Expo Notes: Why CES, Macworld can coexist

30.01.2011
During our time at , senior editor Dan Frakes and I asked many of the vendors we met with if they were going to be attending Macworld Expo as well. Some said yes, but quite a few others said they wouldn’t be making the journey. Of course, there are some valid reasons for not exhibiting at both events—travel/tradeshow budget constraints being one of them—but there are just as many reasons to say yes.

Although the iLounge Pavilion conveniently collects many (but not all, as we found) of the exhibitors of the Apple ecosystem, it’s still a small sliver of space compared to the rest of the massive consumer electronics event. With multiple halls, floors, and even locations, CES is a sprawling mini-city where you’re lucky if you can see a tiny fraction of it before going completely mad.

Jessica Cole, who handles product marketing for , (the company exhibited at both events) told me that the foot traffic at Macworld 2011 has been much better than at CES, due to everything being in a single hall. At a smaller show, you’re much more likely to see things, and therefore companies are much more likely to get noticed.

Macworld Expo is a consumer-focused show, whereas CES is a trade event. Unless you’re in the industry (or a member of the media), you can’t even get in the door in Las Vegas. Just check out the and you’ll find this: