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More Vendors Downsizing or Withdrawing from Macworld SF 2009

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Apr 12, 2001
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AppleInsider claims that following Adobe's withdrawl from exhibiting at Macworld San Francisco, both Belkin and Seagate will also not be exhibiting. Belkin historically has been one of Macworld's biggest exhibitors.
The move is deemed especially surprising for Belkin, which has not only been one of Macworld Expo's largest exhibitors in the past but is believed to have already paid for its booth space this year, people aware of the situation say.
Click to expand...
Meanwhile, Google is said to be downsizing their booth size as well as a couple of other unnamed vendors.

While the worsening economy is cited as the likely reason, much of the cost for the spaces have reportedly already been collected. Regardless, as a result, they expect Macworld 2009 to be a smaller show than last year. MacRumors, of course, will be present to provide coverage of the show. Apple is expected to introduce new products at the event which kicks off on January 5th, 2009.

Article Link: More Vendors Downsizing or Withdrawing from Macworld SF 2009
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/04/more-vendors-downsizing-or-withdrawing-from-macworld-sf-2009/
Too bad...

I guess either Apple will have to put on a great show and showing, or it will kind of flop over and not be all that big of a deal. The current rumors floating around don't sound like any huge announcements will be made as far as I'm aware. Maybe spec boosted iMac. It would be cool if they announced the new Mac Pros, but I think the entire redesigning/revamping of the Mac Mini line would make it a great show. I'm not in the market, but it is a great product and in my opinion shouldn't be cast aside. I'd also love the rest of the new Cinema Display line to be announced, assuming there is more to the line.
 
Apparently, trade shows are notoriously expensive because it's a closed market system (specific suppliers, contractors, unions, etc).

Take a look at this old blog post from 2005 by Paul at Rogue Amoeba. He noted that to rent a wastebasket was $19.50 per day with a $38 a day charge to empty it!

Macworld Editor Jason Snell even commented that a plate of cookies is $100.

I know Alex Lindsay (of Pixel Corps and MacBreak Weekly) has mentioned several times that you can't even set up your own table or chair because of the union contracts.

Others have said that you can't carry in your own boxes of materials.

http://www.rogueamoeba.com/utm/posts/Article/Airport-Economics-2005-12-15-18-00.html
 
I think that we'll see this trend continue. It's very expensive for vendors to buy space, set up booths, and send people to trade shows. Also, the Web makes it much easier for companies to get the word about new products out than it was in the old days.

From Apple's perspective, it might make sense to get away from the high expectations generated every January. That would also make it easier for Steve Jobs to stop doing keynotes as Apple prepares for succession to a CEO with less showmanship.
 
Meh, they'll probably all be at CES which is a much bigger show anyway.
 
SF is outrageously costly....

SF is a nightmare place to participate in a trade show. Everything from taxicabs to parking to hotels is outrageously expensive. Then you begin dealing with the highway robbers who run Moscone Center, and you soon realize your booth fees constitute a tiny fraction of the overall investment in having trade show presence. The unions are beyond larcenous. Even the smallest booth costs about $150 to have vacuumed, a ten-minute job! I once had a guy with a broom stop for a moment in front of my booth as he swept up after a show. He paused and grinned, "I make $100 an hour! God bless America!"

And a floor-sweeper made that kind of money because fools like me were willing to pay it.

Like printed catalogs, trade shows are rapidly becoming obsolete and even silly. As a promotional tool, they reach very few customers, so why bother? An exception would be technical society meetings or other specialized-market conferences where practically the whole global customer base can fit onto the show floor and attendance becomes a major perk for the customer. Shows like that are staged in destination cities like Frisco. It makes far less sense for companies like Belkin to do something of the sort in a broadly horizontal market with millions of customers. Hats off to Belkin for their common sense and the courage to act on it.
 
Just conduct the show online, its would be cheaper for Apple and Company. Trade Shows are history and this downturn will only garner more reasoning.

themoonisdown09 said:
Will Apple even be at Macworld this year? I can't believe that all these companies are dropping out.
Click to expand...

Been to quite a few trade shows back in the late 90's, don't see what the fuss is all about. The keynote should be available online and hopefully in real-time in the near future.
 
Mr. Giver '94 said:
Too bad...

I guess either Apple will have to put on a great show and showing, or it will kind of flop over and not be all that big of a deal. The current rumors floating around don't sound like any huge announcements will be made as far as I'm aware. Maybe spec boosted iMac. It would be cool if they announced the new Mac Pros, but I think the entire redesigning/revamping of the Mac Mini line would make it a great show. I'm not in the market, but it is a great product and in my opinion shouldn't be cast aside. I'd also love the rest of the new Cinema Display line to be announced, assuming there is more to the line.
Click to expand...

hey its a weird concept mac computers at macworld what a concept :rolleyes:
cant wait for new imacs :)
 
Ok so new products... I'm still hoping for my dream, a MacBook touch! But for some reson I feel like it won't be this year. I would also love to see an Apple TV that can record TV. It would be more than awesome! I would finally buy one! And last product I've always hope for is an Apple Television, like the screen. With the Apple interface, it would be more than gorgeous!!

Anyways, I can't wait to see what's next (new products). If there isn't any new products, I'm gonna buy the new MacBook for school cause my MacBook Pro is way to heavy for school. But I want a MacBook touch so badddd!!
 
Online is the way

Online is the way to go. If the prices quoted above are serious then it seems absolutely amazing they would continue. I guess :apple: can afford it though with that much money in the bank.

Hmmm.... wondering if Psystar will have a booth then??? :eek:
 
I exhibit at NAB (Vegas) every year and the "space" is the cheapest part. Union bull and insane prices for even the most basic stuff is what makes us seriously consider not going back every year... but we go back... and we hate it again. We really don't get any new business out of it, it is more the attitude that if we aren't there some of our clients will see this as the company being in financial trouble. It's obvious that the era of the tradeshow is finally dying, THANK GOD!
 
That's not good at all as MWSF is the biggest Mac gathering in the calendar year. I went to MWSF 2008 and even saw Steve Jobs keynote on the spot. However, I pretty much used up my vacation days to Europe during the Summer of '08. Now, it's unlikely for me to show support to MWSF 2009.

MWSF09 and CES 2009 have a bit overlap as well.
 
its ok

Well, this year will be small. But Apple still has millions in the bank and no debt. I think Apple can survive anything now, after 1997.
 
It's ironic. This economic cluster-duck has been great for my business. I design and update mall directories. With great store turnover, directories have to be updated more frequently which is some nice coin for me. Business has never been better.

Again I say: ironic.
 
the same people show up to these events anyway. Why pay to reach an audience that you already have? I don't know who has a regular booth at mac world, and I don't care. Maybe vendors started realizing this. Ticket sales have been garbage. My guess is that apple told people this and they decided to not follow through.

No rumors? A first to be honest. There is always some sort of rumor, especially this close. Maybe apple played their cards too early, and don't have anything to release.
 
How much ancillary product vendors can there be for a company thats basically become a glorified cell phone manufacturer?
 
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