From the manufacture side, it doesn't matter where the (a) show is, it will cost them a considerable sum of money to display.
As someone that attends these types of trade shows, it costs us time and money too.
It has to be worth it for both parties to continue to be successful.
If reading above is any indication, Cedia has failed to live up to any expectations. Other than a trade show, Cedia really has no value or meaning to the 1000's of integration firms out there.
You can win an award (previous company I worked for did) and get printed in a fancy award magazine, that the general public will never see.
Trainings at the trade show are a great idea, I have taken many, way back before Cedia started demanding a credit count to keep you certified.
As a CI, all I want is a convieniant place to go once a year or once every two years to see and learn about new products. Meet with rep's I may not see very often, take a course or two (can be manufacture based training) and meet up with friends in the industry.
Personally, EHXpo was great for a couple of years when it was looking like it might grow.
Orlando is easy to get to from pretty much anywhere. Hotels and food to match most budgets. I have no idea what the convention center is like cost wise compared to what Cedia has been using, but it was huge and able to accomodate a show much bigger than a CI trade show would likely ever be, so no reason to have to move.
Could easily have "our" trade show here every other year and find a location like San Diego or Denver for the other years. An East coast, west coast rotation.
Manufactures already have all of our information, plus forum sites like this and for many they have their own forums too. Easy to get the word out about a new CI trade show.
Obviously it's not as easy as that, but I bet if a few of the larger companies got together, they could find a company (or develop their own) to run and manage this show.

EHX actually did have this at one time.


The biggest issue is that many manufacturers look at the return on investment.

As an example, LG was at EXPO in a big way at one time (Minneapolis), but the numbers just didn't make sense, so they pulled back.


Truth be told, a central location like Atlanta (airline hub) is good, but most of us know what a fiasco the show was in that location.

Out of all the locations I went to, Denver was by far one of the best. Low airfares, good ground transportation, and lots of places to stay.

Not sure what the costs run to at the Denver convention center though, and if it has the same labor issues as some others.

It's RAVE's fault actually.

Bloggers now cover the SHOW part more effectively than we can. The vendors give rehearsed speeches and the best demo possible to the cameras, which gives them great exposure online.

We can sit home on Sunday, on the couch, with our tablets, and see the show in a couple of hours. Saving time and money on travel, and get a top notch presentation, rather than a booth extra consistently having to ask someone else to answer the question.

My vendor advice, bank the money, hire professional video people and do 15-30 minute in-depth postings of your new products.

If you're going to do a webinar, you better record it, and have it easy to find. I work in the field too, east coast west coast timing and such is a pain for everyone. Send me a link on Sunday morning.

? Millions?

You don't know about that fantastic waste of funds?

This is why I don't spend the money and I haven't gone since Denver. Should I go for new product exposure? Maybe. After 12 years in the industry, no there's return on investment unless I was sending a newbee. For that, it still has value.

I choose online training resources and watch the disty's email notifications for new products.

Less you should forget, CEDIA was sued by Bose too.

[Link: businesswire.com]

I’ve said it a thousand times, the powers of Cedia should have looked at successful trade organizations (such as NAR and NAHB) as examples of how to make the organization beneficial to business owners, and also get Cedia accepted by those other organizations as a valid trade organization.

Now those are two associations that work.

I got a lot of business from both. Got no business from CEDIA.

Two great ways to get tons of good quality jobs.

1. Connect with Realtors. Be a guest speaker at one of their meetings, then meet and greet as many as possible. Explain that you can help them with their sales and image.

2. NAHB. Join, be an active member. Be a guest speaker (not a sales puke) that explains this business and what it can do to help them in their business. Meet and greet, but do not push.


EXPO is usually worth going to, if for nothing else to have a break from the day to day BS. But also to gain some info on new things you may have missed via manufacture training.

I spent my annual dues at the local NAHB. Actually got a big return on that investment.

I disagree. There *will* be some better integrators that belong, but to categorically say that hiring a CEDIA member gets you the best of the best is just never going to be true.

The quality of work done always reflects the pride and dedication of the person doing the job. It is completely independent of how much money you spend to belong to trade associations, BBB, and so on.

Here is the problem with this industry today. You either use consumer based IoT products and have no relationship with the vendor or you use custom installer based products where the relationship is everything. You aren't going to expand your relationship with meeting someone in a booth for 5 mins. Sorry. You also aren't going to learn anything new about the industry because you are on these sites every day reading and learning. So going to the show doesn't really do much for manufacturers like Zektor. Golf simulators? Sure. But not electronic manufacturers. Work the distribution channels and spend 50k on road shows/training and take guys out to the bar afterwards. That will do more than this CEDIA crap. We don't go because we already know what's coming out or will hear about it as soon as it's revealed at CEDIA. The education part has been the only good part IMO but it's not earth shattering info. So what's the true value? Oh and Sept-Dec is ALWAYS the busiest time of the year for us.

Side note, the industry is really boring right now. There hasn't been anything new or revolutionary in a couple of years.

I had this exact issue. Drove me nuts for 2 days. I'm sure that some would not even attempt to deal with the new vendor and will sit this one out.

My nickle,

CEDIA only made themselves relevant in their own minds, never the public. the training has been good for many, but wasn't my cup of tea.

I like Denver, it is central to all and cheap fares/hotels, etc.

I like to cruise the floor for a day and drink beer with the guys the rest....thats is it.