We have reached the end of VISION 2022. It will be two years before this many vision professionals get a chance to gather in one place again. Stats from this year's show include 6,505 attendees and 378 exhibitors. Attendees from around 60 countries were registered. Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Spain, and Great Britain were the most strongly represented as well as a large specialist audience from South Korea, Japan and the USA. According to show organizers, 55 percent of attendees stated that they were involved in purchasing and procurement decisions in the company in a decisive or co-decisive manner, and 27 percent came to the fair with definite investment or purchase intentions.
During the week, one statement that stuck with me was when an exhibitor told me, "The only way to be successful is to have successful customers." I think this encompasses the mission of trade shows like VISION. They present opportunities for attendees and exhibitors to connect, establish relationships, and put together solutions to create successful customers.
Along these lines, I've heard from both our advisors and exhibitors alike that to be a successful customer, you don't need to necessarily buy the latest and greatest technologies when buying tried and true technologies will more than suffice. It was refreshing to hear an industry supplier say this, and it goes a long way to ensuring not only that the customer will be successful, but also that the supplier will become a trusted adviser.
it was a great week, and I look forward to ViSION 2024. Plan now for October 2024.
