Despite the lower-than-expected numbers, exhibitors indicated positive experiences at the recently concluded the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) trade event - Specialty Fabrics Expo 2014 and Advanced Textiles Exp.
"I had a good time in Minneapolis both on and off the show floor," said Scott Massey, President, Awning Cleaning Industries. "We had a lot of good, solid contacts and have already begun to turn them into sales. Volume of attendees is important, but not the only criteria to judge a show by."
IFAI President, Mary Hennessy acknowledged that attendance numbers were off by about 20 percent from the conference's usual numbers.
"Although we had a beautiful venue and the weather in Minneapolis was great, we weren't able to convince enough people to attend, so we are processing feedback and working hard to make next year's show the best yet," she said.
The annual event, in its 102nd year, is the largest annual display of specialty fabrics and technical textiles in the Americas, which had 363 exhibitors from 20 countries filling the 85,000 square-feet of exhibition space in the Minneapolis Convention Center.
The annual ShowStoppers competition had a record number of entries with 130 participants vying for a chance to win an award for innovative products and services. An Extreme Sports Display highlighted the specialty fabrics and technical textiles industries' contribution to extreme sports.
A comprehensive education component featured an Awning Symposium, a Marine Symposium, Advanced Textiles Programming, and a number of equipment workshops and a graphics and sewing shop tour.
"The graphics and sewing shop tour was the best tour I have been on as both companies, hosting the tour were open to full exposure of their methods and means of production, and showed extreme hospitality, " said Pat Hayes, Founder of Fabric Images Inc.
“Show participants filled a ballroom to capacity for the opening reception, where awards and recognitions were presented and the annual International Achievement Awards were announced with 61 awards from 29 categories,” IFAI revealed.
Hennessy announced IFAI’s partnership with the Makers Coalition, forming the IFAI Makers Division. “The partnership is a nationwide workforce development initiative to meet the demand for skilled labor in the cut and sew industry," Hennessy said.
She added, “This is an exciting initiative that addresses a critical workforce shortage. Providing a steady source of skilled labor will stimulate increased business and profitability throughout the supply chain."
Next year, IFAI Expo will take place in Anaheim, California, where IFAI said, 85 percent of exhibit space has already been sold. (AR)
