20 Best Lighting Exhibition & Trade Show that You Must Attend in 2019-2020
Why Attending Lighting Exhibition
Numerous lighting exhibitions take place every year in different parts of the world. Cities like Dubai, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Berlin, and Guangzhou host trade fairs that offer the latest in lighting technologies and solutions. For companies, these exhibitions provide an excellent level of exposure where they can assess trends as well as competition. The demonstrations have also become more international to correspond with the growth of the global marketplace. Lighting exhibitions also expose various stakeholders of the market to new innovations including architects, engineers, property developers, and homeowners. Cutting-edge technologies are no longer a preserve of some markets as the global consumer demands dynamic solutions to their ever-changing problems. The top light exhibitions include:
Best Lighting Exhibitions & Trade Shows in 2019 to 2020
1. CES in Las Vegas (Jan 2020) – Best Smart Lighting & Technology Exhibition
CES (Consumer Technology Association) advertises itself as the place to be for all those interested in consumer technologies. It is a launching pad for next-generation innovation to be unveiled to the world’s marketplace. The next exhibition is slated for January 7-10, 2020 in Las Vegas.
The show organized by CES is extensive, thanks to an exhibition space of 2.75 million net square feet. There are eleven venues and 24 product categories. The CES attracts an estimated 180,000 people representing 155 countries in addition to thousands of media personnel.
All of the biggest tech firms in the world congregate in CES every year to exhibit different breakthroughs in various forays. The Smart Home category displays different technologies meant to make homes more smarter including lighting, entertainment systems, and security. The 2018 CES, for example, had companies illustrate their development in smart lights. Many firms featured artistically-shaped light panels which can display details from the internet. CES has a large pool of international companies at the forefront of current technologies, but it is not accessible to the public but rather to the electronics trade and the media. CES registration will be made open in September, and you can fill in your details here for an alert when the announcement is made.
2. Light + Building (Mar 2020) – Top Architectural Lighting Expo in Frankfurt
Light + Building is designed as a stage for the current lighting trends, where the stakeholders in the lighting industry can seek inspiration for construction services technology. This exhibition will run from March 8 to 13, 2020 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and will welcome an estimated 2,700 exhibitors and 220,000 visitors. The event takes place in Messe Frankfurt. Over half of the visitors come from abroad from countries like China, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK.
A variety of products and innovations are presented in Light + Building touching on such areas as LED lighting, insulation controls, decorative lighting, and energy management. The show is specifically organized to tackle products and systems on smart buildings, intelligent sustainability, and people and lights. When registering as an exhibitor, the team at Light + Building will require your business’s product catalog because the stand offer that you will get will be based on the products you want to showcase. See the information for visitors.
3. Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Oct 2019) – Best LED Lighting Trade Show
The Hong Kong International Lighting Fair 2019 is slated for October 27-30, 2019. It will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre situated at 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai. The organizer is the Hong Kong Trade Development Centre, and the admission fee is HK$100 per individual. The primary exhibit categories include smart lighting and solutions, LED essentials, LED lighting, commercial and residential lighting, and testing and certification. The exhibition’s gross area is 70,400 sqm. In 2018, the show attracted 2,724 exhibitors and 44,632 visitors. These visitors descended from 147 nations including USA, Australia, Taiwan, Germany, and India.
The event has two editions namely the spring and autumn editions. The Autumnal edition ranks as the largest lighting fair held in Asia and the second biggest in the world. The event offers an array of opportunities for both visitors and traders. The most extensive product zone in 2018 was LED & Green Lighting zone which had more than 1,100 exhibitors presenting a host of energy-efficient lighting systems and solutions. Registration is open to companies in Hong Kong as well as those from other regions. Every company must declare a product from the ones approved by the fair and which should take up a minimum of 70% of the exhibition space. Find the visitor registration form here.
4. Light Middle East (Oct 2019) – Best Lighting Exhibition in Dubai
The Dubai World Trade Center will receive thousands of exhibitors and visitors on 15-17, October who will converge for the Light Middle East Fair. Dubai is a technological leader in the region and is famously home to the skyscraper the Burj Khalifa. Three hundred thirty-three exhibitors attended the event in 2018 from 30 countries in addition to 5,400 visitors from 86 nations.
