AnsomMag.com |

Wrapping up our coverage of the Army Navy Military Expo in Las Vegas, it’s fair to say that its value to exhibiting firms ranged from extremely satisfying to disappointing. What almost all exhibitors could agree on is that the show attracted the right kind of buyers, even if not nearly enough of them.

But these are hard times for trade shows in general, and the ANM Expo must also suffer growing pains as a newcomer to the show circuit.

Comments on the Expo’s sales power ran the gamut from “wrote more business than at any ASD/AMD Show,” and “our booth was so busy at times that buyers contacted us after the show to tell us that they couldn’t get into our booth to see us,” to “not enough traffic, not enough orders.”

Exhibitors believe in the concept and objectives of the show, however, and appreciate the “rootsy” feel of the show and its focus on the army/navy market.

Buyers and exhibitors alike were also pleased with the quality and cost effectiveness of the show hotel (the South Point Hotel & Casino).

Unfortunately, with a house divided between the ANM Expo and the ASD/AMD Military Tactical Outdoor Show, and with the lack of critical mass that is the reality of the market, something will have to give.

That’s why the ANM Expo may be better served establishing itself as a component of the Off Price Specialist Show in August (23-26), 2008, ten days after the close of the ASD/AMD/MTO Show and partially overlapping the dates of the MAGIC Show.