ASIS GSX 2018 Mixed Manufacturer Reviews With Declining Overall Attendance

Published Oct 02, 2018 15:04 PM

ASIS GSX 2018 show drew 9% fewer total registrants, however, it gained 15% more paid registrations, according to ASIS.

In this note, we look at:

  • 2017 vs 2018 attendance
  • ASIS Feedback to IPVM
  • Show Space in 2019 Contracted
  • Hikvision is back (in a much smaller booth)
  • Manufacturer Survey Results - main complaints and compliments
  • ASIS shutting down 'suitcasing'

2017 ** **** **********

**** ******** **** **,*** ***** *********** in ****, **** *% **** **,***** ****:

*** **** ****** ******* *** ******** (**** ****) last **** ** ******, *****. ********* September **-** ***attracting **,*** ****** *********** from 96 countries [emphasis added]

******* ** ****, **** ***** *,*** ***** ***** registrants, *** ** **** ********* ***********:

*********20,000 ********** ********* and 550 exhibitors from more than 113 countries under one roof at the newly rebranded Global Security Exchange (GSX) [emphasis added]

*** ****** ****** ** ****** *** physically ******** *** **** ** ********* significantly ***** **** *** '***********' *****, as **** ** ****** ***** ****** registering ******, *** ****** ********** ******** in **-****. **** ** **********, ** **** ******** ** ****.

**** *********** *** ******** ** **%, with **** ********** ** ****:

** *****, ** *** *** **% growth ** **** ************ *** ** welcomed ********* **** ***+ *********, ************ the ******** ** *** *********** *********, the ******* ** *** ********* *** engaged **** ******** *** **********, *** the ****** *** ** ********, *********** overall ***** ********** *** ************* ** the ******** ********.

*******-**** *********** ** *** *** ****** they ******** ** ****. 

*******-**** *********** ****** **** ************* ***** total *********** ******** ***** **** *********** increased, ******* ******* **** *** ********* attendance ** ** *** ********* ******. However, ***** **** *** ***** *******, ASIS ******** ** ******* ****. **** used ** ** **, *.*., *** this**** **** **** ******* ******.

Show ***** ** **** **********

**** ***** ** "**** ****** *** in ****" ** ************ ***** ************ *** **** *****:

**** ********* ** **** **** **** were ******* ******* ** ****** *** better **** ****:

******* ** **** *** **** **** 40 ********* ******** ***** ***** *** 2019 **** **** ******** ** ****, as **** ** ********* **** **** Abloy, *********, *** ********** ****** **** in *** *****. ** ******* **** strong ******** **** **** ******** ** we ******** ******** *** ******* ... We ****** ** ******* ** **** floor, ********** ****** *** ********* ******* that ** ********* ** *** ***** event ** *** ****** ** ****.

**** *** *** ******* ** *** many ********* ********* ** ****** ** renew ***** ******.

*******, * ********** ***** **** **** ***** ** *** Vegas****** **** **** ***** ** ************ **** **** ** ********** *******.

****

****

** * ***** ** ********* *** the *** **********, *** **** ***** is *** **** **** *** **** years, ****** ******* ****** ** *** image ***** ** ** *** *** width ** *** ********** ** ** equal, ****** **** ** *******.

**** ********* **** *** **** *** is *********** *** **** **** ***** can ** ********, ****** ** ******, as *** ***** ***** ******.

Hikvision ** ****

*** ** **** * ****** ** the **** ***** ****** ** **** is *********, **** * ***** *****, which** **% ******* **** ***** ***** ***** from ****. ********* **** ** ****** **** near *** ******** ** **** ** several **** ** ** ****'* ****:

***** ** *********'* **** ***********:

** *** *** ****, *** **** that ********* ***** ** **** * booth ** * ******** **** *** Hikvision ********. ** *** ***** ****, the **** **** ** ** ** much ******* ******* ******* ************ *** aggressiveness.

Survey *******

** ****'* ****** ****** ** **** performance:

manufacturer views on asis gsx 2018

**** ** ********** ***** ******** ** ****** ***** ************* ************* **** ****** ***** ** *** show's ***********.

******

***** * ******** **** ***** *** show ******, ******* ********* *** * common **********:

  • "***** ** * ***** ******** *** GSX ***** **** *** **** ** there ***** ****. *** ******* ******* seemed *** ******** ** ***** ***-**** coast *********, *** *** ******* ** the ************* *** **** ****. ***** that **** ** *** * **** show."
  • "**** ********* ** *** ******* ** attendees. *** ***** *** *********** **** well ***********."
  • "******** ** *** ****** **** ********. Good ******* *** * & *** 2. ******** ** ** ***** ******* about *** ***** ** - * day, * ******** **** **** ** works ****. ******* ** *** **** day, *** *** **** **** * hours, ***** ******** ****."
  • "**** - ** ************ **** **** low * *******. ** *** ******** project ************* *******, *** * *** group ** ******** *********** **** **** first-time *********, *** *** ***** *** well ***. *** ******* ***** ********* and *** *********'* ********* **** *** notch *** ******** ******* *****. *** did * **** *** ** ******** in ***** *************: ***, ***, ******** Exchange ******* ** ******** **** **** competitors. ** **** *** ***** ** renew *** **** ****, *** **** convinced ** *********."
  • "** *** **** ******** **** ******** customers *** ***** * *** *** ones. *** ******** ** *** **** good - ** **** ****** ** had ****."

*******

**** ********* ***** ********** **** *** **** was ******* *** ***** ***********:

  • "*********. *** * *** ** ********* people **** ** *** ****. *** man **** *** **** ***** *** also ******* * *** ** **** prospects."
  • "*** * *** *** ***** **** of *** * *** * ****** strong **********. ***** ***** ** *** 2 *** *** ** *** * were * ******** *****. **** ***** you ***** **** * ******** *** the ************* **** ****** *******."
  • "**** **... **** *** ****. *** was **. ******** - *********** (**** like **** ****). ****** ** ******... We **** ** *** ***** *** of *** ****. ***** *** *** an ******** ** **** ****. * think **** *** * ******** ****** on *** *******. *** **** **** I ****'* ****** ****. * *** polling ** ******** *** *** ***** prior ** *** **** *** * vast ******** **** **** **** *** going. *** **** *** ********* ** the **** ****** ***."
  • "** **** ********* ***** *** ********** investment ** ****. *** ******* *** stronger **** **** *** ****. ** will *** *** **** **** ***** out ** *******."
  • "******* ** *** ********, ** ****** that **** ****** **** *** ********* decided *** ** ******. *** ***** is ** ****** ***********, ** ** a **** ****, *** *** **** is ***** ***** ****. ** *** difficult *** **** ***********, *** *****, and ********** ** ******* *** ******* to ** ***** ***** ** *** year. ********** ***** *** **** *** become *** **** **** **** ** the *** ******** *** ******** ** the ******. ********* ** **** ** get * **** *** *** ****. There *** **** * ****** **** in *** **** ** ****."

****

*** ********* **** ***** **** **** commonly ***** **** ********, *** ***** or ******* **********:

  • "'********, *****, *********, ********, **********, ********, horrendous, *********, **********, **********, *********, *********' all ******* ** ** ******. **** show **** ** ** ******* ***** YEAR ** *******. **** ***** ** the ****** **** ***** **** *** GSX ***** ** *** **** **** coast ****."
  • "*********** ********** **** ***** ****. *** what ** **** ** **..."
  • "** *** **** **** ******** **** key *********, *******, *** ******* ******* was ****."
  • "**** ******* **** *-*. *** **** bother **** *** * **** ** is **** **** *** * *****??"
  • "**** ****** ********* ** **** ** for **** **** ****** **** * smaller *****."
  • "*** ****** ** ********** **** **** show ** ****. ***** *** **** spent **** ******** ********* *** ******** is ********, *** **** ********** ** very **** *** ** *** * expect **** ************* ** ******** ** invest **** ** **** ****."
  • "* *** *****, * ***, ** that ********* **** *********, *****, *** management ** *** ****. **** *** not ******* *** *********** ****** **** are ******* *** ********* *** ********, both ******* *** ******."
  • "** ********* ** * ********** *******'* booth. ********** ****** ** ** **** from ***** *****. * *** *** hear ******** ***** *** ***** *** ~21,000 ********** *********. **** ** ******* concerned ** **** ***** ** **** down ******* ******* ***** *** ** by ***** ************* ******* **** **** 'drawing ********* ** ****** *** *** floor' - ***** ** ************. *** 'thousands' ****** **** *** ** ***** own."
  • "************. ** ******* *** ***** ***** and *** ****** ** ********* ***** and ** *** ***** *** ****. The ************* **** *** **** ********** were *** **** ******* * *****. The **** *** ** ***** **** they ***** **** ****** *** **** meetings ** ******."
  • "** ***** **** **** ****** *** show **** ** *** ***** *****, manufacturers ****'* **** ** ** *****, and ***** ****'* **** ** **. And *** **** ****** *** *** anything *** ** ** **** *** coordinators ** *** ****"

Shutting **** **********

**** *** ******* ** *** ********** that **** **** **** ***-**** ******* rooms ** ***** ********* ** *****:

** **** **** ** *** ******* where **** ******** ** ** *** this *** * ******* **** *** NOT ********* ** *** ** *** way **** ****. **** **** ***** the *** ***** ** ***** ********* to *** ****** ** **** ** their ******* *****. **** **** ********* and ************* ********** *** *****, ********** to **** *** *********/****** **** **** our ******** ********* ******** ** *** floor. **** ****** ** ***********! ** will ******** ** ** ********** ** our ***** ** ******* *** ********* who ******* **** ** ** ***.

2019 *******

**** ********* ******* **********, *** **** increase *** '*******' ** ***** *********? The ******** ** **** ********** ***** that *** *** ****** ******* ** total ********** ***** ****** ****.

******* *** *** ********* ** ***** fairly *********** **** *** ****** *** also ********* * ****** *** **** coasts, ***** ***** ******** ******* **** the **** *** ****. *** ******* many ************* ************ * ***** ******** for ****, ** **** ******** ** move, **** ******* *********** ***********, ** manufacturers *****:

  • "***** ***** ** ******* **** ****, we **** ******** ******** *** ** a ******** *****."
  • "******* ** * ********* *** ********* location *** **** *****' ****."
  • "******* ** * *********** ************ ********, it **** ** ******** *** *** to **** *** ***** ********** *** welcoming, **** ****** *** ********* ** vendor ***** *** ***** ******* *****."
Comments (15)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Oct 02, 2018

This show must be in Orlando EVERY YEAR to survive. ISCW would be the spring west coast show and GSX would be the fall east coast show."

This sounds like a sound suggestion.

(12)
JH
John Honovich
Oct 02, 2018
IPVM

Main logistical problem is September is prime Hurrican season for Florida, once every 5 or 10 years it would probably be canceled or severely impacted with much lower attendance, etc.

Maybe still better than moving it around, I don't know.

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Oct 02, 2018

True, then maybe Oct might be better. Hurricanes then are kind of rare. It would also be cooler weather as the June to Sept heat wave dies down.

(1)
JH
John Honovich
Oct 02, 2018
IPVM

I think October would be better as well. For example, next year the show starts September 8th, the week after Labor Day, strikes me as being too soon after summer.

(8)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Oct 03, 2018

Maybe the hurricane would add to the excitement.

(1)
(3)
UE
Undisclosed End User #2
Oct 02, 2018

I attended GSX this year in LV on my own to network and socialize with my peers, I found it was just "OK" and maybe not worth my dime/time to travel even from just one hour away in N. Nevada.  While I did meet some quality folks I noticed that many of the "alumni" were not in attendance, I think I will pass on Chicago next year, a even worse venue with challenges just to get to the location and hotels just too far away.

Best attendance ASIS has is when they are in San Diego, a town set up for large conventions with tons of hotels and eateries within walking distance.  Who wants to go to Orlando in the summer/fall with 1000% humidity, sure rooms are cheap because no one wants to go there that time of year, it's the "shoulder" season.

