Organizers Built It. Now, Will You Come? —Michelson

The result: A reconfirmed commitment by the majority of exhibitors to go forward with their initial booth layouts, several of which plan to incorporate a range of prepress, pressroom and finishing gear operating all six days within their stands on the show floor.

Of course, building up the show from an exhibitor standpoint is only part of the equation. Filling the aisles with attendees—at a time when most printers are hunkering down and putting capital expenditures on hold—is just as crucial. GASC identified 11 segments of possible show goers, including commercial, quick, in-plant, transactional and specialty printers. Target marketing efforts for this year’s show have also been intensified toward newspaper and book publishers/printers, as well as creative services professionals and print buyers. And commercial shops looking to expand into the packaging market, and existing package printers, will be able to take part in a show within a trade show with the debut of PackPrint. New, too, are two specialty areas: Rap City, a section within the Wide-Format Pavilion geared toward vehicle wraps, wall coverings, etc.; and GREENspace, where attendees will find exhibitors displaying eco-friendly products and services focused on sustainability.