Lots of people, that's who.
Paul Kedrosky has a concise, semi-flippant post about how CES just doesn't seem useful anymore.
Paul Kedrosky: Join the "No CES" Club
It's true. If you're a dealer or a rep looking for new products to flog, you don't need to march up and down Vegas anymore. If you subscribe to a dozen or more email newsletters, new product announcements cross your desk every day, and you can hunt for new lines from your office. One good friend of mine who's been repping HiFi for decades told me once that the only reason he goes to CES at all is for Marketnews' annual Canada Night party, and that's it.
If you're a startup vendor with a great new product, you need to take a long hard look at how much it's going to cost you to set up a display at CES* and ask yourself "How many deals do we need to sign to pay for going to the show, never mind turning a profit?"
Is it really worth it? I have my doubts.
*I'm too lazy to find the link, but there was a good NYT article earlier this year that pegged the cost of a small booth at $100K and up, with all expenses factored in. The big dogs can spend $1-2 million on their booths.
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Paul Kedrosky has a concise, semi-flippant post about how CES just doesn't seem useful anymore.
Paul Kedrosky: Join the "No CES" Club
I'm discovering that I'm not the only one not going to the massive ConsumerElectronics Show in Las Vegas early next month. Dating myself, I know, but I found it more interesting and useful a decade ago. Now it seems noisy, over-crowded, low signal, and generally like Comdex circa 2000. I'm so relieved to not be going there this year that not going feels like a holiday.
It's true. If you're a dealer or a rep looking for new products to flog, you don't need to march up and down Vegas anymore. If you subscribe to a dozen or more email newsletters, new product announcements cross your desk every day, and you can hunt for new lines from your office. One good friend of mine who's been repping HiFi for decades told me once that the only reason he goes to CES at all is for Marketnews' annual Canada Night party, and that's it.
If you're a startup vendor with a great new product, you need to take a long hard look at how much it's going to cost you to set up a display at CES* and ask yourself "How many deals do we need to sign to pay for going to the show, never mind turning a profit?"
Is it really worth it? I have my doubts.
*I'm too lazy to find the link, but there was a good NYT article earlier this year that pegged the cost of a small booth at $100K and up, with all expenses factored in. The big dogs can spend $1-2 million on their booths.
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