Johannesburg, 11 Oct 2000
Last week, the first ever COMDEX South Africa opened its doors on southern African soil. This internationally recognised expo attracted some of the biggest local and international names in the IT industry.
With conferences running alongside COMDEX South Africa 2000 and highlights such as the SAPPHIRE Conference, inaugural COMDEX Gala Dinner on the first night, a Beerfest, as well as the exhibitors cocktail party-where the best stands were announced, COMDEX South Africa proved to be more than just a show. In fact it was an industry happening!
With over 80 companies exhibiting, the show attracted over 6 000 visitors and conference delegates. Some of the exhibitors included, SAP, Hewlett-Packard, Storgate, Shop Creator, EPI-USE Group of Companies, Futuristix, Digitec, Datasoft Logical, Intersoft, JD Edwards, Iserve, Kerridge, Marpless Communication Technologies, Galix Consulting, Lexmark & Tally, Linc Communications, Oracle, Telkom, KPMG and MB Worksoft to name a few.
Exhibitors were happy with the quality of visitors that came through the expo and believe that they have developed good business leads.
Craig Lipawsky, Business Development Manager, Optron, commented, "This show has been stunning! The people we`ve been talking to are all senior, high profile people, so the exposure our products and services have been getting is very good. In fact we`ve been getting over 30 qualified leads a day and expect to generate business worth millions of rands over the next twelve months - and all from COMDEX SA. I`m ecstatic".
"Great organisation - we`ve had a lot of business decision-makers on our stand and that`s obviously very good for business and we`ve also sold a number of top range products at the show - so we`re very happy about that. For a company with a marketing spend like we have, it is very important that we make the right decision with regards to where we exhibit our company and where we spend the budget. We need to ensure that we`re on good quality shows and COMDEX has proven to be in that category." Desmond Nielsen, Channel Marketing Manager, Hewlett-Packard.
Cliff Becker, Sales Kerridge Computer Company was also very happy, he commented: "We`ve been busy and have definitely seen quality visitors - it`s been a worthwhile event for us and a good thing that we came."
"The representation of our brand at COMDEX has been a most exciting and eventful experience. We`re proud to have been involved in COMDEX 2000 and look forward to similar opportunities in future to draw attention to our services and offerings." Eduard du Plessis, MD Infosat
"We`re happy with the vast numbers of great quality leads we received at COMDEX. In fact we`ve got so many leads that its putting pressure on the company to follow through timeously. We expect to generate great business from the event." Mark Floisand, CEO Internet Strategies.
The exhibitors are not the only ones who are happy with the success of the first COMDEX show, the organisers were also very pleased with the visitor turn out during the expo. "With the end of the first COMDEX in southern Africa, we - the organisers - are left feeling proud of the fact that not only did we get quality exhibitors to the event but also a host of quality visitors. Always billed as a business - and not a consumer event - we hit the nail on the head with the calibre of businessperson visiting COMDEX SA 2000. I believe that the next event, now only 11 months away, will develop further, growing COMDEX SA into the business IT platform in Southern Africa," says Wolfgang Striebeck, MD International Fairs and Exhibitions.
Pascal Winckel, Director of International at Key3Media, the owner of the COMDEX Brand, "We are very happy with the first edition of COMDEX South Africa. Like all our 18 events around the world, COMDEX South Africa provides a great platform for IT professionals to learn, compare and make buying decisions. The event is very professional, the conference has lots of excellent sessions and the exhibition has a wealth of new products on display. Its also a fantastic networking opportunity, a meeting place for the government, industry and IT community to shape the future of IT and Internet in South Africa."
COMDEX is an international B2B IT event which is aimed at the IT professionals and decision-makers providing them with information on the latest technology. COMDEX is a place where the visitors get hands on demonstrations on products and services, which will help companies become successful through informed decision making.
"International Fairs and Exhibitions, the organisers of COMDEX South Africa are already looking forward to COMDEX 2001 - scheduled for September next year!
We`ve already received a host of enquires from new exhibitors, keen on having a presence at the next event." Concludes Striebeck.
To find out more about COMDEX 2001 contact International Fairs and Exhibitions on 011 467 0022 or visit www.intfairs.co.za
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