Comprehensive Display: Visual Impact Over 95% Full
It’s just four months until the doors of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre will open for the first Visual Impact show in the Queensland capital for more than six years, and the industry’s suppliers are coming out in force to showcase their latest.
More than 95% of the show’s floorspace is already locked in, with the industry’s leading names joining ranks with a wide range of niche and smaller supply companies to provide a diverse and exciting showcase.
Charly Blades, Events Manager for supplier association Visual Connections, which owns and organises the show, says the team has been overwhelmed with the response.
“We still have a couple of larger stands and a few smaller booths available, but given the amount of interest in them, we expect this to be a fully-subscribed show,” she reports.
“The exhibitor list is also a really diverse group, set to provide a showcase that will encompass all the latest in signage, display, wide-format printing, textile printing, LED and illumination, fabrication, routing, engraving and laser cutting, software and workflows…and much more.”
Leading names who will have major stands at the show include Ball & Doggett, Mimaki Australia and Roland DG, Celmac, Elizabeth Machines, Sign Essentials, Epson Australia, Graphic Art Mart, HP, Multicam and Wilenco, who represent the largest exhibitors.
They will be joined by Wilenco, Smartech, Spicers, Alfex CNC, Amari Visual Solutions, Avery Dennison, Creative Graphic Solutions, Currie Group, Hanzhou Bannermate, Lettertech Australia, Paper Handling Equipment, Stick On Signs and Trotec Laser.
Velflex, Mutoh, Pozitive and Neofoam will also have sizeable stands, as will Adzon, Arlon, Digital FX, Eventec, i-Create Laser Cutting & Engraving, O’Brien Engineering, SALed, SAS, Shanghai Totem, Signovate, Worldkougei, Australian Skills Management Institute, Dakco LED, Interone, M-Power Software, Print IQ, Pulse Laser Systems, Zoometc, Banner Brother and Complete Signage Installation.
“The floorplan is looking like a really good balance between the larger suppliers with multiple solutions and product lines, and the smaller local and international exhibitors who always bring a range of resources, affiliations, solutions and options which are invaluable to industry businesses and ideally complement the offerings of the bigger names,” Charly says.
As always, there will be a seminar series, but in recognition of the need to maximise value for visitors, the program has been reimagined and, rather than half-hour seminar sessions, will feature a series of more informal, ‘meet the expert’ type sessions in the newly-named Connections Centre.
“We know how pressed for time industry businesses are, and how difficult it can be to get away from the office,” Charly says. “That puts the onus on us to deliver as much value as we can, in the limited time people can make available to attend.
“We are doing that with this educational element by offering shorter, more focused sessions in a comfortable, conversational environment. As well as giving visitors the chance to gather a lot of information, insights and ideas in a short space of time, the sessions are also designed to start conversations by connecting industry decision-makers with the experts who can help them build their business success.
“We’ll also be running Try-A-Trade sessions for students in partnership with Brisbane TAFE. Careers advisors Tina Mavris and John Watters from AusSIP will be on hand to showcase industry opportunities, and we’ll have plenty of Sign & Print Career Connections brochures as well as our new online resources, available for those who are interested,” she added.
Already, Charly says registrations have been received from Brisbane and across Queensland, from Northern NSW and the NT.
“We’ve seen excellent attendances at recent shows, particularly where there has been a long hiatus, and we’re certainly expecting to see that in Brisbane,” Charly says.
“While the majority are likely to be from Queensland – primarily Brisbane and surrounds –we traditionally see quite a good number from NSW and the NT to our Queensland shows, and also expect to welcome visitors from further afield, into New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, for whom Brisbane is a convenient location,” she says.
“The show also usually attracts quite a few visitors from southern states, who welcome the opportunity to spe
nd a few days in the sun while catching up with all the latest.”
To date, registrations have been ‘slow but steady’ – typical, she says, for four months out from opening.
“Most people register within the last four to six weeks before doors open, and since COVID, that trend has become even more marked across the entire events industry, so I’m not expecting to see any huge jumps in registrations immediately,” she says.
“To have numbers already into the hundreds at this stage, though, augers really well for the show, and it’s great to see those steadily rising week-by-week.”
Visual Impact Brisbane Is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Roland DG and Gold Sponsors Avery Dennison, Epson, Graphic Art Mart, HP, Spicers and Trotec. It will run from 10am to 5pm on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 July, and from 9am to 4pm on Friday 19 July, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre at South Bank.
Click here to register to attend the show, or view all the latest information, including the most up to date floorplan, on the Visual Impact website.
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