Light Middle East is a showstopping event in the region as the spotlight is on urban, retail, theatrical, and architectural lighting. It attracts the top lighting manufacturers, suppliers, and system solution providers. Exhibitors take center stage with their innovative products presented to consultants, architects, developers, and government officials.
The product groups are numerous including lamps, LED, outdoor lighting, floodlights, halogen lamps, and stage lighting. The fair also has interesting competitions. In “Ready, Steady, Light” for example lighting designers, manufacturers, and students battle it out to fix an exterior lighting scheme under equipment, time and budget constraints.
As a visitor, you will get to expand your networks and see the latest trends and solutions in the market. Depending on your budget, you can get the lighting quote with different price ranges. See how to sign up for this lighting exhibition.
5. LIGHTFAIR International (May 2019) in Philadelphia Reviews
Lightfair is recognized as the biggest architectural and commercial lighting exhibition and conference in the world. It takes place annually, and the 2019 edition is being organized for 21-23 May. The fair’s venue is the Pennsylvania Convention Center located in Philadelphia, USA. The event commonly alternates between US cities in the east and west coast. The last time the event happened in Philadelphia was in 2017 where thousands of attendees represented 81 countries. The fair was spread out on an area of 277, 600 net square feet which accommodated 592 exhibitors. Of these companies, 59 were first-time exhibitors while 127 had their headquarters outside of the US.
The exhibition space features pavilions organized around particular product areas such as Global Light and Design, Exterior and Roadway Lighting, Design, and Intelligent Lighting. The fair also has a conference program with over 70 courses on the latest products and technology and current concerns. There are also countless networking and social events to encourage interactions among stakeholders. The fair requires exhibitors to be manufactures of architectural and commercial lighting items, and you can find the registration platform here.
6. CEBIT (Oct 2019) – Best International Innovation Expo
CeBit began as a computing mini-event in the annual Hanover Fair in 1970, but from 1986, it was organized independently since it was straining the fair’s resources substantially. In 2018, CeBit announced that it would not be organizing Germany-based fairs making the 2018 edition the final one. CeBit has however been establishing platforms in other regions, and emerging markets based on its extensive experience in planning for trade shows.
CeBIT is invested in showcasing the best of innovation and digitization. Smart lighting took center stage in the 2018 edition where manufacturers set the trends in modern lighting systems. These systems allow users to use their smartphones and switch the lights on or off using WIFI or Bluetooth. Other innovations present were infrared sensors designed to turn themselves on when you walk in the dark.
CeBIT Australia will be organized in the International Exhibition Center in Sydney from 29-31 October 2019, and you can find the registration guidelines here. The Southeast edition of CeBIT will be held in Thailand from 27-29 November 2019 and will include showcases on smart solutions. Innovation will take center stage in RUSSIA from 25- 27 June 2019 when Cebit is scheduled to take place.
7. Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (June 2019) – Best in China
The 2019 edition of the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition will run from 9-12 June. The event will be based on the theme “Thinklight: Envisage the Next Move” where the organizers will encourage the lighting industry to view the changes as a means of innovation and progression. The exhibition had its 23rd edition in 2018 when 2,602 exhibitors from 22 nations and regions and 165, 998 visitors from 129 nations and regions converged in the Chinese City of Guangzhou.
The show is organized at the China Import and Export Fair or the Canton Fair Complex. Companies present the latest solutions for urban, hospitality, residential, transport, retail, and office use. The fair ranks as the largest lighting exhibition & LED in the Asian region. It is headed by the Frankfurt-based Light + Building. The exhibition is also Asia’s most influential events of its kind. It is a professional platform where new business opportunities are created both within and out of the traditional spheres. Every year, the event sets the stage for the most cutting-edge designs in the world’s market in lighting and LED.
As an exhibitor, the event will make you aware of the direction of the Asian lighting market. All the information you need to rent a booth is here. For visitors, you can follow this link to sign up for this exciting expo.
8. NAB Show in Las Vegas (April 2019) – Top-rated Studio Lighting Exhibition Review
The NAB Show is slated for April 6-11, 2019 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show is recognizable for its tagline of “Where Content Comes to Life.” Products displayed in the show range from satellite technologies, photography lights and grips, software products, antennas, interactive television, transmitters and towers, motion capture gadgets, cameras and lenses, and post-production hardware. The event seeks to exhibit the most advanced technologies and solutions to make life easier.
