Aisles packed with attendees from the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show are all over the internet, like this one:
CES 2012 TechZone
It has been exciting to hear about the new, innovative products which are being introduced at that show this week. It has been reported that approximately 20,000 product announcements will take place during the show. There are an estimated 5,000 press in attendance to cover all the angles of the show.
Disturbing Picture
Traveling over the internet and being discussed on Twitter is this picture.
This Is Objectively the Saddest Booth at CES
Of all the crushingly depressing booths sprinkled throughout CES, we’ve successfully identified the saddest. By far. Congratulations, IMP-EXP Executive! You make me want to cry.
Brian Barrett from Gizmodo is the one who reported about it on their site.
Now there can be multiple reasons why this gentleman is sitting in an empty booth. Maybe the person or company bring the pop-up display did not make it to the show in time. It had gotten lost on the dock or in route. However, at almost every show taking place there has been an exhibitor who was not prepared for the show and either abandoned the booth or showed up and had minimal or no message for their presence on the show floor.
Lost Opportunities
Whether the booth is full of attendees or empty, there are sales opportunities which can be fulfilled or dismissed. How many of the 2012 CES attendees will actually be followed up after the show? Unfortunately, we know all to well that the majority of them will not hear from the company they expressed an interest in, due to lack of commitment from some senior management person with in the exhibitor’s company.
The marketing department has done its job and produced hundreds, if not thousands of leads which need further qualifications and assessment. Some exhibitors have a smooth operation for handling the post show lead function. But far too many have a spotty one and the activity and effort they put into the show ia all gone with the lack of lead follow-up. And this cartoon depicts what those company’s sales people feel.
MarketingSherpa
Most likely since you are a regular reader of this blog and you are part of the group who has a plan for trade show lead follow up we say congratulations!! If not, use the next show opportunity to turn this situation around by turning those leads into sales for your company and not your competitor.
