IDEA has confirmed that it has decided to hold a trade/consumer event every second year, with the next scheduled for September/October in 2015.
James Murray, re-elected as president of IDEA at the AGM in October, said there was not one single reason for the decision to switch from an annual show to one every second year.
He said other successful shows, such as Photokina, were held bi-annually and ‘it will be a stronger show for not being replicated every year.’
He also pointed out that to put on a consumer show with the required theatre and high quality was both expensive for participating companies and diverted IDEA from other interests it would like to pursue.
He said for next year, IDEA was interested in once again being involved in ‘The Digital Playground’ event associated with the Vivid arts festival in Sydney in May/June.
‘We want to focus on other things and one of those is that we plan to run with the Digital Playground again. The level of interest this year is greater than last year. Suppliers see Vivid as a really good event to become closely aligned with.’
As reported last week, PMA plans to hold a trade/enthusiast event in Sydney in the second half of 2014. At this stage it hasn’t been decided whether the two organisations will run events in alternate years, or come to some some other arrangement.
Mr Murray said that IDEA wanted to be ‘more than a trade show organisation’ and mentioned activities such as workshops for staff, educational breakfasts, and seminars; ‘All the things we’ve been talking about for a while.’
He also confirmed that IDEA would not be appointing a new executive director, but would operate via working groups of board members. He said IDEA office manager Eve Phillips will remain in that role.
‘The Board has really engaged this year, with Rob Gatto (vice-president, Professional) in particular heavily involved.’ He said IDEA would bring in outside assistance when required rather than having ‘a 24/7 infrastrusture.’
There were two changes to the make-up of the IDEA Board, with Bruno Turcato (Epson), replacing Clem Kennedy (CR Kennedy) as treasurer, and Jason Mclean (Canon) replacing Marc Radatt (Olympus) as vice-president, Consumer following Mr Radatt’s recent Singapore posting.
“Mr Murray said that IDEA wanted to be ‘more than a trade show organisation’ and mentioned activities such as workshops for staff, educational breakfasts, and seminars; ‘All the things we’ve been talking about for a while.’”
It sounds like Mr Murray wants IDEA to replicate PMA ? What better than PMA with all the experience to run educational sessions for retailers using decades of experience!
Agree with Phil, The shows run by PMA were fine and I would have thought performed the role that IDEA would want them to perform pretty well without all of the heartache and angst that seems to be the case now.
Tim, I don’t think that the new IDEA board actually consider the independent retailers or anyone that has a connection to PMA.
Having a show on a Photokina year is out, why? Who really attends now, probably only wholesalers, very few retailers go.