The twice cancelled/postponed show will now not only be held in a different month (October) but on a different floor, moving down to the basement.
Inside this note, we contrast the normal ISC West location and this special October 2020 one, sharing feedback from the show organizer Reed and manufacturer's exhibiting.
October is a horrible month for traveling in my opinion. We won't be going this year, having it slow down like this makes me even less interested in going. If I was a manufacturer I would pull out all together and just start ramping up for next spring.
Great idea SIA/REED, jam people in a much smaller space and put them closer together with less obvious air flow to aid in spread of potential airborne sicknesses.
Its all about the $$$, too much money to cool the Main Hall in October with such a small turnout anticipated.......I will pass on Vegas in October, you must be nuts. If you must go better stay at Palazzo/Venetian on the property so you never have to go outside and suffer heat stroke except to and from the cab on the way in/out from airport.
Someone actually mentioned that to me seriously. The rationale was that outside there is less risk of contracting coronavirus. How the logistics would work for an outside ISC West show, I do not know.
They put up a big tent, and then setup the booths inside. The first CES I exhibited at in 1999 or 2000, our booth was in a tent in a parking lot outside the LVCC. While it was air conditioned, it was still a little bit muggy inside, but other than that it was easy to forget you were in a giant circus tent.
At this point, holding ISC West in a circus tent would seem almost appropriate anyway.
At what point do exhibitors have a valid breach of contract claim and ability to get their refunds back?
For the first two revisions to the show, which were primarily date changes, with the space/layout staying the same (aside from exhibitor drop outs freeing up space), I could see how Reed could make the argument they were putting on a show that was reasonably similar to what the initial contract outlined, and thus not in breach.
Now though I think what is proposed is no longer anywhere near the original concept of ISC West 2020, ex:
Show is held in conjunction with another event
Show has been moved to a materially different space within the facility
New space does not offer the ability for things like over-booth signs/banners
New space will likely cause several exhibitors to have to re-tool booth layouts, as the column spacing is likely to conflict with large booth layouts.
Reed is indicating they will impose restrictions that will ultimately inhibit the ability for exhibitors to meet efficiently with a large number of attendees (more or less the whole point of a show like this).
At the very least, I would expect Reed to cut exhibit costs substantially if they expect exhibitors to accept these changes. They have moved the show to what was previously the lower-budget "startup area", already setting the precedent that this is lower value space for exhibitors.
New space will likely cause several exhibitors to have to re-tool booth layouts, as the column spacing is likely to conflict with large booth layouts.
Further on that, the biggest exhibitors at ISC West virtually all have booths that are taller than what can fit in the basement. What do they do? I spoke with one today who said they actually cancelled for 2020 over this. Such an odd tactic from Reed/SIA.
How much does a booth cost to retool for the new space? How much does a vendor stand to lose in flushed funds from not attending and not receiving a refund? I think of some booths like Milestone And a few other heavyweights that have two tiers. A complete redesign of a possibly one-off booth seems costly.
How much does a booth cost to retool for the new space?
I don’t know exact cost, however, those bigger and taller boots can cost a few hundred thousand dollars to build and tens of thousand dollars easily to retool. Alternatively, they could just go the ISC East route and just use a simple drape and banner setup but that of course would be a radically different show than the premium they paid for.
CEDIA just cancelled. At this point it's inevitable for ISC West. Although the move to the basement was optimistic on their part, it buys them more time to deal with a full cancellation and/or claims by exhibitors.
As a slight counterpoint, another show I attend for personal interests, IBEX, says they are still planning to do their event:
I checked, this is not a Reed show. However, I do not know if the organizer of this event is acting similar to Reed in trying to push shows through at any cost.
If IBEX does in fact proceed, I will likely go. Both for meetings at the show itself, and also to compare it to previous years to gauge how we want to handle ISC West (even though ISCW is the next week, so can only do so much reactionary approach at that point).
We initially requested a smaller footprint and planned on limiting our team members who would attend. In light of the news yesterday and the email from them outlining the steps being taken we have asked to withdraw from the show and have requested a full credit to be applied to 2021. Let's hope this happens.
As a manufacturer we have cancelled our booth at ISC Waste. It infuriates and baffles me that Reed is continuing on this path. Really don't see how tradeshows can happen in 2020. I handle sales and am focused on selling from my basement for the rest of this year.
