After an independent audit confirmed a record-breaking SALTEX attendance at the NEC, the show’s visitor survey has now revealed a fascinating insight into the 8,909 who attended.
With over 300 exhibitors and more show features than ever before it is perhaps no surprise that an incredible 89 percent of SALTEX 2017 visitors rated their overall SALTEX experience as being either very good or excellent.
The majority of the visitors were aged between 31 and 60 and represented a wide variety of businesses and organisations – with sports clubs, local authorities, and schools, colleges, and universities leading the way.
In further exploring the type of sports or recreation facility that the visitors were responsible for maintaining, football led the way closely followed by golf, parks, cricket, rugby, and tennis.
More than 70 percent of visitors held a senior position within their respective companies and over 80 percent of them were either solely responsible or contributed to the purchasing process.
Almost 60 percent attended SALTEX with a view to buying and 40 percent said that they placed orders on the show floor.
In terms of product categories they were interested in:
- Machinery, power and hand tools – 84 percent
- Seeds, turf, aggregates, and treatments – 49 percent
- Sports surfaces, facilities, and equipment – 43 percent
- Arboriculture and horticulture – 40 percent
- Landscaping and materials – 38 percent
Primarily, attendees came to search for innovations and new products while 84 percent said they attended due to the number and mix of exhibitors. 67 percent said they attended SALTEX with the main objective of networking; 74 percent said the location of the show was a determining factor in their decision to attend and nearly 50 percent of attendees made use of their visit for training and educational opportunities.
Whatever their reasons for attending, an overwhelming 92 percent of SALTEX 2017 visitors said that they were successful in meeting their objectives.
SALTEX continues to attract an international audience and a large proportion of European visitors attended from countries such as Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Czech Republic and Spain. Further afield, visitors from Sri Lanka, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia also made the journey to the NEC.
Located in the centre of the country and easily accessible by car, train, bus and even airplane, it was no surprise that visitors attended from every corner of the UK. In particular, the counties of Warwickshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and London recorded a huge number of visitors.
SALTEX 2018 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham on 31 October and 1 November, and 92 percent of SALTEX 2017 visitors concluded the survey by indicating that they will be returning.
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