If you are a practicing expert in the media and entertainment sector, you will stumble upon a range of products to assist you in creating, delivering, and monetizing your content. The show welcomes over 100K attendees from more than 160 countries and over 1,700 exhibitors. Technological developments in LED and broadcast studio and mobile field lighting are some of the product categories popularly displayed by lighting exhibitors.
The convention center that will hold the show is one of the most functional meeting spaces in the world. The structure sits on 3.2 million square foot of space and surrounding it are over 100,000 guest rooms. Register here to attend the NAB Show.
9. EDS (May 2019)
EDS is a leadership summit which brings together the leading representatives, manufacturers, and distributors in the electronics components industry. These top decision makers converge to build businesses, reset objectives, and discuss new opportunities. These discussions take the form of informal interactions, event functions, and high-stakes meetings. The show will run from 7- 10 May 2019 in Mirage, Las Vegas. EDS is a joint collaboration by the Electronics Representative Association International and the Electronics Components Industry Association.
About 4000 individuals attend the summit, divided fairly evenly among representatives, manufacturer’s suppliers, and distributors. EDS prides in incredibly market penetration as it attracts 80% of the target market of the firms involved in electronic components distribution.
There are a lot of products displayed in the lighting category including LEDs, lamps, and indicator lights.
Distributors and representatives part with $60 for badges, although the association members will have already paid for the registration through their association dues. The Show Corporation give manufacturers enough badges for the staff attending EDS. The core goal of EDS is to encourage valuable idea exchange and to expose game-altering trends. See the registration guidelines for EDS.
10. IFA (Sep 2019) – Best Consumer Electronics Expo in Berlin
The IFA Berlin will be held in Messe Berlin on 6-11 September 2019. It is among the most visited as well as the oldest of European industrial exhibitions. The show is also the largest trade fair in the world when it comes to consumer electronics and home appliances.
The 2018 edition of the show attracted 245,000 visitors. Of these attendees, about 150,000 were trade visitors, half of whom were from abroad. These numbers marked a record attendance among international visitors and spoke to the event’s significance to global retailers and brands. The order volumes for deals reached in the IFA was estimated at 4.7 billion euros.
The exhibitors totaled to 1,814 covering an exhibition area of 161,200 square meters. The exhibition was organized in two building, both of which were fully booked namely The Berlin Exhibition Grounds and STATION-Berlin in Gleisdreieck. Speaking of the show’s success, the CEO of Messe Berlin, Dr.Christian Göke, spoke of the importance of co-innovation in technology which is what the IFA is designed to stimulate. The deadline for application for IFA 2019 WAS January 15, 2019. Visitor tickets can be found here.
Don’t have time to attend the lighting trade show or want to save on your travel or accomodation costs? Contact us for free lighting advise today.
11. Light India (Oct 2020) – Top Decorative & Commercial Lighting Trade Show
Light India is a globally acclaimed lighting trade show held in India. Its organization is credited to Messe Frankfurt in collaboration with the Electric Lamp & Component Manufacturers’ Association of India (ELCOMA). The show is slated for 15 to 17th October 2020 in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan
The 4th edition of the exhibition was held in 2018, and it attracted 9,479 visitors from more than 20 nations. 40% of these visitors were dealers and distributors, 13% were lighting designers and engineers, and 7% were architects. The visitors were interested in various lighting aspects including technical lighting, LED, outdoor lighting, and decorative lighting. The exhibitors were 193, and they occupied a gross exhibition area of 13,738 sqm. 49.3% of these exhibitors were Indian while the rest were from different countries.
Light India has built a reputation as a stage for lighting trends and innovation. It also aims at creating a networking platform where people can swap information and grow organically. As an exhibitor, you can choose between the standard and raw packages. The product categories include LED, lamps, decorative, luminaires, and lamps. The exhibition hopes to showcase products of high quality and performance and which are low-priced and low maintenance. See also the registration information for visitors.
