008[11] |
| CeBIT |
Information and communication technology |
March 15 - March 21, 2007 |
Hanover, Germany |
480,000 in 2007[12] |
| CES, Consumer Electronics Show |
Consumer electronics |
January 7 - January 10, 2008 |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
143,767 in 2007[13] |
| Chinaplas 2008 - The 22nd International Exhibition on Plastics and Rubber Industries |
Plastics |
April 17 - April 20, 2008 |
Shanghai, China |
72,161 in 2008[14] |
| China International Auto Supplies Sourcing Fair |
Auto show |
August 20th - August 22nd, 2008 |
Shanghai New International Expo Centre, China |
About 50,000 [15] |
| COMDEX |
Computer show |
cancelled |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
50,000 in 2003citation needed |
| COMPUTEX Taipei |
Computer show |
June 3 - June 7 |
Taipei, Taiwan |
106,517 in 2008[16] |
| CONEXPO-CON/AGG |
Construction |
March 22 - March 26, 2011 |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
Approximately 145,000 in 2008[17] |
| Cottage and Country homes show |
log home |
February 14 - February 17, 2008 |
Montreal, Canada |
57,000 in 2006[18] |
| DigitalLife |
Video Games, Consumer Electronics |
September 27 - September 30, 2007 |
New York City, New York |
(unknown attendee count in 2007; 50,000 in 2006[19]) |
| Drupa |
Printing Equipment |
May 29 - June 11, 2008 |
Messe Düsseldorf, Germany |
(393,654 in 2004 from 127 countries[20]) |
| E3, Electronic Entertainment Expo |
Video games |
July 15-17 |
Los Angeles, California |
60,000 in 2006[21] E3 became invitation only in 2007 and attendance dropped to around 5,000.[22] |
| Fiera internazionale del libro |
Books |
May 5, 2007 |
Turin, Italy |
300,000 in 2007 |
| Forest and Forest Products |
Forest and forest products |
September 19, 2006 |
Minsk, Belarus |
160,000 in 2005citation needed |
| Frankfurt Book Fair |
Books |
October 15-19 2008 |
Frankfurt, Germany |
270,000 in 2004citation needed |
| Games Convention |
Video games |
August 21 - August 24, 2008
August 19 - August 23, 2009
|
Leipzig, Germany |
203,000 in 2008[23] |
| GAMESCom (Successor to Games Convention) |
Video games |
September 9 - September 13, 2009 [24] |
Cologne, Germany |
|
| GIFTEX |
Gifts |
September 18 - September 22, 2008 |
Bombay, India |
53,000 in 2006citation needed |
| GITEX Consumer Electronics Expo |
Computers and Electronics |
September 6, 2007 |
Dubai, UAE |
120,000 in 2006citation needed |
| Hannover Messe |
Industry, Technology |
April 16 - April 20, 2007 |
Hanover, Germany |
over 230,000 in 2007citation needed |
| IETF India |
Technology Fair and Engineering Exhibition |
February 13, 2007 |
New Delhi, India |
1,150,000 in 2005citation needed |
| IMM - International Furniture Fair |
Furniture |
January 16, 2006 |
Cologne, Germany |
125,000 in 2005citation needed |
| Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung |
Cars |
September 2007 |
Frankfurt, Germany |
940,000 in 2005citation needed |
| IFA |
Consumer electronics |
September 2006 |
Berlin, Germany |
273,800 in 2003citation needed |
| Internationale Grüne Woche Berlin |
Food |
January 19 - January 28, 2007 |
Berlin, Germany |
430,000 in 2007citation needed |
| Internationale Luft- und Raumfahrtausstellung Berlin |
Aerospace |
May 16 - May 21, 2006 |
Berlin, Germany |
250,000 in 2006citation needed |
| Internationale Tourismus-Börse |
Tourism |
March 7 - March 10, 2007 |
Berlin, Germany |
177,000 in 2007citation needed |
| International Exhibition of Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furnishings (Cersaie) |
Ceramics for the Building Industry |
September 26, 2006 |
Bologna, Italy |
91,935 in 2007[25] |
| International Show of Agriculture |
Food, Agricultural machinery |
March 3, 2007 |
Paris, France |
600,000 in 2007citation needed |
| International Technical Fair |
machine engineering, automobiles, transport, information technologies, software, electronics, electrical engineering, construction, chemistry, power engineering, ecology |
September 24, 2007 |
Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
141,000 in 2006citation needed |
| Metalworking Tradeshow |
Metallurgy |
March 21, 2007 |
Minsk, Belarus |
90,000 in 2005citation needed |
| Mobile World Congress |
mobile telephony, Communications |
February 11 - February 14, 2008 |
Barcelona, Spain |
50,000 in 2007 |
| Mondial de l'Automobile |
Auto show |
September 30, 2006 |
Paris, France |
1,400,000 in 2006citation needed |
| NAMM |
Music |
January 17 - January 20, 2007 |
Anaheim, United States |
85,000[26] |
| National Agricultural Fieldays |
Agriculture |
4 days in Mid June |
Hamilton, New Zealand |
