In 2017, IFA hosted 250,000 visitors, more than 1,800 exhibitors in more than 1.7 million square feet of sold-out floor space at its annual Berlin-held exhibition, solidifying its role as a leading showcase for the global technology industry.
The selection of the Javits Center, known as a top-tier U.S. venue for hosting many globally significant exhibitions, also signals a pivot in emphasis that is consistent with IFA’s longstanding mission as a world-renowned producer of buyers’ events. CE Week 2018, in line with that, will represent a transition from a predominantly media-oriented show with a retailer presence to a retailer-/distributor-oriented buying event with a media presence.
According to the promoters, "CE Week powered by IFA will remain, as ever, geared toward leaders in the consumer electronics industry, but will now provide a midyear forum for the global retailing and distributor buying communities to conduct actual business with vendors, in addition to being a gathering place that fosters new relationships. The tradeshow is also the ideal event to generate excitement around upcoming products for the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons."
“We are excited about the opportunity that creating this new alliance affords IFA, and about working with our U.S. partners, who have already established CE Week as a solid foundation. We look forward to building upon that foundation together, bringing to CE Week all of IFA’s strengths to create synergies that will leverage the expertise of our global reach, and that will serve the American CE retailing community even more effectively,” says Jens Heithecker, senior vice president of Messe Berlin Group and IFA Berlin executive director.
In its 11 years, the event provided exhibitors the opportunity to showcase products to the tech industry’s most influential journalists and to meet with key industry partners, channel representatives, and investors. Participants in the show’s history have included LG, Sharp, Pioneer, Samsung, Sony, JVC, Epson, Harman, Kodak, Tiffen, Westinghouse, Onkyo – all of whom are now part of the CE Week Alliance, with right of first choice for premiere booth locations once the show layout is finalized.
Along with exhibition of new products, the tradeshow showcases numerous conference sessions, awards ceremonies, and networking-themed events. “By way of the new partnership, CT Lab Global Media intends to enrich CE Week with IFA’s strategic show management style. Just as IFA is a core meeting place for key retailers, buyers, and distributors from the industry and the media, CE Week intends to follow the same mantra,” says Eric Schwartz, executive producer of CE Week.
Recently, CE Week introduced the Retailer Meetups – unique networking events that enable leaders from across the consumer tech spectrum to connect, exchange ideas, and build relationships by way of one-on-one meetings. Of those surveyed at the event, 100 percent expected that some or all of the relationships forged at the CE Week Retailer Meetups would be useful to their business in the next 12 months. To add further growth to the Retailer Meetups, IFA said it will add key global retailers, distributors, and buying groups to the event. The Retailer Meetups will be held June 19, the day before CE Week exhibits open.
CE WEEK
20-21 June, 2018
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NY
www.ceweekny.com
