ISA International Sign Expo Recap

The International Sign Association (ISA) is calling its 2009 International Sign Expo its best show ever, despite facing what are daunting economic odds. Nearly 18,000 participants from 92 countries met at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas for the expo. The exhibit hall featured 500 companies, staffing nearly 1,600 exhibit booths.

According to ISA SVP of Trade Shows Brian McNamara, many found success at the expo.”Our exhibitors have overwhelmingly reported strong business leads, and many saw their sales projections exceeded early on at the show,” he said.

ISA announced the launch of its International Sign Academy at the show, a new program providing year-round education, workforce training and professional development for the sign industry. More information is at www.signs.org/signacademy.

The show also presented the inaugural New Product Showcase, which featured the latest in innovative sign technologies, highlighting exhibiting companies’ most recent products. More than 200 attendees voted on the “Coolest New Product.” Tred Displays (Albuquerque, New Mexico) won for its iN-Series Reflective Digital Display Panels.
The new Lowen Certified Wrap-Off took place on the exhibit hall floor and drew a large crowd. This contest was produced by the Lowen Corporation, in conjunction with ISA.

The wrap-off allowed 48 professional vehicle-wrap installers compete for prizes, including a Ford F-250 truck. The grand prize winner was Dustin Shelley-Newnan, with It’s a Wrap Graphics, Inc.

ISA President and CEO Lori Anderson noted, “To experience a show of this magnitude in the midst of what has been a monumental economic crisis, speaks volumes on a robust and resilient sign industry.”