2007 Summer NAMM Show Wraps Up...

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, closed its 2007 Summer NAMM show today at the Austin Convention Center, reporting an overall decrease in registrants from the 2006 summer trade show in Austin, with 12,845 total registrants for the three-day event. Even with the decrease in overall registration, the buyer-to-seller ratio was strong with 2,992 dealers and employees seeing products from and meeting with the 339 exhibiting companies.

"For the thousands of NAMM Members that made the commitment to come to Austin this year, most reported a positive business experience," said Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO. "Many dealers told us they enjoyed the slower-paced quality time with their suppliers as they prepare for the important fall and holiday selling seasons."

Buyers from across the country came to the show to see the latest products for the winter and holiday months from the suppliers.

"I come a long way for the summer show mainly because of the timing of it," said Doug Suther, a buyer from Mojo Music in  Bellingham, Wash. "With Christmas coming, school band season coming, the timing of it is good."

For many of the 80 first-time exhibitors, the 2007 Summer NAMM proved to be a successful experience.

"This is a good venue for first-time exhibitors," said Dan Parks from Cruztools in Standard, Calif. "All the key players for us are here, and therefore we're able to make the kind of business contacts that we wanted to make. We're real happy. And the other thing is that we're introducing a new product line to the music market. We're an established company in the motorcycle industry, but the music market is new to us and we wanted to introduce the products, make sure we're on the right track, make sure this is something we should be doing. And definitely we've verified that we're on the right track."

Overall, the mood was positive among exhibiting companies all the way through show closing on Sunday.

"We were pleasantly surprised by the better-than-expected turnout. We had the opportunity to spend more quality time with a wider variety of independent music retailers, said Dennis Houlihan, president, Roland Corporation U.S. "The atmosphere was positive and we exceeded our sales targets."

"Summer NAMM 2007 in Austin was a great venue to launch the new PeaveyCustomShop.com," said Tony Moscal, marketing manager, Peavey Electronics.

"The show is going great—our first exhibit was at the winter NAMM Show; this is only our second time to exhibit," said Chris Ward of OSP Buyers Group in Fort Smith, Ark. "We've already signed up 25 new dealers this morning in the first few hours. We're very, very happy with the response. I know there's a lot of talk in the industry about do we need two shows. As far as I'm concerned, this is a much more relaxed environment. It allows us to spend more time with people—it really is a good thing."

"We had a great show," said Stef Maffei, product manager, SKB Corporation. "Our booth saw such a great turnout and overall we were really surprised."

"We had a good show," said Brian Swerdfeger, director of product marketing, Taylor Guitars. "It's always great to see our friends and to share our love of guitars and guitar making with all that take the time to visit."

Lamond continued, "NAMM remains true to our guiding principle that as long as there are NAMM Members who want and need this show to keep their businesses strong and growing, NAMM will continue to provide the venue. For us, producing this show is a service decision, not a financial decision. NAMM will announce the timing and location of the 2008 Summer NAMM event in August."

The 2008 NAMM Show will take place Jan. 17–20, 2008, in Anaheim, Calif. For more information about the events related to Summer NAMM, go to www.summernamm.com.