TORONTO — Several exhibitors at the DMA Annual Conference here said traffic on the show floor seemed slow compared with past years, but added that they were pleased with the business they were able to conduct in private meetings off the show floor.
“The traffic is a little disappointing,” said Richard Baumer, president/CEO of Venture Direct Worldwide, New York. “I think anyone who came to the show expecting to generate prospects from people walking by their booth is not going to be too happy.”
Speaking yesterday afternoon as the show had begun to wind down, Baumer said he was satisfied that his company had accomplished its mission, however, with its off-the-show-floor activities with clients and prospects.
Deb Goldstein, president of IDG List Services, Framingham, MA, expressed a similar view.
“It's a matter of quality vs. quantity at these shows,” she said. “As long as we walk away with some qualified leads, we're successful.”
In addition, she said, the show provides more than a sales opportunity — it provides a platform for networking with peers.
“This is all about building relationships,” she said. “We've been in this business together for 15 years, and we like to see each other.”
The DMA will not project attendance figures until the middle of Wednesday, but it did state that attendance was expected to be down from last year's show in San Francisco, where attendance always is higher than at other venues.
Although many of the companies exhibiting were offering online products and services, Baumer said he was surprised more Internet companies did not have a presence on the exhibit hall floor.
