International Consumer Electronics Show Attendance May Be Impacted by Recession

2009-01-06 04:24:52 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - News, Technology)

The largest U.S. trade show expected to be produced on a smaller scale this year due to economic woes.

Wired PR News.com – The International Consumer Electronics Show is set to begin this week, however, some anticipate less of a turnout for the largest trade show in the United States than normal. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), the current recession may prove to have a significant impact on the attendance of this year’s show, which will take place in Las Vegas.

James McQuivey of Forrester Research is quoted by the AP as stating, “I’m talking to the companies who are sending people, and they’re sending two instead of 10… It’s going to be a shadow of itself.”

Show organizers are planning some downsizing to accommodate for a possible decrease in attendance and smaller scale presentation displays. Last year’s show produced an estimated 140,000 attendees and 2,700 exhibitors.

Some have speculated that large trade shows are becoming less of a necessity for product sellers in regards to introducing products in the information age. As further quoted of McQuivey in the report, “It’s almost like the industry is starting to recognize that these large-scale events are not how you release products.”

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