FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2004

ISA’s Western Sign Show A Success!

Alexandria, VA (January 26, 2004) The International Sign Association (ISA) reports that its Western Sign Show, held January 15 through 17, 2004 in San Diego, was a big success. Nearly 2,000 sign manufacturers, suppliers and users attended the tradeshow, which had 78 exhibitors this year.

“The show was definitely a success, especially for the exhibitors,” said Ed Troha, ISA vice president, marketing, membership and affiliated associations. “The quality of the attendees was good, and there was a high awareness of the show. I think our partners got the word out. Distributors asked for a lot of free show passes this year.”

“We [exhibit at] all the tradeshows, but this one was just about the best show in a long time,” said Jim Weinel, president of Gemini, Inc, a sign product manufacturer that specializes in letting, headquartered in Cannon Falls, Minn. “We saw a lot of customers and made a number of new contacts.” Weinel estimates that between 250 and 300 people stopped at his exhibit.

“The show was outstanding,” he said. “It was well organized and well attended. You have to have that face-to-face contact with people. It’s essential.”

In addition to providing exhibitors an opportunity to meet one on one with their customers, the show, which was held at the San Diego Concourse, gave sign industry professionals a chance to learn through association-sponsored seminars about the latest in LED technology, how to effectively estimate sign projects, how to increase efficiency and eliminate waste in business, and the value of signs to the community. A total of 200 people attended the seminars.

“ISA puts together these regional shows to bring together buyers and sellers in one place,” Troha said. “A lot happens at tradeshows; it’s all about market access. When you attend a show, you get to see topnotch exhibits all in one place. Sign makers walk the floor and find the newest and best in components and services. It’s a great way to evaluate what’s out there. It helps you form your business strategy for the coming year.”

ISA’s next tradeshow is the International Sign Expo, April 14 through 17 in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit www.signexpo.org.

ISA is a 2,200-member organization composed of manufacturers, users, and suppliers of on-premise signs and sign products produced by more than 400,000 employees in all 50 states and 69 countries. ISA exists to support, promote and improve the $30 billion-a-year sign industry, which sustains the nation’s nearly $3 trillion-a-year retail industry.

International Sign Association
Phone: (703) 836-4012
Website URL: www.signexpo.org