12. LuxLive (Nov 2019) – Largest Lighting Event in London, UK
LuxLive prides itself in being the biggest lighting event held yearly in Europe. The 2019 edition is set to unfold in ExCel London, London from 13-14 November. One of the initiatives of the edition is to recognize and celebrate the innovation and creativity in lighting in “Heroes of Innovation.” Visitors will also get to interact with the new technologies disrupting the traditional working environment. The demonstration area will feature topics around the dynamic rules and regulation affecting emergency lighting practices. Leading speakers in the lighting industry will also grace the show floor.
More than 6,000 buyers visited the 2018 edition of the event representing 69 nations. This community was noted to have high purchasing power, and they were interested in discovering cutting-edge and inspiring products and solutions.
LuxLive caters to the needs of players in the lighting supply chain from specifiers and buyers to component manufacturers and wholesalers. The exhibition aims to encourage technology evolution and also initiate debates on the current market trends while creating learning platforms on best practice. The event’s organizer is Revo Media who also organize the Lux Awards in lighting. The visitor registration form can be filled here.
13. LED Expo Thailand (Jun 2019) Reviews – Best LED Trade Show in Thailand
LED Expo Thailand 2019 will be focused on the science, technology, and use of LEDs and solid-state lighting. The show promotes itself a hub for LED/lighting firms to meet, partner, transact, discuss, and learn about neighboring LED markets. The expo will run from 27 to 29 June, 2019. Thailand is strategically located among its ASEAN neighbors, and it enables access to the Greater Mekong sub-region.
Over 250 companies will set up exhibition booths on 15000 sqm in the Impact Exhibition & Convention Center Bangkok. The fair’s product categories include residential lighting, solar LED, smart lighting, LED signage and displays, commercial and factory lighting, manufacturing equipment, and components, and outdoor lighting.
The local and international buyers are estimated at 15,000 from 47 visiting countries. These stakeholders include architectural firms, hotels and resorts, interior designers, stadium and sports facilities, government agencies, shopping malls, transportation hubs, and engineering companies.
LED and lighting industry leaders will hold sessions in the course of the exhibition to sensitize the sector’s professionals on the emerging technologies. There will also be a lighting demonstration zone where exhibitors will organize shows on advanced lighting systems and solutions. Exhibitors and local buyers will get a chance to network during the BOI (Build Department) conference. For visitors interested in smart lighting, there will be a zone dedicated to highlighting the innovations revolutionizing factory, street, and building lighting. To register for LED Expo Thailand, fill in your company’s details in their home page.
14. Malaysia International Sign & LED Exhibition (July 2019)
The 2019 edition of the Malaysia International Sign & LED Exhibition will run from 18-21 July. It will be situated at Kuala Lumpur’s Putra World Trade Center. This center is fitted with the latest exhibition facilities making it the ideal setting for the biggest exhibition in Malaysia. The show has reserved 5,000 sqm of space in the PWTC. The expo has been running since 1998 and has carved for itself a reputation as the place to be to experience the developments in the signage, LED, and advertising industries. One of the major endorsers for the exhibition is the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation.
The lighting categories guiding exhibitors include LED light, LED display, and LED illuminant. In 2017, 10,090 local visitors marked attendance in the show, and an additional 1,284 foreign visitors were also present. The top represented nations were China, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Taiwan. Exhibitors will rent a bare space in which they can arrange their own designs and construction. Visitor registration can be done here.
15. Expo Lighting America (Mar 2019)
Expo Lighting America is organized as an annual hub highlighting knowledge, experience, and innovation of light in Mexico. The three-day event will run from 5-7, March 2019 in Centro Citibanamex in Mexico. ELA prides in being a platform where exhibitors can grow and create networks with the most representative lighting professionals, both local and international. It highlights the continuous progress in the lighting industry of not only Mexico but the larger Latin America as well. ELA congregates top brands, designers, engineers, and project managers.
The exhibition floor will feature products and solutions dedicated to architectural lighting, commercial, decorative, exterior, office, alternative energy, entertainment, and energy efficiency. The décor lighting zone will showcase the major brands in decorative lighting and designs focused on enhancing spaces with their aesthetics. The smart pavilion will bring together different stakeholders keen on the development of intelligent lighting. An additional setting for new talents will shed the spotlight on the creations of young design enterprises and independent designers.
This exhibition is the only one to implement a sustainable approach to hosting an event fully. It will use wind farms situated in Oaxaca to compensate the entire carbon footprint created in the course of the show. The exhibitors are estimated to be more than 500 in addition to thousands of visitors.
