Judging NSS by the numbers

Will they? Won’t they?

That seems to be the question floating around vendor offices these days as people try to guess if buyers will head to New York in May for the National Stationery Show. Will they go? Or will they stay home?

To quell you Doubting Thomas types out there, here’s something to chew on:

Between March 10 and March 17, more than 900 first time buyers registered for show badges.

Yes. One week. First-time attendees. All new. All determined. All ready to see product.

Of course, they’re only part of the 43,000 badges being mailed out, beginning April 8th, which includes attendees of the last two years’ shows (not a decade’s worth, as naysayers trying to promote these numbers as inflated claim).

Somehow, I don’t think 900+ in a single week counts as a hiccup.

The other thought to mull over is how your retailers perceive the incessant “Are you? Are you? Are you?” coming from vendors and reps. As a west coast retailer put it,

“Don’t they realize it sounds like they’re doubting our decision to go? If they plan to show, then show. If they don’t, then don’t. But stop asking me about it. It’s not my responsibility to help them figure out if it’s worth their time to be there.”

So…can we please stop with the negativity and dour “glass half empty” schtick? ‘Cause lemme tell ya…retailers are sick and tired of it.

There. Done. Climbing off my soapbox.

* Numbers courtesy of George Little Management