Posted May 19, 2014
At least one exhibitor at last week’s textile trade shows felt a sense of déjà vu.
"This event doesn't remind me of shows of the 2000s – it reminds me of shows of the 1990s,” said the exhibitor, who asked to remain anonymous in an interview on the show floor. “The traffic, the activity, the positive attitudes today are all reminiscent of those times.”
That may or may not be the impression of most of the record number of exhibitors (754) or about 3,500 visitors to Techtextil North America, Texprocess Americas and the JEC Americas trade fairs at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. But, 1990s redux aside, one theme seems prevalent: This was one heck of a comeback party for the resurgent U.S. textile industry.
Trade shows view: Déjà vu
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I’ve been told I have a predilection to positivity, but as it relates to these shows, my optimism is warranted. Undeniably.
The halls buzzed with activity for nearly the full run of the three-day fair. And tire kickers were few and far between, according to several exhibitors. Plus, the quality of visitors ranged from CEOs to purchasing managers to technical directors to retailers to marketing folks to, well, you name it. Upstairs, more than 20 symposiums attracted large audiences, indicative of the industry’s hunger to learn new things and remain competitive.
To us, it certainly felt “throwback,” sans all the expansive booths and capital equipment. One exhibitor called the shows “amazing.” Another told us it was “money well spent.” Still another said it was “the best U.S. textile show” in years.
Who’d a thunk this was even possible a few years ago? Guess it’s true that what goes around comes around. You – textile industry pros – have done this. You refused to fold in the face of long odds, with the world and even our government pulling in the opposite direction of our interests (and still are, in many respects). You made yourselves better and more competitive and worked together for a common good. And, slowly, you’ve pushed yourself back to relevance.
So here we are – fresh off a “revival” of sorts, buoyed by likeminded optimism, armed with hundreds of new contacts and leads, ready to take on the world with renewed vigor. My advice is to continue to ride this momentum and keep doing the things that got you here. You’re on a great trajectory this year and, who knows, you could be in for an even better 2015.
And I’d be curious to hear from you in the coming weeks and months. Let me know if the show produces tangible results in the form of new partnerships, new ideas and yes, new sales. I’d love to share your good stories.
Doing so would certainly feel like déjà vu, wouldn’t it?