Leisure Industry Week 2013 is just around the corner so Team Innovative Leisure lists the top ten reasons to visit the industry’s show-piece annual event…
1. It’s Big
Hosted annually at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Leisure Industry Week is the biggest leisure trade exhibition in the UK and has been running since 1989. For this reason it is attended by over 300 companies in all corners of the leisure industry from the fitness sector and playground equipment to the more specialist leisure equipment that we supply.
2. All the best companies will be there
Anybody that’s anybody in the leisure industry attends the show so it is a fantastic way to see hundreds of different products all in one place. Companies as take LIW as an opportunity to officially launch their latest products which means you can see what’s new before anybody else.
3. It’s free to attend
It will cost you absolutely nothing to come to LIW if you register online before hand. Many trade shows charge entry fees but LIW doesn’t. What have you got to lose?
4. Meet the people that know the industry
If you’re setting up a business in the leisure industry or if you already own one, it would be criminal to miss LIW. With three days of talking with hundreds of suppliers as well as fellow operators, attending LIW could be the smartest move you make. The products on show often provide inspiration for visitors and set them on a new path for their business.
5. Seminars and good advice
As well as the trade show floor on which you are free range customers, LIW has a structured schedule of seminars and events. These consist of industry professionals offering their expertise on a number of relevant subjects operators face today. These seminars are also a great place to ask any questions you have to gain advice and guidance from those in the know.
6. Things cost less at Leisure Industry Week
With so many companies competing with each other in the same room, LIW is the best place to get a discount. Most companies will have special show deals and although leisure equipment can cost a pretty penny, it will normally cost less at the show. Plus meeting suppliers face to face can give you the opportunity to cut a deal or haggle on the price a little.
7. Get hands on and try stuff
It’s all well and good somebody telling you how great a product is over the phone but LIW gives you the chance to see and try the product before you buy. Lots of exhibitors including Innovative Leisure will have fully operational equipment to give you the hands on experience. It might just give you ideas you never had.
*Shameless plug* Innovative Leisure will have a fully operational Sky Trail High Ropes Course and our new Double Inflatable Water Wars at LIW 2013…
8. If it’s free it’s for me
So we might have touched upon the fact that LIW is free to attend but the amount of added freebies on offer is superb. Many companies offer samples of their products (especially food vendors) as well as free to enter competitions just for attending. You never know you could be leaving the show with a free piece of kit or at worst enough branded pens to keep the office stocked until Christmas.
9. It’s a good day out
We see it year upon year. Opening time on day one and the suits are out in force from some of the biggest leisure operators in the industry. They are here early doors to see what’s on offer and to confer with each other what may and may not work well within their company. By lunchtime they’re scaling climbing walls and firing water balloons at each other. So while LIW is for serious business, it’s also a lot of fun.
10. Innovative Leisure has exclusive show discounts
Sssh. We left it to last to see if you’d read this far and find out our secret! Innovative Leisure will have exclusive show discounts at LIW and the ONLY way to get them is by coming along to the show! So come and say hello to us on Stand A420 or across the aisle on Stand A215 where our Sky Trail High Ropes Course will sit above the Trade Associations lounge.
Leisure Industry Week takes place between the 24th and 26th September at Birmingham NEC. For more information regarding the show, visit www.liw.co.uk
You can also follow all of our own updates on the run up to the show on www.innovativeleisure.co.uk
Written by Kier Lymn – Part of the Innovative Leisure Marketing Team.