Survey Says The Rental Show Attendees Have Highest Trade Show Buying Plans

Attendees at The Rental Show topped the Trade Show Trends report for highest total buying plans, which measures the percentage of show attendees who plan to buy within 12 months of a show.

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Exhibit Surveys of Red Bank, N.J., has released its 2012 Trade Show Trends report compiled from surveys of attendees at more than 30 U.S. trade shows. The report includes information on exhibit performance, show floor traffic and attendees – their buying power, purchase plans and attendance habits.

Attendees at The Rental Show topped the Trade Show Trends report for highest total buying plans, which measures the percentage of show attendees who plan to buy within 12 months of a show. Of those attending The Rental Show 2012 in New Orleans, 83 percent planned to make purchases within 12 months — significantly above Exhibit Surveys all-show average of 49 percent.

Other shows in the top 10 for total buying plans include the International Consumer Electronics Show, MINExpo International and the International Builders Show.

The Rental Show also appeared in the top 10 on two of the three other lists. Show attendees ranked fifth for net buying influence at 92 percent, above the all-show average of 84 percent. Net buying influence measures the power of trade show attendees to recommend or make final purchasing decisions.

For most hours attendees spent visiting exhibitors, The Rental Show 2012 ranked sixth with 11.8 hours. The all-show average was 9.1 hours.

Exhibit Surveys also reported these trends based on all the shows it surveyed:

  • 45 percent of all show attendees didn’t plan to participate in any other exhibitions or events that year, meaning companies wouldn’t be likely to interact with these attendees if they chose not to exhibit at a particular show.
  • 38 percent of attendees at any given show or exposition are first-timers to that particular event, while an additional 30 percent can be classified as “regulars,” having participated in at least three of the past four annual iterations of the show.
  • 32 percent of all show attendees reported that their purchase intentions were more favorable after visiting companies exhibits on the show floor.

Exhibit Surveys is an exhibit and event research firm that annually produces a Trade Show Trends report based on surveys conducted throughout the year. Each show survey is administered by mail or online shortly after a show.

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