The UK’s premier channel exhibition is taking place in Hall 19 of the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 May.
Last year, over 3,300 people flocked through the doors at the event, which for the first time combined four reseller shows under the new name of Channel Expo. This year the show’s organisers are confident of breaking the 4,500 visitor barrier.
Mark Burton, channel associate publisher at event organiser Incisive Media, said: “The 2007 event demonstrated how well an integrated IT channel event can work and our aim this year is to build on that success.
“The show will enable exhibitors to strengthen their customer relationships and cultivate new leads. It will also allow buyers to gain an overview of the most exciting developments within this space.”
Channel Expo is the only event that brings the entire channel under one roof, showcasing the UK’s most diverse range of products and services for the reseller community, encompassing hardware, applications, networking, storage and peripherals.
After the success of Channel Expo 2007, the event will feature a number of new attractions. The first of these is New Product World - a demonstration area featuring eight 15-minute product demos each day, focusing on a range of technologies.
Other features include the Channel Expo Trading Pods and Business Lounge area - purpose-built meeting rooms where sponsors can take important customers away from the busy main floor for a quieter, more personal meeting. An online appointment system will be in operation via the Channel Expo web site to set up meetings.
There will also be a bar called the Dealmakers’ Arms. The channel is legendary for its networking abilities and a pint of something always makes a deal run more smoothly. Delegates can use the bar area to catch up with old faces and meet new ones - and maybe even strike up some new business deals.
A new and improved Masterclass Theatre will be another attraction this year. Featuring a cutting-edge seminar programme, free to all visitors, the seminars will be presented by industry experts and will address topical issues facing the channel.
Based on the popular How to Sell supplement series from CRN, the programme will address ways of keeping ahead of the game and how to maximise the profit opportunities around the technology. A panel debate will follow with the chance for those in the audience to put questions to the panel and take part in the ensuing discussion.
Despite being four months away, industry figures are already feeling positive about the event.
Bhavesh Patel, commercial director at Ingram Micro, said: “We found Channel Expo very useful last year and it was a key event for Ingram. It was a great opportunity for us to meet and engage with our resellers face to face and to launch vendor partners and their products.
“The quality of resellers that attended the event were very good. We had quite a big presence last year and are planning to be there in the same capacity this year,” he said.
Distributor Interactive Ideas is returning to exhibit at the show after taking last year off. Michael Breeze, marketing manager at Interactive Ideas, told CRN: “We were not at the show last year, but prior to that we exhibited for five consecutive years. It has always had a strong presence from system builders, but less so from VARs and large resellers. With the show’s renewed focus on the channel we hope this year Expo will attract even more traditional types of resellers, which is why we have decided to exhibit again.”
Bruce Simpson, channel marketing manager at Star Technology - a Platinum sponsor of this year’s Channel Expo, said: “Following our split away from the MessageLabs Group last year, we hope Expo will allow us to raise the profile of Star Technology and inform resellers of the changes we have gone through.”
Keith Warburton, chief executive of the Professional Computing Association, which will have a stand at the show, added: “It is essential for resellers to realise that Expo is an important event for them. They can meet their suppliers and find new ones all under the one roof.”
Exposing the 2007 Channel Expo