16. LEDucation (Mar 2020)
LEDucation was first organized in 2007 as a LED-only exhibition, and it has since grown to the biggest show of its nature in the US. Its organization is done by the Designers Lighting Forum of New York. The exhibition intends to be the premier marketplace for innovations in solid-state lighting as well as a platform for industry professionals to witness new technologies and access relevant information. It is a non-profit event as well, and its proceeds are channeled towards funding LED-related grants, programs, and scholarships.
The event will run from 17 to 18 March 2020 in New York’s Hilton Midtown. There will be over 275 exhibitors showcasing the current LED technologies to about 6,000 attendees. The expo has reserved three exhibition areas. A third exhibition area was necessitated by overwhelming demand from the volume of companies on the waiting list. It will be focused on Controls and Components and will add 16,398 square feet to the exhibition space.
17. Kenya LIGHTEXPO (July 2019 – Top-rated Public Lighting Trade Show in East Africa
LIGHTEXPO Africa will be setting foot in East Africa in 2019. The event, to be held in Kenya, will feature an impressive range of products and services in the lighting industry. The Kenyatta International Convention Center, situated in Nairobi, will host the expo. It will run from 4-6 July 2019. The exhibition has support from the East African Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture as well as Kenya’s Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development. LIGHTEXPO previously branched out from BUILD EXPO and it is the only show of its kind in the East African market.
The region’s lighting industry is progressing towards globalization, and there is a growing need for international products. Reduced import duty has further boosted the need for these high-quality items and solutions. As an exhibitor, you will interact with high-level consumers in the African market.
The categories identified by the expo are numerous including indoor and public lighting, lamps, dynamic lighting, interior illumination, architectural lighting, marine lighting, intelligent controls, display technologies, theatrical lighting, street lighting, multi-room solutions and control systems. Registration is open and can be easily accessed here.
18. Light & LED Asia (Sep 2019) – Exhibition for Innovative LED Lighting
Light & LED Asia is centered around four objectives. First, it seeks to create an avenue for the industry to network and interact. The show also intends to generate more business opportunities for the local market by bringing the national and global industry in one place. It further aims to highlight innovation by showcasing innovative LED systems. Lastly, Light & LED Asia seeks to open doors for new technologies.
Light & LED Asia is being organized by Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan.
The event is slated for 17-19 September 2019 in Pakistan at the Karachi Expo Centre. Pakistan’s government has been encouraging the growth of the industries with the most promise. Investors will, therefore, have a chance to witness the country’s and region’s consumer electronics sector. The exhibition will welcome over 250 exhibitors displaying innovative products. It is appropriately organized at a time when the demand for lights & LED systems has been increasing in tandem with changing lifestyles.
The primary categories for the fair are decorative lighting, LED Signage & Displays, and LED. The exhibit area is 18,000 sqm in size. The show’s target visitors include airport developers, lighting specifiers, stage lighting, corporates, lighting consultants, renewable energy departments, and stadium & sports authorities. Visitors will get to experience the latest technologies under one roof, interact with peers, make informed buying decisions, and watch live demos. VIsitor registration form can be accessed here.
19. LED & Laser Diode Technology EXPO (Jan 2020)
The LED & Laser Diode Technology EXPO is scheduled for 15-17 January 2020 in Japan at the Tokyo Big Sight. The exhibiting companies will include those involved in LEDs and Laser Diodes. The event is among the seven shows comprising NEPCON Japan. These fields are all related to electronics manufacturing. The total attendees to the 2019 Tokyo’s show of NEPCON were 64,508, most of whom are involved in quality control, research and development, and sales and marketing. These statistics reflect the high-level users that attend the event and the advantages exhibitors stand to gain. 2,528 exhibitors graced the fair in 2019 from 37 nations including UK, Argentina, Singapore, Poland, Japan, Hong Kong.
The LED & Laser Diode Technology EXPO will offer immense support to the exhibitors by giving them complimentary tickets to send to customers as well as potential consumers. Your company name will also be displayed on the official Directory which is regularly accessed by industry professionals. This expo is recognized as the largest show for LED & Laser Diode technologies in Japan. A huge chunk of the attendee pool is engineers from manufacturers of lighting fixtures, optical equipment, and display panels. Visit their registration page.
