HARMONY FOR 2019 AUSTRALIAN HI-FI SHOWS
The tale of two shows, one city, as far as Hi-Fi Shows went in 2018 may have been fantastic for Melbourne enthusiasts, but proved undesirable to the Australian industry.
Misunderstandings between the established Chester Group's Australian Hi-Fi & AV Show and the StereoNET organised Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show, unfortunately only compounded the problem. The unfortunate situation even made the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
Competition in all types of business is to be expected and is great for the consumer, but with exhibitions and shows, the outcome only confuses the market, particularly when the shows are held in similar locations and dates.
Without the strong support of exhibitors who may elect to withhold from either or both shows, the quality of the show for attendees can be compromised.
The good news is that show organisers, Chester Group and StereoNET, have managed to 'come to the table', and together resolved to find a more workable solution for 2019.
After several declared changes to show locations for its next show, Chester Group will continue with its plans for Sydney in 2019, leaving the door open for StereoNET to ensure Melbourne remains to be served by a show.
That means Australia will have two Hi-Fi Shows in 2019, but they will be held in different cities and each one will maintain its unique offering with exclusive brands and overall show models.
The Chester Group organised Australian Hi-Fi & AV Show will be held at the Novotel Sydney Central on the 2nd - 4th August 2019, a date it has favoured for each of its Sydney shows.
The StereoNET Melbourne Hi-Fi Show will be held at its traditional Pullman Hotel venue in Albert Park on the 18th - 20th October 2019, a week later than its 2018 show date, avoiding a repeat clash with the Melbourne Marathon.
The mutually agreed dates ensure a workable gap between each of the two shows of around three months to help exhibitors with funding and planning, provides a decent break between shows for visitors and allows new products to become available on the market.
It was also mutually agreed by show organisers that there is a need for a broader audience and a show emphasis on quality, not quantity, as without this the true value for this type of exhibition will suffer.
StereoNET and Chester Group remain as separately managed companies, but with two common objectives, to work in ‘Harmony’ and in the best interests of the Australian industry.
A win-win for Australia's Hi-Fi Shows in 2019.
Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
Posted in: Industry | StereoNET | HiFi Show
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