The general belief about this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show was that the attendance would be lower than the one registered in previous years. This was confirmed through the figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association, which puts together the show every year.
According to the CEA, the event was attended by a little more than 110,000 people, which represents significantly less than what the group expected, as the initial predictions, before the start of the event, had the crowd numbered at more than 130,000. Also, the figures represent a 23 percent decrease from last year’s number of visitors, as there were 141,150 people at the event in 2008. Also standing out is the crowd gathered in 2007, when 143,695 people joined the show.
The entire event appeared to be less prepared this year, with the expectancies reaching a new low point. The economic crisis caused a switch in the companies’ strategies, which were no longer willing to put out a huge breathtaking presentation and also, many reconsidered their projects, as a flop could end up being their last. All this tension put its mark on the show, with some companies actually deciding not to go through with their contracts, and skipped the event – which is why some of you might have noticed some empty spots on the floor.
Still, the lower number of people at the show might have actually been a good thing. According to a news release presented by the CEA, at this point, the possibility of limiting future attendance to this year’s levels is being considered. "Our board concluded that it is essential to have the right people attend CES. Board members reported getting more business done this year than at any prior show," explained CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro in the release. One of the measures to limit the show’s attendance this year included a new $100 pre-registration fee implemented on November 1, according to the release.
Even though it makes sense to state that everything works better with a smaller, more manageable show, this might simply be the association’s way of walking away with its head up from an event that was not as successful as anticipated. For now, the two possibilities should be considered, as there is no clear way of determining the exact truth.
The expectations for this show were indeed high, especially from all the companies involved, which were looking forward to getting their newest products in the first line, attract the media and the visitors and get back with the feedback needed to know if they got a hit or not. One of the companies looking to get back to its previous ‘superstar’ status was Palm, which used the show to present its new Pre smartphone – the device was received with great enthusiasm, as it targets a segment of the market uncovered by the iPhone or the BlackBerry. The general positive response was exactly what the company needed in order to push forward the release preparations.
