Business - Events

 

FESPA has enhanced it main website (www.fespa.com) to connect with a number of key social media networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube, helping the organisation capitalise on the communication opportunities that the rapidly evolving social media landscape provides. The site’s overall layout has also been given a facelift, making its content clearer and more user-friendly.

This initiative builds on the dynamic growth of FESPA’s own Wide Network, the world’s only online community for wide format digital print professionals. An early adopter of social media, FESPA developed its dedicated micro-network to create an international online community of printers, print buyers, marketers, consumers, editors, designers and analysts within the wide format industry, to encourage communication within the sector. Having tested the medium through the Wide Network, which has over 1200 members to date, FESPA is keen to take further advantage of social networks to broaden its communication with stakeholders.

Marcus Timson, FESPA Sales & Marketing Director comments: “Social media sites are not just about socialising with friends. They are a great way to stay in touch with business contacts and promote awareness of our events, products and services in the marketplace.  For FESPA, a key aspect of social networks is the open dialogue it enables with our members and the wider print community. Not only does it allow us to regularly communicate the latest FESPA news and event information and conduct quick research, but we are also able to receive direct feedback, helping us tailor initiatives to effectively meet members’ needs. For example, we have a Twitter account where we can provide FESPA ‘followers’ with the latest news, and we pick up any ‘tweet’ on the site where ‘FESPA’ is mentioned.”

FESPA.com’s revamp comes shortly after the organisation’s successful digital wide format print exhibition, FESPA Digital 2009, which was based on the theme of ‘Revolution’.

Timson continues: “Ours is a dynamic and ‘revolutionary’ community. This can be seen in the innovative technologies regularly brought to market, as well as in the inventive business practices that companies are implementing, which are increasingly including the active use of social networks. It’s important for today’s print businesses to keep up with market trends and take advantage of the commercial and learning opportunities that the ongoing media revolution presents. At FESPA, for example, we have plans to run marketing events on Twitter and are looking into other initiatives to help us engage effectively with new audiences and vertical markets.”

FESPA’s website continues to provide visitors with the latest industry news, RSS feed capability and show-dedicated links and information. Videos featuring interviews and news from prominent industry figures and FESPA spokespeople can also be viewed on the site simply by clicking on the ‘FESPA TV’ section or the YouTube icon.

 

To help visitors optimise their time at the international Ipex 2010 exhibition (18th – 25th May 2010, NEC Birmingham UK), the organisers have launched a new interactive, online planning tool called ‘My Ipex’ (www.ipex.org/myipex) which visitors to the event can use to devise personalised itineraries.

Users of ‘My Ipex’ can explore the show stand-by-stand by looking at interactive floorplans on screen, or by searching for exhibitors alphabetically, by hall, or product category. After identifying which exhibitors to visit at the show, users can then easily create a short-list containing all exhibitors’ locations with links to their company profiles, press releases, new product information and video content at the click of a mouse. The personalised itinerary can then be printed or saved and re-visited when they next access ‘My Ipex’. The interactive planning tool will also assist visitors in finding their way around the show prior to arrival, and provides links to travel and accommodation information.

Nick Craig Waller, Ipex 2010 Marketing Director, says, “Visitors come to Ipex to network with industry colleagues, discover the latest print technologies and find new ideas for their businesses.  But Ipex is a massive event with a broad range of products and services on show, and we acknowledge that our visitors are busy people. ‘My Ipex’ offers a great planning and navigation tool, enabling visitors to prepare for their trip beforehand so that they can maximise the time they spend at Ipex and get as much as possible out of the show.”

‘My Ipex’ is just one part of the comprehensive Ipex website where visitors can pre-register free in advance for the exhibition, read the latest show and exhibitors’ news, obtain further information about cost-effective travel packages and find out about show features.

 

Sign Ireland and Digital Ireland returns to the RDS on 23-24 September 2009 as Sign & Digital Ireland. With a new look and name to reflect the evolving Irish visual communications industry, the 2009 event promises to be better than ever before.

The event brings together Ireland’s visual communications industry every two years and attracts quality visitors from the sign & digital, end user and visual communications sector.

Co-located with Sign & Digital Ireland in 2009 will be Print Ireland incorporating Repro Ireland. Print Ireland is the ultimate forum for the Irish print community bringing together buyers, specifiers and suppliers of printing machinery, consumables and services.
Planning for the 2009 shows is well underway.

Sign & Digital Ireland is the longest running event for the sign, digital and visual communications industry. Spanning two days at the RDS in Dublin, visitors to the show can combine seeing suppliers, distributors, products and people from across the industry in one visit and under one roof. Visitors also will benefit from Print Ireland incorporating Repro Ireland being co-located in Simmonscourt.

