With 10% more exhibitors than in 2009 the event also had a more "mobile" feel with a number of the mobile players exhibiting for the first time. Julien Parven, marketing director at Fone Logistics: “I think we’ve got some really good leads from the show. I have two business development managers on our stand and they’ve filled their diaries for appointments next week, based on the people we’ve met here. We’ve been looking for fixed line dealers and resellers that are interested in looking at getting into mobile with us, and it’s gone really well.”
Tony Smith, head of UK and Ireland distribution for Siemens: “We love this show. It’s a great networking opportunity, it’s great to see lots of your customers in one place, and it’s an opportunity to for us to showcase our products. Convergence Summit North is well positioned geographically; everything else is Southern-based and I think Northern resellers do end up feeling a little left out. There are a lot of opportunities in this part of the UK that many manufacturers are missing out on.”
Education was firmly on the agenda and the seminar sessions which ran throughout proved to “hit the mark” with standing room only on numerous occasions. Miles Bossom, Publisher commented, “If we get the topics right the seminars will be full, if we don’t they will be empty. It seems this year we put on seminar sessions which the resellers were really keen to attend which was fantastic to see.”
Neil Morrell, NPD manager, Lifestyle Services Group commented “The education seminars here are providing me with a view forward over the next 12 months in this industry, and giving me an insight into convergence”.
The next major Channel exhibition is The Convergence Summit South on 5th & 6th October 2010 – visit www.convergencesummit.co.uk for information or to register.