Freudian Slip? ISC Waste (of my time in 2020 if you want my opinion)
From an integrator point of view I have very little interest in a show where it seems many manufacturers are bowing out. No point me going if your not there!
What power does Reed have right now? They have power over people's existing payments since they hold the money. But what's the likelihood that ISC West 2021 will have anywhere close to the attendance as ISC West 2019?
On the other hand, Reed confirmed that they are still planning on raising rates for 2021 which, in fairness, is consistent with Reed's out of touch decision making but quite a gamble on their part, after all this.
ISC WEST has been a fat cash cow for Reed. Now with triple bogies, they are shooting themselves in the foot. If they had canceled completely and offered full investment moved to 2021, the world would have forgotten 2020 And the cash cow would have survived.
With their short term bad decisions they may permanently damaged the value of ISC West. I am not going this year and most buyers can skip.
Vendors with no choice will face an empty pavilion, gloomy basement atmosphere and feel betrayed by Reed.
Wake up Reed Management and forgo 2020 costs and save your excellent venue. You still have time to be strategic instead of trying to save your income while destroying your future.
Surely there will be enough fever solutions on display to keep everyone safe! And now that it is in the basement everyone’s forehead will be properly acclimatised to the indoor environment!
What the hell is their long term strategy? To further undermine their brand by forcing the few loyalists who show up to regret attending and the exhibitors to feel ripped off?
Tough call across the industry. The question of how the pandemic will reshape business in general and our industry in particular will still be unfolding. Given that the fall months usually usher in an increase in illness, this season will be scrutinized for COVID 19 resurgence. Probably not a good time to experiment with large gatherings. A move to the basement is probably a first step to a complete cancellation of the 2020 conference. Perhaps buying time for more data about COVID-19 to then renegotiate / re-evaluate for 2021 and beyond.
They have not contacted us about moving to the basement or giving us a new booth location and..., there is no floor plan available on the ISC West website? Net result, this attempt to salvage ISC West this year, is a disaster!
Well I think about 6-8 shows I normally attend have all been rescheduled for October so I can't attend them all. Now that most of the major vendors I need to connect with are doing focused retreats and webinars, I kind of doubt ISC will be top of my list to attend.
Our world is going to be very different, but we all knew that.
I just spoke with a representative at ISC West and was told that our company would be given the option to roll 2020 booth fees to 2021 and would only be responsible for paying the 3% change in price from this year to next. They are not sending out emails with this information. You have to call them, bring up concerns, and request that your funds be rolled over. It seems that they are willing to work with companies, but only if you ask for it.
This should not come as much of a surprise. Not sure why they didn't just cancel ISC East now also. I think it is fair to assume that is not goin to happen either.
ISC...Thank you for not having your exhibitors and attendees make the decision not to come to this event.
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Comments (44)
Undisclosed Integrator #1
October is a horrible month for traveling in my opinion. We won't be going this year, having it slow down like this makes me even less interested in going. If I was a manufacturer I would pull out all together and just start ramping up for next spring.
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Kevin Mundy
Great idea SIA/REED, jam people in a much smaller space and put them closer together with less obvious air flow to aid in spread of potential airborne sicknesses.
Its all about the $$$, too much money to cool the Main Hall in October with such a small turnout anticipated.......I will pass on Vegas in October, you must be nuts. If you must go better stay at Palazzo/Venetian on the property so you never have to go outside and suffer heat stroke except to and from the cab on the way in/out from airport.
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Undisclosed #2
c'mon Reed, just give it the **** up!
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Undisclosed End User #3
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Just when you thought we had hit rock bottom, Reed goes even lower (down to the basement).
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Brian Karas
05/29/20 02:04pm
At what point do exhibitors have a valid breach of contract claim and ability to get their refunds back?
For the first two revisions to the show, which were primarily date changes, with the space/layout staying the same (aside from exhibitor drop outs freeing up space), I could see how Reed could make the argument they were putting on a show that was reasonably similar to what the initial contract outlined, and thus not in breach.
Now though I think what is proposed is no longer anywhere near the original concept of ISC West 2020, ex:
Show is held in conjunction with another event
Show has been moved to a materially different space within the facility
New space does not offer the ability for things like over-booth signs/banners
New space will likely cause several exhibitors to have to re-tool booth layouts, as the column spacing is likely to conflict with large booth layouts.