Why you should attend…

• Leading suppliers will be exhibiting at the show with new and existing products, demonstrating these products live ….giving you the chance to meet a variety of suppliers in one place
• Attend FREE seminars & workshops covering the latest issues faced by the industry and keeping you up to date with the latest technology and solutions
• Receive expert, impartial advice from industry Experts
• Sign & Digital Ireland is an ideal opportunity to network with your peers whilst comparing costs, services and products
• Attendance is FREE of charge and includes entrance to Print Ireland

With Sign & Digital Ireland only taking place every two years, don’t miss out on this great opportunity to meet your peers as the industry converges on Dublin on 23 – 24 September 2009.

For further information and to pre-register click here.

 

With the current economic climate there were concerns about the show and whether it was up to the challenge. These concerns were safely put to bed come 10am on the opening day. Crowds flocked to the NEC and saw a glittering showcase at the UK’s premier sign making and digital printing event.

The quality of visitors at this year’s show was unquestionable. From all the information, data and feedback we have received the main point that has kept on cropping up is that the quality of the visitors with money in their pocket was excellent.

Visitors to the 2009 show included:  Delta Display, McLaren Racing, Signs Express, British Airways, Sign-A-Rama, Cadbury, FastSigns, Legoland, Pyramid, Harrods, Linney Group, Ikea, Kall Kwik, Co-operative Group, Hawes Signs, Waitrose, Prontaprint, MOD, Augustus Martin, Jaeger, Cestrian, Motorola, C3 Imaging, Hampshire County Council and many more.

The show data has now been collated and checked, and we can now release our subject to audit ABC certificate which shows a total visitor attendance of 6,127 which does not include repeat visits, and a total overall attendance, including press and exhibitor personnel, of 7,111.

Alan Caddick, Marketing Manager for the show comments: “For us, it is really important to go for an ABC audit. It very much fits in with our ‘open and honest’ approach which is the way we like to work. ABC is a trusted impartial service that gives us a true result of our attendance at our exhibition. This adds value to our business and event and gives us real credibility and integrity when talking to the market place about our attendance figures.”

Fujifilm is joining forces with Fujifilm Sericol, Epson and Xerox to hold a free open day at its showroom in Bedford on Thursday July 9.

If you want to find out what's new in the world of inkjets, inks, dry labs, digital printers and learn about business opportunities and how the market is changing then this event is for you.

The day will feature a series of presentations and an introduction to the new generation of inks and eco-friendly solutions as well as demonstrations of the latest kit, including the Fujifilm Acuity UV Inkjet, the Epson
Inkjet, Xerox iGen Digital Press, Epson Disk Producer and Fujifilm's award winning Drylab.

The event is free to attend but attendees are asked to register in advance. To register for this event please email minilabs@fuji.co.uk  or call 01234 572144.

The event kicks-off at 9.30am with a presentation on the current market for large format prints and photobooks from Nigel McNaught from PMA. Nigel will include the results of research recently carried out by Infotrends and Future Source Consulting.

Following Nigel's opening presentation there will be a look at the latest technology from Epson and Fujifilm Sericol.

After lunch delegates will be able to see all the equipment in action, Peter Hayward, Paul Austin and Jon Cohen from Fujifilm, Nick White from Epson and a team of technical experts will be on hand to discuss the new products.

The day will wrap-up at 4.30 after an open forum question and answer session.

Thursday July 9, 9.30am - 4.30pm, Fujifilm Showroom, St Martins Way Bedford, MK42 0LF.

Pre-registration for all those wishing to attend Ipex 2010 is now officially available via www.ipex.org/register and will result in a £30.00 saving off the entrance fee. The show organisers have confirmed that there will be free fast-track entry for all pre-registered visitors to the international event which will take place from 18th – 25th May 2010 at the NEC in Birmingham UK.

To cater for its international audience, the Ipex organisers have translated the pre-registration forms into French, Italian, German, Spanish and Simplified Chinese. Visitors who register via the website will also benefit from a discounted official Show Catalogue as well as exclusive pre-show email newsletters announcing new event features and visitor incentives.

Comments Nick Craig Waller, Ipex 2010 Marketing Director: “Our online registration system is extremely popular and provides the quickest and easiest way for our exhibitors’ customers and prospects to attend. Pre-registration for Ipex 2010 does not only save the visitor a great deal of time when they actually arrive at the event, it also saves money.

“With over 1,200 international companies representing all sectors of the print, publishing and media industry, Ipex 2010 will bring the world’s leading technology suppliers under one roof. Visitors will be able to discover new products, experience the latest industry innovations and emerging technologies but also get a chance to take away inspirational ideas from the business-focussed features at the event.”

Anyone who arrives at the event without having pre-registered will have to pay a £30.00 entrance fee.

Offering an important information and planning tool, the Ipex website – www.ipex.org – is already playing a crucial role in collecting and disseminating information to exhibitors and visitors alike. The increased functionality of the site enables exhibitors to post far greater detail about their specific plans. In addition, visitors have access to the latest exhibitor lists, including up to date product and service information, floorplans as well as cost-effective travel packages and logistical information.