30th June, 2006
Official figures released today show the 10th CEDIA UK Expo (19-22 June, ExCeL London) to be the biggest, most successful training and product showcase event yet for the home technology industry. On its first appearance in London, CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) has revealed a 30% increase in event visitors with a recorded total of 6,099. This figure included a higher proportion of building specifiers, up significantly to 327, more international visitors, up 81% to 1,031 from over 48 countries and a huge increase in delegates attending the expanded CEDIA Expo education programme.
“CEDIA Expo 2006 was absolutely fantastic!” says CEDIA Chairman, David Hyman. “On behalf of CEDIA, I would like to extend a warm thank you to all the volunteers, exhibitors and CEDIA staff who made this year’s show such a memorable success – more stands, more visitors, more overseas visitors, more building specifiers, and many, many more seminar delegates. In a superb, new venue, and for our London debut, the event delivered for exhibitors, for CEDIA and for the home electronics and integration industry at large. CEDIA Expo continues to grow in quality, size and stature”.
Expo Showcase
CEDIA Expo 2006 featured exhibition stands from over 130 companies in one 6000m2 obstruction-free area at its new ExCeL London home. All the major names from the industry participated, with over 45 companies taking part in the event for the very first time. These included A+K UK, AMX, Arcam, Armour Home Electronics, Artcoustic UK, AWE Europe, Crestron, CSE, Denon, Fujitsu, Future Automation, Helvar, Imerge, Kaleidescape, KEF, LG, Linn Products, Linnsight, Living Control, Lutron, Marantz, Marata Vision, Meridian, Naim, Philips, RGB, Sharp, SIM2, Speakercraft, Technogym, Universal Electronics and USD amongst others.
The high quality and clever design of stands reflected the significant investment made by CEDIA Expo exhibitors in the event. Many featured integrated presentation rooms, on-stand promotions and interactive elements designed to pull in the visitors. They were rewarded with high quality visitor traffic, which was especially busy on the first two days of the Expo. Visitors included a high proportion of installers new to the industry and the event, together with interested attendees from house builders, interior design and architectural practices (see exhibitor comments attached).
Education
The CEDIA Expo education programme was very well-subscribed with the majority of sessions nearly full or sold-out with standing-room only available for delegates. It included 24 brand new and 20 updated courses, and in total provided an 82% increase in training over last year’s event, together with 32 manufacturer product training sessions.
Among the most popular highlights were courses on High Definition, New Technologies, Digital Rights Management (DRM), What Women Want, Selling To Rich People, the two day Home Cinema Workshop and the one day Project Management Workshop. Installer Level 2, on offer for the first time outside of CEDIA US, as part of the CEDIA certification program also proved a success, with 19 delegates sitting the examination.
Design Professionals
Attendance from the building specifier community at CEDIA Expo showed growth on last year. CEDIA Expo hosted a special Design Professionals Forum, aimed at architects, interior designers and other building specifiers. Chaired by Eleanor Young, Acting Editor of the RIBA Journal magazine, the forum featured presentations from Dr Mark Gillott, from the University of Nottingham’s School of the Built Environment, award winning architect Julian King of Wilkinson King and home electronics guru Steve Moore of SMC. Practical experience of integrating electronics and using technology to reduce energy consumption, ‘de-clutter’ living space and improve family lifestyles were shared and energetically debated in front of an interested audience.
Additional features at the show also addressed the design professionals. In three CEDIA educational areas, visitors were guided through a typical project process, demonstrating how a custom installation company can successfully interact with a project team / client. A Designer’s Lounge & Resource Centre at the core of the show provided a further opportunity for architects, interior designers, house builders and other specifiers to find out more information on the electronic home and the benefits of working with CEDIA members. This area also worked as a showcase for the finalists in the inaugural CEDIA Awards. The winners were announced by CEDIA Chair, David Hyman during the Chairman’s Reception held at the Sports Cafe on the first day of the show (see separate press release for details).
Networking
The social and networking highlight of CEDIA Expo, the sold-out CEDIA party on Wednesday 21st June, took place at The Fox@ExCeL, and offered guests the chance to watch the Argentina v Netherlands contest on a giant plasma screen, rock out to party band, “The Bears”, and enjoy their barbecue food indoors or alfresco as they desired. The International Reception was also well-attended with over 100 guests from across the globe joining the CEDIA UK Board and representatives from CEDIA US and CEDIA Australia for breakfast, a formal welcome to the Expo and to hear plans from CEDIA to grow membership across Zone 1.
CEDIA Expo 2007
Following the success of CEDIA Expo 2006, CEDIA has confirmed that the event will return to ExCeL London next year, running from 25th to 28th June 2007. For CEDIA Expo 2007, the organizers plan to offer additional exhibition space over and above that provided for this year’s event. CEDIA also plans to utilize extra training rooms for the popular, and expanding, CEDIA Expo seminar programme. For more details visit www.cedia.co.uk.