Reed is indicating they will impose restrictions that will ultimately inhibit the ability for exhibitors to meet efficiently with a large number of attendees (more or less the whole point of a show like this).
At the very least, I would expect Reed to cut exhibit costs substantially if they expect exhibitors to accept these changes. They have moved the show to what was previously the lower-budget "startup area", already setting the precedent that this is lower value space for exhibitors.
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Dwayne Cooney
CEDIA just cancelled. At this point it's inevitable for ISC West. Although the move to the basement was optimistic on their part, it buys them more time to deal with a full cancellation and/or claims by exhibitors.
CEDIA Expo Show Update | CEDIA Expo
.
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Ricardo Souza
IPVMU Certified | 05/29/20 03:15pm
Well at least people will be safe from 5G so it won't probably be an issue....
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Rick Caruthers
05/29/20 03:42pm
We initially requested a smaller footprint and planned on limiting our team members who would attend. In light of the news yesterday and the email from them outlining the steps being taken we have asked to withdraw from the show and have requested a full credit to be applied to 2021. Let's hope this happens.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
As a manufacturer we have cancelled our booth at ISC Waste. It infuriates and baffles me that Reed is continuing on this path. Really don't see how tradeshows can happen in 2020. I handle sales and am focused on selling from my basement for the rest of this year.
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Undisclosed #7
...Just not even worth the airfare or hotels even with the covid discount. Time is what is of value you here.
Keep kicking the can down the road ISC, keep kicking the can down the road.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #8
Insult to injury. Where is that class action lawsuit? The industry needs to make an example out of REED.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #9
My only question will reed "punish" those exhibitors who refuse to come this year and want to roll over to 2021
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Dennis Raefield
05/31/20 06:10pm
ISC WEST has been a fat cash cow for Reed. Now with triple bogies, they are shooting themselves in the foot. If they had canceled completely and offered full investment moved to 2021, the world would have forgotten 2020 And the cash cow would have survived.
With their short term bad decisions they may permanently damaged the value of ISC West. I am not going this year and most buyers can skip.
Vendors with no choice will face an empty pavilion, gloomy basement atmosphere and feel betrayed by Reed.
Wake up Reed Management and forgo 2020 costs and save your excellent venue. You still have time to be strategic instead of trying to save your income while destroying your future.
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Undisclosed Integrator #11
Surely there will be enough fever solutions on display to keep everyone safe! And now that it is in the basement everyone’s forehead will be properly acclimatised to the indoor environment!
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Drew Weston
I believe GSX has a go/no-go decision date of 6/22. I suspect Reed/SIA will wait on that before taking any additional action.
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Undisclosed #12
What the hell is their long term strategy? To further undermine their brand by forcing the few loyalists who show up to regret attending and the exhibitors to feel ripped off?
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Scott Bartlett
The only reason I will attend is because I live in Las Vegas...
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Undisclosed #13
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #14
Tough call across the industry. The question of how the pandemic will reshape business in general and our industry in particular will still be unfolding. Given that the fall months usually usher in an increase in illness, this season will be scrutinized for COVID 19 resurgence. Probably not a good time to experiment with large gatherings. A move to the basement is probably a first step to a complete cancellation of the 2020 conference. Perhaps buying time for more data about COVID-19 to then renegotiate / re-evaluate for 2021 and beyond.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #15
They have not contacted us about moving to the basement or giving us a new booth location and..., there is no floor plan available on the ISC West website? Net result, this attempt to salvage ISC West this year, is a disaster!
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #15
I have heard that if you want a refund, you only get 80% of your money back!
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Marc Beningson
Well I think about 6-8 shows I normally attend have all been rescheduled for October so I can't attend them all. Now that most of the major vendors I need to connect with are doing focused retreats and webinars, I kind of doubt ISC will be top of my list to attend.
Our world is going to be very different, but we all knew that.
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Undisclosed #16
Act II of the pandemic should be showing up just in time for this show.
The show should be cancelled, without question.
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Cydney Higgins
I just spoke with a representative at ISC West and was told that our company would be given the option to roll 2020 booth fees to 2021 and would only be responsible for paying the 3% change in price from this year to next. They are not sending out emails with this information. You have to call them, bring up concerns, and request that your funds be rolled over. It seems that they are willing to work with companies, but only if you ask for it.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #17
BOOM
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Undisclosed #13
ISC...Thank you for not having your exhibitors and attendees make the decision not to come to this event.
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