Chicago - Once again, NeoCon® World's Trade Fair, North America's largest conference and exhibition for interior design and facilities management at The Merchandise Mart Chicago, tops its best numbers with more attendees, more exhibitors and more new products. Every square foot of exhibit space at the historic Merchandise Mart was sold out-and packed tight-with people from all over the world for the 39th annual NeoCon.
In all, 52,632 individuals attended the biggest NeoCon event to date, where more than 1,200 exhibitors introduced revolutionary new products and materials. Known as the launching pad for new products in the commercial furnishings industry, this year the Best of NeoCon entries were at an all-time high with 420 products submitted.
From June 11-13, 2007, exhibitors met with existing and potential clients from around the world, and they couldn't have been more pleased with the show.
"NeoCon provides a window into the soul of our industry. There are many beautiful objects and a long list of interesting product launches each year, but the enduring appeal and lasting value is in those designs and solutions that make a meaningful difference for people and their environments. It's staged for just a few days in Chicago every June, but what happens in the Herman Miller showroom and elsewhere during NeoCon can have a powerful impact that makes life more productive and delightful for people all over the world-for many years to come."
-Brian Walker, president and CEO of Herman Miller Inc.
"NeoCon is the largest opportunity in the world to contact interior design and contract professionals in the world. Every year it's a place where I bring my sales representatives and we are always busy every second of every day. You never feel like you've wasted a dime. It's just perfect."
-John Edelman, Edelman Leather
"We have been exhibiting at NeoCon for more than 30 years. If we had to choose only one show each year, it would certainly be NeoCon. No other event has the national attendance and brings out the key specifiers, along with contract dealers and searching end users, like NeoCon does. It has certainly been most significant for us."
-Jim Jolly, CEO/chairman of J & J Industries Inc.
"NeoCon has been and still remains the single best way to get our product fast exposure with the leading contract designers."
-Jeff Layne, president of ARC COM Fabrics
NeoCon assembled an outstanding group of industry experts, leaders, innovators and challengers to provide insight into different industry areas of interest and to keep attendees on the cutting edge of their industries. The incredible lineup of informative and educational seminars was well attended, with seminar pre-registration up 46 percent from 2006. Attendees were able to choose from 123 CEU seminars and association forums, three keynote speakers, three luncheons and two panels. Speakers included Zaha Hadid, renowned architect and 2004 Pritzker Prize Winner; Tim Brown, CEO and president of IDEO; Nadja Swarovski, vice president, international communications, Swarovski; and Barbara Barry.
"The talk during the show was unanimous-this was the best NeoCon ever," says Mark Falanga, senior vice president, Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI). "No other show brings so many industry professionals together under one roof. The floors were crowded with an energetic audience from around the globe. NeoCon has become the platform for launching new products and gaining inspiration for next year's big idea."
NeoCon World's Trade Fair 2008 will be held June 9-11 at The Merchandise Mart. For more information, visit www.merchandisemart.com or call 800-677-6278 (MART).
