NEW YORK — What a difference a day makes.
Traffic was up, and exhibitors were much happier yesterday, the second day of the Direct Marketing Association's DMD Conference & Exhibition at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
“Traffic was not great [Monday]. There were too many vendors on the floor. Today it's the exact opposite,” said Bob Portner, senior account executive at Kroll Direct Marketing Inc., Plainsboro, NJ, adding that he expects next year's show to be even better.
Even an exhibitor with a less-than-ideal booth spot was happy.
“It was better today than [Monday],” said Cora A. Park of TC Direct, Cinnaminson, NJ, whose booth was in one of the rear corners of the floor and had several empty booth spaces surrounding it. “It was good, but I'm sure it was better in the front and middle aisles. Some people look and think that there is nobody back here.”
First-time attendee Dan Monaghan, co-founder of WSP Internet Consulting & Education, Toronto, a Web site creator for small businesses, found the show valuable.
“I'm actually surprised at how big and dynamic and relevant it is,” he said. “I've been attending a lot of tech shows, and they've been in steady decline. It's actually quite refreshing to see a conference so dynamic.”
Monaghan said he found it hard to choose among which sessions to attend because “there was two to three to go to. [But] it's relevant for us. I'll attend the fall show. I'll put the DMA on the list of conferences to attend.”
Diana Arroyo, vice president of operations and finance at Carney Direct Marketing, Irvine, CA, said she was pleased with the show overall.
“I think it's an indicator that business is coming back, said Arroyo, whose only wish was that more mailers would visit the exhibit hall.
