What GOOD Trade Shows Are Made Of

Published: November 04, 2010, By Yolanda Simonsis

Pack Expo/CPP, held October 31–November 3, was an undeniable success. Just look at the traffic–both going and coming–on the third day of the show at Chicago’s McCormick Place! Co-hosts PMMI (Packaging Machinery Mfrs. Inst.) and H.A Bruno had to have been pleased.

One heavy equipment manufacturer and exhibitor located on the lower level Lakeside where CPP Expo resided confided to me: “This is the best show we’ve exhibited at in three years!”

It was a little dicey at the beginning though. Starting a show on Sunday and Halloween to boot took courage. Exhibitors on Sunday located on the lower level Lakeside were frustrated by the few visitors who made it that far through the expansive McCormick Place exhibit halls. Despite the meager Sunday attendance, exhibitors did say they had quality leads–albeit few. That all changed on Monday and Tuesday. The difference in attendance was an eye-popper.

The co-located shows have announced their Las Vegas dates for September 26–28, 2011, at the Las Vegas Convention Ctr., with the International show back in Chicago on October 28–31, 2012.

More news to come on the 2010 show once attendance figures are released!

Captions: (Left) Overlooking the Grand Concourse at McCormick Place between the North (right) and South Halls. (Right) Overlooking foot traffic on the bridge connecting Lakeside exhibit hall to the rest of McCormick Place.