11.8.16
Demonstrating the graphic communications industry’s positive outlook and intent to invest in the future, enthusiastic show visitors turned out for GRAPH EXPO 16, held September 25-28, 2016 at Orlando, Florida’s Orange County Convention Center-North.
Exciting new and emerging marketplace opportunities beckoned veteran show visitors and new audiences of progressive print professionals who came from every key market segment with keen interest-and purchasing power-to see and explore the year’s latest technologies and offerings. Held for the first time in Orlando, GRAPH EXPO 16 drew new audiences of show visitors from the Southeast U.S. who were enthralled with the wide variety of technologies and accessibility of suppliers, from whom they discovered the very newest solutions to their unique business challenges.
“The enduring success of GRAPH EXPO, measured by leads and orders, is reinforced by the significance it continues to hold for our industry community,” said Thayer Long, president of NPES. “The key to GRAPH EXPO’s relevancy and strength,” he continued, “is its focus on print and imaging business growth with its compelling mix of current education, the latest technologies, and ever-essential face time with industry experts and peers.”
Throughout the exhibition, well satisfied attendees interacted with top industry suppliers who came to demonstrate their latest and most advanced technologies and services-many making their U.S. debut at GRAPH EXPO 16. Exhibitors declared plentiful new leads and sales during the event:
“It’s been very busy, better than our expectations. We got a lot of leads, and we’re going to be busy for the rest of the year.” – Guy Gecht, CEO, efi
“With the shift of GRAPH EXPO 16 to Orlando we didn’t know what to expect-but it turned out quite well for us. We found the quality of leads to be very good and, as always, the show provided a great opportunity to meet with our existing partners and, also to make new connections with other vendors. We’ll be back for PRINT 17.” – Bram Verniest, COO, Chili-Publish
“The show this year was fantastic, we were not expecting to have such a high level of customers.” – Kevin Abergel, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, MGI Digital Technology
“KBA North America has found Orlando to be easy to do business in. We’re pleasantly surprised by the attendance. We’ve met with key clients and are very pleased with the results.” -Eric Frank, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, KBA North America
“GRAPH EXPO 16 provided a very focused audience. Only people on a mission were in attendance.” – Paul Abdool, M-EDP, CCMP, ECMS, Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, SOLIMAR Systems
“GRAPH EXPO in Orlando, FL was an exceptional experience across the board. The show has given us the opportunity to see a different geographic mix of prospects. The booth was busy from start to finish each day and we were able to connect in-depth with many customers and prospects about our new technologies and opportunities in the market.” – Robert Stabler, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Graphic Communications Business Group, Xerox
“I’ve been at GRAPH EXPO for many years and I don’t remember it being as busy as it’s been this year. Starting at noon on Sunday it’s just been non-stop. We signed several orders, so it’s not only been busy, but it’s been the right people.” – Bobby Curtis, Senior Director Production Print, Konica-Minolta Business Solutions
“The show has been fantastic! On day one, we saw a 70% increase over Chicago. Day two topped the amount of leads we’ve had in Chicago.” – Hiroyuki Imamura, Vice President/General Manager, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc.
“There are a lot of exciting clients here at GRAPH EXPO we’ve never met before.” – Robert Ross, President and CEO, Xanté
“I am having the best Sunday ever!! Thanks!” – Patricia Cowan, President, Rainmaker Sales Support
“We closed business at the show, exceeded our target for interactions with customers and prospective customers, and had the opportunity to meet with several companies who have not attended GRAPH EXPO in Chicago.” – Michael Aumann, CEO, Brandtjen and Kluge, Inc.
“We were pleased to see many new In-Plants at the show. Reaching a new, untapped audience is key to our continued success. Providing first time show attendees with education sessions, product information and networking opportunities will keep them coming to the show no matter where it’s located.” – Elisha Kasinskas, Marketing Director, Rochester Software Associates
Highly trafficked show floor pavilions and specialty features across the show floor, which included the debuting “House That Print Built” and popular returning favorites-the Inkjet Candy Store and Materials Matter-signaled success as well.
Co-location partners who produced 42 individual meetings and activities, likewise proclaimed the show a success with glowing reactions:
“GRAPH EXPO is not a location, a venue, a city, or a state – it’s an industry community. This show continues to attract quality attendees who are focused on finding the products and services to help them generate success, while learning from industry experts and, also each other. Throughout the show, our amazing exhibitor Alliance partners, educational panels, special events, and the engaged attendees who came to Orlando, kept The Printerverse overflowing into the aisles, making it the 4th most visited booth at GRAPH EXPO 16! Of course, we’ll be back for PRINT 17!” – Deborah Corn, Principal, Print Media Centr
“As always, it was a great forum to view new technologies, applications and a central event to meet with customers and prospects.” – Skip Henk, President, Xplor International
Equally enthusiastic were attendees who came to the show with shopping lists in hand, and for the continuous networking and learning opportunities, who wholeheartedly confirmed their time in Orlando was well spent and highly productive:
“I found several new suppliers and solutions to problems that I experience from a manufacturing standpoint that I didn’t know had solutions.” – John Dapkus, Operations Manager, RR Donnelley
“GRAPH EXPO continues to be the premiere show for print industry professionals wanting to see where the industry stands from the Executive Outlook to the seminars and floor show.” – Henry Hunt, Chief of Publishing, United Nations
“I signed a contract for a new piece of equipment that should take our business to another level.” – Bob Hindman, President, American Graphics Printing Co.
“Love the state of the industry presentations every year; seeing new technology. This helps me develop my business plan every year.” – Taylor Blackwell, President, Walker360
“I was able to find out about new software options, get info on new products from current vendors, and take away good ideas from the seminars to use in my business now.” – Summer Gould, President, Eye/Comm. Inc.
“Attending GRAPH EXPO 16 exceeded my expectations. I was able to find solutions to some of the challenges in my business, as well as find new resources. The resources on the show floor cannot be found anywhere in the US; I can accomplish in a few hours what would take me weeks and months elsewhere.” – Bryan Hall, President/CEO, Graphic Visual Solutions
“It was my first time to attend a printer expo and it was amazing!” – Leslie Paul Wilbert, President, Impression Works
Rounding out the GRAPH EXPO 16 post-show reporting, GASC is committed to capturing and conveying only the truest and most accurate attendee participation data-information on actual verified attendees (each counted only once for their entire time at the show). GRAPH EXPO 16 welcomed a total 13,447 registrants, which included exhibitors and attendees, and 6,411 verified buyers who came from among every key industry segment to explore the future of print. According to exhibitors, these decision makers-who represented 3,906 unique buyer companies-came well-prepared to examine, compare and invest in the latest graphic communications technologies.
Next up for the industry, the much-anticipated PRINT 17 exhibition and conference returns to the heart of the Americas’ printing and imaging industry-Chicago, Illinois-September 10-14, 2017 at McCormick Place South.
