By Planet Vending Publisher Yvonne Reynolds-Young
…that’s the question every business associated with vending has had to ask itself this year.
The industry’s first doubts surfaced in the wake of a lacklustre showing at the last AVEX, which was held in Manchester in 2015.
There’s no need to go back over the issues that were identified then, but everyone is hoping that the AVA and the AVEX team have got it right this time. It’s a tough ask: the show is traditionally ‘big and blousy’, with the major companies and brands spending a large chunk of their marketing budget on stands, accommodation and staffing. However, the smaller businesses (with smaller budgets) have had difficult decisions to make, when faced with multiple opportunities to present their wares.
With the annual shows Vendex North and Vendex Midlands gaining momentum, it must be tempting for businesses to forsake ‘The Big One’ in favour of the cheaper show, with its ‘short, sharp, shock’ approach over 6 hours on a single day.
Even as we enter the final days, hours even, before AVEX opens its doors, there are last-minute additions to the exhibitor list. (Scobie Mackintosh for instance, only confirmed this week). It appears that some potential exhibitors who have been sitting on the fence have decided at the 11th hour that they’re not quite willing to risk missing out…
There are notable absentees from the show, including vending’s largest and oldest vending software management experts, Vendman. MD Rob Little was keen to stress that deciding not to exhibit at AVEX wouldn’t change Vendman’s focus on maintaining high standards of excellence in satisfying needs of vending’s operating companies. His team will be visiting the show and they’ll be back at Old Trafford for Vendex North in November.
Also declaring himself ‘out’ is Jim Redford, who announced to his client base this week that H20 Direct wouldn’t be exhibiting at AVEX. He declared his intention to be at subsequent events, whilst admitting that eschewing the NEC was a ‘brave decision’. Notwithstanding, he too will be attending as a visitor.
Planet Vending supports both AVEX and Vendex and we wish them every success: busy shows benefit the whole vending industry. There’s definitely a renewed sense of energy surrounding AVEX 2017, thanks to the new team at the helm. Now, though, the onus is on vending industry stakeholders to support the show by spreading the word and – of course – turning up…
We’ll be there and we’re looking forward to meeting customers old and new and – as always – gathering the best Good News stories so we can spread the Gospel of vending far and wide. Subscribe to PV, make sure you’re in the loop!
Meanwhile, the BIG question: what on Earth am I going to wear?
