Thursday, July 28th, 2011
NeoCon 2011: Increase in show attendance mirrors business conditions
From Floor Covering News, a report on NeoCon 2011:
“The commercial market is on the upswing, and NeoCon 2011 could not have been more reflective of that trend. Hotel room reservations were up 27% over the three-day NeoCon 2010 period, forcing many members of the A&D community to the outskirts of the city. Elevator wait times at the Merchandise Mart were longer than in recent years, and hallways on the floors housing the permanent showrooms were more challenging to negotiate—all signs of a healthy show.
When the dust cleared, the reported attendance of nearly 43,000, was a 4% increase over 2010. That was particularly illustrated in the carpet showrooms, many of which boasted overflow crowds throughout the first two days. But quantity was only half the story; it was the quality of attendee that had manufacturers buzzing. For the first time in awhile, there are projects in the works, and architects and designers were doing more than window shopping. “Ever since the economic dip, the quality of attendance has improved,” said Glenn Hussmann, president and CEO of Tandus. “I find myself being introduced to customers with active products. Very few companies are sending people here just to look. They are here to bring product decisions to closure.””
