FESPA GLOBAL VISITORS STAY LONGER

Visitor numbers at last month’s global wide format show Fespa were 27 per cent up on the post-Covid show in Berlin last year, but 29 per cent below the pre-Covid number.

The show organisers counted 14,776 visitors attending Fespa Global and co-located European Sign Expo in Munich last month, and coming from 134 countries, or two thirds of the countries in the world.

Although numbers were fewer, delegates that did attend committed more time to their participation in the event, with more than half, 54 per cent, attending over multiple days. This brought total attendance to 22,757 over the four-day show, an increase of 42.5 per cent compared with the Berlin events last year.

Some 84 per cent of visitors held decision-making positions, a 15 per cent increase compared to 2022, with 73 per cent of visitors either managing directors, CEOs, owners or managers.

Investment in new technology was a priority for the majority, with half planning an investment within 12 months. Of the two-thirds of visitors choosing to disclose budget, the collective median budget has almost doubled year on year, to €2bn.

The launch of Personalisation Experience attracted significant visitor interest, highlighting the scope of the commercial opportunity for print businesses who can offer personalisation, individualisation or customisation, whatever the application.

Michael Ryan, head of Fespa Global Print Expo said, “This year’s events in Munich really proved how positively the international specialty print and signage communities have bounced back.

“Business leaders from all over the world came with an appetite to understand what’s changing in the market and a determination to innovate and invest to expand their offering.

“We saw our total audience grow substantially compared with 2022, with more individual visitors investing more time to explore everything we and our exhibitors could offer, including our Sustainability Spotlight, Fespa Awards gallery and World Wrap Masters feature.”

The next Fespa Global Print Expo will take place in Amsterdam from 19 to 24 March next year, alongside European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience and Sportswear Pro.