Following the withdrawals of Agfa, Heidelberg, HP, KBA, Komori, Xerox and this week Kodak, there was a danger the list of non-attendees would end up longer than that of the attendees.
OK, it wasn’t that bad. But I was starting to semi-seriously think about getting a t-shirt printed with the words ‘I’m backing Ipex’ to show some solidarity.
But the boys from Informa are back and they have a plan. Even better, it’s a plan that makes sense.
And, like the best of plans, it’s not rocket science. After all, if you look at the list of exhibitors, the show has to focus on digital. Fortunately, it has the added bonus of being the area most people seem interested in; printers, buyers, brand owners and vendors.
Equally, as the show was already incorporating Informa’s Cross Media exhibition, so it makes sense to further boost Ipex’s multi-channel credentials.
Finally, boosting the educational elements, with a dedicated conference schedule targeting business leaders makes absolute sense – as does the idea that it only runs in the morning, so that the self same leaders can peruse the halls in the afternoon.
Yes, it would be nice if the likes of Agfa, HP, Kodak and Xerox were there in some form or other, but either way at least some sunshine is starting to break the grey clouds that loomed large over Excel.
In fact, if all four end up taking part in the show, I might just catch some rays next March in a t-shirt printed with the immortal phrase "Ipex: Incredibly credible" (see our Drupa update here). Classic.