125,878 in 2007[27] |
| NAB, National Association of Broadcasters |
Broadcasting |
April 11 - April 17, 2008 |
Las Vegas, United States |
105,000 in 1999 [4] |
| The North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW |
Motorcycle Consumer Show |
January 2, 3, 4 2009 |
Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
65,000 in 2008citation needed |
| Novi Sad Fair |
Agriculture |
Middle of May |
Novi Sad, Serbia |
600,000citation needed |
| Nuremberg International Toy Fair |
Toys, Games |
February 1, 2007 |
Nuremberg, Germany |
80,000 in 2007citation needed |
| Paris Air Show |
Aerospace |
June 18, 2007 |
Paris, France |
550,000 in 2007citation needed |
| Photokina |
Photography |
September 26, 2006 |
Cologne, Germany |
160,000 in 2004citation needed |
| Pollutec |
Environment |
November 28, 2006 |
Lyon, France |
65,000 in 2004citation needed |
| Pool Trade Show |
Fashion |
July 17, 2006 |
New York & Las Vegas |
50,000 in 2005citation needed |
| Salone del Mobile (International Furniture Fair) |
Furniture |
March 2007 |
FieraMilano, Milan, Italy |
270,000 in 2007[28] |
| SIMO TCI |
Consumer electronics |
November 7, 2006 |
Madrid, Spain |
approximately 300,000 [29] |
| SMAU |
Computers, Consumer electronics |
October 4, 2006 |
FieraMilano, Milan, Italy |
50,000 in 2006citation needed |
| Sydney Royal Easter Show |
Agriculture |
14 days over Easter |
Sydney, Australia |
900,000 in 2007[30] |
| Tokyo Game Show |
Video games |
September 22, 2006 |
Tokyo, Japan |
160,000 in 2004citation needed |
| World of Packing |
Packing |
September 26, 2006 |
Minsk, Belarus |
90,000 in 2005citation needed |
References
- ^ [1], Messe Frankfurt Website. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
- ^ Participation Information, AgQuip Website. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
- ^ Facts and Figures, Anuga website, January 2007. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
- ^ Last fair version facts
- ^ Last fair version facts
- ^ Last fair version facts
- ^ Last fair version facts
- ^ The figures of the 31st edition of Bologna Motor Show, International Automobile Exhibition, Bologna Motor Show, September 5, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ^ The Fair was a success and they are already working for 2009, Clarin, May 13, 2008
- ^ Cairo International Book Fair Attracts Two Million Visitors
- ^ China Import and Export Fair
- ^ CeBIT End of Show Report 2007, CeBIT. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ^ http://www.cesweb.org/docs/2007_CES_Audit_Highlight.pdf Preliminary Attendee Highlight Document], CES website, 2007. Retrieved November 15, 2007. Note: figure includes exhibit and conference attendees, press, analysts, speakers and exhibitors.
- ^ Chinaplas 2008 - Asia's No.1 International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair -Show Update, ChinaplasOnline. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
- ^ The 6th China International Auto Supplies Sourcing Fair ChinaTradeShows.com. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
- ^ Taipei Computer Association: Perfect finale for COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2008 with exhibition size and number of buyers both achieving new heights
- ^ CONEXPO-CON/AGG Website, CONEXPO-CON/AGG website. Retrieved March 20, 2008. Note: figures include attendees for the co-located International Exposition for Power Transmission.
- ^ 2nd Cottage and Country homes show, salonchalet.com (Cottage and Country homes show website). Retrieved November 15, 2007.
- ^ Overview, DigitalLife. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ^ General Information - drupa Trade Fair
- ^ Ellie Gibson E3: Organisers report record attendance at 2005 event GameIndustry.biz, May 23, 2005. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
- ^ Login E3 Media and Business Summit 2007 website. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
- ^ [2], August 24, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
- ^ [3] , February 2, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
- ^ Countdown to Cersaie 2008 begins, Cersaie website. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
- ^ Exhibitors, NAMM website. Retrieved November 27, 2007.
- ^ Fieldays 2007 Statistics, National Agricultural Fieldays Website. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
- ^ Cosmit - Visitatori
- ^ 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
- ^ About the 2008 Show, Sydney Royal Easter Show Website. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
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