Biggest Winners at ISA International Sign Expo 2012
With more than 16,000 in attendance at the ISA International Sign Expo 2012, the odds were better than a Mega Millions jackpot. Consequently, many left Orlando as winners—with winning products, winning ideas, and even winning cold, hard cash.
ISA International Sign Expo 2012, which wrapped last week at the Orange County Convention Center, featured numerous new events designed to enhance the overall experience. That ranged from the twice-daily “dash for cash” on the Expo floor. Five names were drawn at pre-determined times and the first to appear at the ISA booth was awarded $1,000. That event occurred during the daily happy hours, which featured free beer.
The event drew 16,200, comparable attendance to 2010, the last year the event was in Orlando.
In all, some 540 companies showcased their products, including 87 who were first-time exhibitors. Most reported strong business connections, with one manufacturer selling 11 major pieces of equipment by the end of the first day.
Other winning ideas included:
- SpellBrite™ by Optiva® beat 31 other finalists to be named Best New Product on the Expo floor. SpellBrite™ offers interlocking LED letters, which allow customers to create their own signage and change it as they like. Attendees voted via text messaging after visiting the booths.
- beBrite Sign Induction Lighter, distributed by N. Glantz & Son, was named Best Green Product on the Expo floor by attendees. beBrite uses magnets on the exterior of fully enclosed lamps rather than electrodes on the end of lamps. The company says this change extends the lamp life up to 100,000 hours, about five times the longevity of high intensity discharge technology. The application is aimed at large scale, single or double-facing outdoor signage.
- Noel Yarger, chairman of North American Signs, was presented the Kirk L. Brimley Distinguished Service Award. Yarger, a former ISA board member, was honored for his work in educating planners and the sign industry on the importance of signage to businesses.
- Registration for educational events was up 10 percent over last year. Two new educational tracks, workplace safety and digital electronic signage, reflected current industry trends.
ISA International Sign Expo 2013 will be held April 3-6 in Las Vegas.
