Although trade shows have been going on for centuries, they started becoming more frequent in the 1960s as many trade associations were forming or expanding. It became standard for each industry to have associations and annual trade shows, which help showcase and execute marketing strategies. Many trade shows also showcase new industry products with live demonstrations. Successful trade shows attract thousands of attendees and media coverage. The trade show industry is represented by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.
- Although trade shows go back to ancient times, the concept of modern trade shows evolved from European Fairs. Starting in the 1600s, guilds were formed in England to train apprentices in specific industries. As guilds spread across America in the 1800s, they formed the basis of trade associations, which inevitably became the architects of trade shows.
- As the Industrial Revolution expanded the world of merchants and products, retail department store chains began to spread in the 19th century across the globe. Factories and the concept of mass production created new business needs for efficient mass marketing of products.
- Between the 1850s and World War II, world's fairs were a popular way to showcase new science and technology for millions of spectators. Historians cite a series of influential world's fairs in the late 19th century that shaped modern trade shows. The first of these influential fairs was the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851, which attracted 6 million people. The Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 drew 10 million. Perhaps the most influential fair was the 1893 World's Columbia Exposition in Chicago,which popularized midway rides and showcased leading architects of the day.
- In the early 1900s there were only about 100 trade associations in America. This number grew steadily during the first half of the century, but beginning in the 1960s there was a rapid expansion of associations representing existing industries and new industries created by new technology. Over a third of all associations formed in America were formed in the late 1960s. This expansion led to a surge in trade shows and conventions for practically every industry. By 2004 there were over 80,000 trade associations in America, attracting over 21 million people to trade shows.
- By 2009 one of the largest North American trade shows for several years had been the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The show features exhibitions from the biggest names of the tech industry who introduce their new products. In 2009 there were 2,700 exhibitors. The show attracts over 100,000 attendees every year. Even bigger trade shows include INTERMAT in Paris for the construction industry and the New York International Auto Show every spring, which in 2009 attracted over a million attendees at the Jacob Javitz Center.
- The most modern form of trade show has become the virtual trade show, which offers the same presentations except online with web conferences, seminars and demonstrations. The virtual trade show concept is appealing to international travelers since it eliminates travel and lodging fees. Successful examples of these shows include College Week Live and E Com Xpo.
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