DMG World Media’s initial figures show that apart from Tuesday (when numbers were predictably down by 87%), visitor numbers on opening day Sunday were up 12% on the last Printech and at closing yesterday, were up 15% for the day.
DMG’s Rochelle Gray says the general consensus was that the last day was the best, because printers who made an effort to get to Printech having lost a day’s production, did so because they wanted to buy something.
“People were saying that it was the quality of visitor that enabled them to do so much business and some were ecstatic about the amount that had been accomplished.”
Earlier yesterday the show had mixed reviews, however, with some exhibitors expressing their anger to some of the media about the failure of show organisers and the show grounds itself to provide back-up power to ensure the show went ahead.
Several claimed that if the show had been able to provide lighting for the three halls, visitors would still have come to see the static displays and to meet suppliers, but there was no “plan B” in place.
The reality was that the terrible weather on Tuesday coupled with the power outage right across the city, drove most people including many printers home. While power was restored mid-afternoon, many exhibitors had also fled leaving the show grounds almost deserted. The show closed that evening at 7pm, two hours later than scheduled to make up for lost time, but few braved the uncharacteristically freezing conditions to return.