 

(3)
(1)
(2)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Oct 02, 2018

60% of the U.S. population lives east of the Mississippi and they represent a friendlier political attitude towards video surveillance adoption.  Mid October in Florida is between seasons, kids are in school and the snowbirds haven’t gone south yet. #GSXOrlandoForever

(6)
(1)
UE
Undisclosed End User #2
Oct 02, 2018

well it appears that +/- 60% of the GDP comes from West of the Mississippi

Rank State GDP (in millions $USD)
1 California 2,751,302
2 Texas 1,706,077
3 New York 1,561,714
4 Florida 976,658

 

 

(2)
(4)
JH
John Honovich
Oct 02, 2018
IPVM

Evidently, 'suitcasing' is a term within the trade show business, this site describes it as:

suitcasing refers to nonexhibitors who go to a show as an attendee, but pass out information, samples, etc. about their business from a suitcase, literally or figuratively

What ASIS is describing appears to be called 'outboarding', with this site describing it as:

Outboarding is when a company that should be a sponsor of an event instead decides to host their own competing event without the consent of the original event organizer. Outboarding steals from event organizers directly by costing them revenue from the potential sponsor, as well as revenue from any other sponsors of the outboarded event that might have otherwise been spent on official events.

If a company uses the event's name and branding in marketing, that is certainly wrong but not sure what grounds they have if people simply meet near the event's location. 

To the extent that companies are doing this, it signals that the show is weak / overpriced, because clearly the show has a natural advantage having the most centrally located space convenient to attendees.

(1)
(4)
U
Undisclosed #4
Oct 02, 2018

To the extent that companies are doing this, it signals that the show is weak / overpriced, because clearly the show has a natural advantage having the most centrally located space convenient to attendees.

Agreed.

There is really nothing ASIS can do about this, and they know it. The only practical solution is to book all the rooms at nearby hotels and hold them for attendees, guaranteeing payment on any empty rooms (or guaranteeing at least XX% occupancy). ASIS is clearly not in a position to make such a costly commitment.

I don't think outboarders should use the name of an event in heavy marketing (eg: broad email campaigns like "come see our private suite at FooExpo"), but emailing a set of existing contacts, or replying to people that reach out to you, with messages like "we're not on the show floor, but have a suite at FooHotel" is to be expected, IMO.

If ASIS wants to stop this, it is easy, make the show more cost effective and/or make it a bigger draw or differentiated vs ISC West. I won't hold my breath for that to happen though.

(1)
Avatar
Mark Hillenburg
Oct 03, 2018

Las Vegas should simply be removed from the GSX rotation because of ISC. 

New York

Atlanta

Anaheim

Chicago

How about Seattle ? 

San Diego

Even Orlando occasionally. 

(1)
Avatar
Steve Beck
Oct 03, 2018

At this time I plan on making the four and half hour drive to Chicago next year. 

Well anyway here are GSX’s venues for 2020 and 2021

Drumroll...........

2020 ATL

2021 Orlando 

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
Oct 04, 2018

Once ASIS shifted from a Technology Showcase to an Educational Venue, the ROI on the show floor exhibiting began to drop. The big companies got bigger and started leasing football field size booths. I would be interested to see how many "educational credentials" ASIS accredited this show and how much of the money is coming in from educational efforts. 

Don't misunderstand, ASIS is a great source for Educational Training and professional credentialing but maybe not any longer a good host for a Technology Showcase. After 20 straight years of expensive attendance we opted to avoid 2018 due to the selected venue and our commitment to other, more appropriate, technical trade shows. ISC owns Vegas as it relates to this industry and since ASIS has abrogated the  technology emphasis to ISC, they should park the Educational Show somewhere centralized and quit moving it around. Just maybe they could slow down the bleeding.

PS: The Las Vegas Convention Center is one of the lousiest and most difficult venues to get to of any I have ever attended. Maybe Chicago will be better but its getting hard to get excited about wasting money based upon the 2015,2016,2017 & now the 2018 reviews.

(4)
(1)
CH
Chris Hammond
Oct 04, 2018

McCormick Place in Chicago might be worse than the Convention Center in Las Vegas. Chicago is a great city but the convention center is inaccessible. 

(1)
(1)
JH
John Honovich
Oct 06, 2018
IPVM

Once ASIS shifted from a Technology Showcase to an Educational Venue, the ROI on the show floor exhibiting began to drop.

After 20 straight years of expensive attendance we opted to avoid 2018

#6, thanks. Question: was the ASIS show structurally different 20 years ago?