PGA Merchandise Show, NAMM Show Both See Upticks in Professional Attendance

January 28, 2014

Two wintertime shows heated up the trade show industry, with both the PGA Merchandise Show and the NAMM Show seeing an increase in professional attendance, compared with their events held last year.

The PGA Merchandise Show, produced by Reed Exhibitions, was held Jan. 22-24 and covered 1 million square feet of the Orange County Convention Center, including some 483,000 square feet of interactive exhibit and demonstration areas.

PGA Professional attendance grew by five percent, while overall industry attendance dipped slightly (by 5 percent) to total more than 41,000 PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders.

The top five countries (outside of U.S.) represented in attendance were Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and Korea. The top five U.S. states represented in attendance were Florida, California, New York, Georgia and Massachusetts.

“We are very pleased with the rise in PGA Professional attendance, as they are important influencers to the business of our exhibiting companies,” said PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions Senior Vice President and General Manager Ed Several.

Next year’s show is on tap Jan. 20-23 at the Orange County Convention Center.

The National Association of Music Merchants' NAMM Show, held Jan 23-26 at the Anaheim Convention Center, saw a slight 2-percent uptick in overall buyer attendance, with 91,629 people flocking to the showfloor.

In addition, there were 1,533 exhibiting companies, marketing the second-highest exhibiting number ever, which represented 5,010 brands.

“As the global platform for the music products industry, the NAMM Show is an annual checkup for what is happening in the music marketplace worldwide,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM.

He added, “A focus on doing business reflected confidence among buyers and manufacturers alike. Fortified with NAMM U education, networking and fun opportunities that only occur at the NAMM Show, NAMM Members expressed to me a renewed spirit for the year ahead. I believe that the stage is set for growth in 2014.”

Of the total attendance, there was a 6-percent increase in international attendees. Also this year, 636 exhibitors from 49 countries outside of the United States made up more than one-third of the total exhibiting companies.

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