Getting Together

If vendors had their way, there would be one—and only one—giant printing trade show. Drayage would be free, unions non-existent, attendance astronomical, and costs negligible. Well, good luck with that. However, they will be getting part of their wish next year with the combined AlphaGraphics/Allegra technology expo in Las Vegas. The two franchise systems will wrap their annual conferences around the trade show with one before and one after the two-day event at Caesar’s Palace. The show is expected to attract some 150 vendors and around 600 attendees—double what was usually found at the individual trade shows in the past. Add to that the fact that Minuteman is having its own conference a week later at the same hotel and you should have a bunch of happy vendors. It will be interesting to see how this all works out. I doubt if there will be fisticuffs should a franchisee from one system run into a franchise from the other system at the show, but there probably will be some grumbling. If this all pans out, look for continued pressure from vendors to get other systems to go the joint-venture route.