CTS 2004: Five shows under one roof
With a week to go CTS 2004 already boasts 20 more companies than last year
The Computer Trade Show (CTS) 2004, the UK's leading IT channel event for system builders and components suppliers, will this year feature five shows under one roof.
CTS, which takes place at the NEC in Birmingham on 6-7 April, is in its seventh year and will boast more than 100 exhibitors, with more than half showing off new products.
Another 150 exhibitors will be spread across the other co-located shows.
This year will see CTS sharing the NEC with four other leading IT events: Comms Channel Expo, the Computer Retail Show, Mobilexpo and, for the first time, the Entertainment Retail Show.
CTS 2004 has been designed to be the best opportunity for visitors and exhibitors to meet and do business. Leading channel and component firms will be there, including VIP Computers, GNR, eSYS, Microtronica, Trust, Chisholms Computers, Enta, Target Components and Centerprise.
IT vendors AMD, Intel, Cisco, Microsoft and Iomega also will be exhibiting at the show.
"This event makes it possible for suppliers and buyers to get in front of each other. Face-to-face contact is still the most important way of drumming up new business," said Liz Wood, portfolio director at event organiser Imark Communications.
"The channel landscape is always changing, so you have to be able to keep up with what's new. With more than 65 new products on show this year, CTS is a great opportunity."
She added that although there is still a week to go the show is already 20 companies up on 2003. "Across all of the shows we are expecting about 250 exhibitors and more than 8,000 visitors," Wood said.
Co-location has proved a successful formula for CTS in the past, as resellers branch out into new areas. Having to visit just one event covering a number of leading markets has proved popular with busy visitors.
"It's important to realise that when people's time is so precious they don't want to - or simply can't - get out of the office on five different occasions," Wood explained.
"They see a lot more benefit in registering for one event and getting a chance to visit five shows in one go."
Karin Hobbs, marketing manager at VIP Computers, said: "CTS is the best forum for VIP to meet the channel. We are looking forward to offering the channel some interesting new products and competitions during the show."
CTS will feature a wide range of educational talks and seminars, with the Reseller Forum and the Marketing Information Centre taking centre stage.
The Reseller Forum will include talks from leading analysts, including IDC and Canalys, on breaking into new markets. The Marketing Information Centre will host briefings from AMD and others on new products, as well as interactive panel sessions.