Is it still worth attending trade shows?

ChannelWeb asked readers to cast their vote on whether attending trade shows makes good business sense

The London Olympia exhibition centre played host to the 28th annual BETT show earlier this month, attracting 30,000 visitors over the four-day event.

According to the show's organisers, attendance at this year's show was up nearly nine per cent, despite a decline in the number of exhibitors from 700 in 2011 to 650 this year.

Speaking to ChannelWeb at the event, Martine Dodwell-Bennett, sales and marketing director at education-focused distributor Steljes, claimed attendees seemed more willing to splash the cash on new technology purchases this year.

"Budgets will carry on being stretched but people are carrying on spending, whereas last year they were not," she said.

In light of this, ChannelWeb asked visitors this week to cast their vote on whether they think trade shows are worth attending.

Half of those who voted said they are, believing that it is an important part of maintaining their company's profile. This point was disputed by 23 per cent of voters who said they were not worth attending.

Meanwhile, 26 per cent said they attend events only where a good return on investment is guaranteed.