Peter Jolly, marketing manager, Duplo UK
"It was always going to be a struggle to run TPE this year. Not only do you have a worldwide recession, but we are in a Northprint year and looking forward to Ipex 2010. Suppliers are planning their product roadmaps for big launches at Ipex, that is where we would have the most printers' eyes and this would have affected our decision to exhibit at TPE. Trade shows are suffering due to the increased accessibility and lower perceived cost of supplier managed open houses. You can guarantee a more personal experience for your customers. I think trade shows are great benchmarks for the state of an industry, I would like to see them continue and to prosper."

George Clarke, managing director, Heidelberg UK
"This year, it was always going to be very difficult to hold a print trade show as everyone is cutting their budgets and spending needs to be fully justified. However, in future years, there is absolutely no reason why such shows cannot be successful, as long as the timing is right and the message is a focused one. For instance, if a show is held too close to another event, budgets may have already been used. Exhibitors also need to have a clear message and an idea of what they want to achieve, while the market also needs to be a receptive one."

Neil Long, managing director, Longridge Print
"I hope print shows continue, as I have been attending them since I was a child, so organisers need to allow children in, otherwise they’re barring the future of print from such events. What has changed is that print trade shows now seem to be more preview-orientated with new technology on show that is not yet available to buy. They are more a showcase for the future. Maybe we’ll also see manufacturers in the sheetfed or digital space coming together to hold separate events. Also, I think we will see bigger companies continuing to do more and more of their own events by bringing in partner companies to hold smaller events."

Laurence Roberts, managing director, Agfa UK
"The main one is Ipex and its future is largely dependent on how we do next May. At the last Ipex, something like 40% of the visitors were from overseas and the target this year is to be more than 50% and if IIR can do that it would be fantastic - they need to make it a truly international show. Personally I am delighted that IIR have decided that there won't be a TPE show in London and that they can put all their concentration and all their efforts into making sure that Ipex 2010 is fantastic. However, if Ipex turns out to be just a large UK show that will be a real problem going forward in terms of how we support it."