Page 66 - enLIGHTenment Magazine - May 2016

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LEDucated

The bene ts of “small” show venues include more cost-friendly

exhibitor and a endee fees, convenient locations, and e cient

time-management.
TBY LINDA LONGO

he world of solid-state lighting has magnitude and cost, have a greater emphasis on
been moving so quickly, as greater showcasing the full product range from major

e ciencies are realized, that wait- companies. Smaller manufacturers who specialize

ing once a year for a large trade in more speci c and custom lighting solutions can
show to come around might not
easily be overlooked when exhibiting in a mega-

always be convenient to architects, speci ers, fair. The exhibitors I spoke to at LEDucation have
designers, and retailers who have clients with participated in events such as Lightfair in the past,

time-sensitive projects underway.
but report that these smaller trade shows more

There are other reasons that smaller events – e ectively target the customer base they want to
such as LEDucation in New York City – continue a ract. In many cases, it’s not a ma er of showing

to gain in popularity and one is the manageable a endees how many di erent items they have in
size. The exhibit oor doesn’t span an entire con- their line, but the fact that they exist at all.

vention center; it comfortably lls approximately Could the future of gathering lighting knowledge

two hotel ballrooms. That smaller footprint al- consist of more of these traveling shows in major
lows industry professionals in those cities to pop cities – where even the giants like Osram Sylva-

in during their lunch hour, or for a few hours in nia and Philips have small booths – and a roster
an a ernoon, to handily observe a large array of of timely, CEU-accredited educational sessions is

relevant products and have their questions an- conveniently included? From what exhibitors and

swered quickly.
a endees told me, this is an idea that holds great
The larger trade shows, because of their
appeal and would bene t the industry overall.

64 enLIGHTenment Magazine | May 2016
www.enlightenmentmag.com