20. Inalight Exhibition Indonesia (Apr 2019)
The Inalight Exhibition Indonesia is among the most influential trade shows in ASEAN’s light industry. The 6th edition is scheduled for 4-6 April 2019 at the JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event enjoyed great success in 2018 by attracting 628 firms from 30 nations and 19,137 trade visitors representing over 30 countries. It has been organized by the Global Expo Management Indonesia.
Exhibitors can launch new services, gain global exposure, observe competition, and increase their sales. Indonesia strategically houses 40% of the ASEAN market, and it ranks as Southeast Asia’s largest lighting market. The country’s population has purchased energy-saving lamps in a total of 320 million units. The government is intent on developing power generation in Indonesia which will revolutionize the light industry among other industries. The exhibition will, therefore, present endless opportunities for exhibitors. The INALIGHT categories include lighting application, lighting controls & solutions, LED chips and packaging, compact fluorescent lamps, and architectural and landscape lighting. The smart lighting zone comprises products like smart switches, smart lighting solution, smart plug and outlets, and smart lighting IOT.
The Inalight Exhibition is set to host 650 exhibitors on a space of 15,000 sqm. The projected number of attendees is 25,000. An exhibitor can choose to rent floor space only where they will get a minimum space of 24 sqm. The standard package includes nine sqm of an area, carpet flooring, Fascia name of the firm, folding chair, fluorescent tubes, round table, wall shelving, wastebasket, and reception table.
What Should I Prepare Before Attending the Lighting Trade Shows
Lighting trade shows sponsored by established vendors, industry moguls, and certified associations, more often than not, present both buyers as well as sellers with lucrative opportunities. These trade shows are knowledge hubs where people get the chance to learn about new and innovative technologies, fraternize with global industry experts, and hone their understanding of current and new launches. Potential buyers can also attend demonstrations by interested sellers, compare different products and then make an informed decision about where they want to put their money. Exhibitors, at these shows, are focused on signing as many on-site contracts as possible, and thus, bagging a good deal or finding a great bargain isn’t all that difficult.
All of the aforementioned reasons simply outweigh any reason you might have for not attending a trade show. However, attending a lighting trade show requires some beforehand planning. Turning up without an elaborately planned schedule will most certainly lead to a day completely wasted. Lighting trade shows are also such expansive events that covering every pop-up is virtually impossible. Similarly, while there are countless seminars and knowledge sessions to be attended, physically being present everywhere all the time is an art human being do not know.
It is, thus, not surprising that one of the recurrent questions we keep getting asked is: As a visitor, what should I prepare for the lighting trade shows?
Now, we will cover the 9 most important things you should check on your list before you leave to attend a lighting trade show.
1. Pre-Register for the Show
True, that not all shows require tickets to enter, but most do. As a matter of fact, if the lighting trade show you are planning to attend is a coveted event backed by powerful brands and illustrious names, chances are you will need a ticket to enter. For most lighting trade shows, tickets can be bought online from a partner website. However, make sure to confirm your attendance well in advance, you do not want to see a ‘sold-out’ sign.
2. Enter with a Smart Sheet
Being ubiquitous is an art man doesn’t know. As said before, it is impossible to cover all brands exhibiting at a lighting trade show. Thus, prioritizing is the key. Start by scanning the exhibit line up and making a list of all the brands you want to cover. Allocate time and stick to the schedule. This way, you will be able to make the most of your day.
3. Make Appointments
Trade shows are a busy time for brand representatives, influencers and bloggers. People are constantly lining to meet these people and find answers to questions troubling them. It is, thus, always a good idea to make appointments in advance. This way, you won’t be left waiting in the queue the entire day. Similarly, if there is a seminar, information session or after-party you wish to attend, pre-registering is always a good idea.
4. Book Your Air Tickets and Get Your Visa Sorted in Advance
Confession: when I am to attend a lighting exhibition, I book my tickets at least a month in advance. Lighting exhibitions are important events, with people from various parts of the country attending. If you delay booking your air tickets, chances are airfares will go up in the days leading up to the event and getting an air ticket will burn a hole in your pocket. Likewise, if you are traveling to another country to attend a lighting trade show, apply for a visa as early as possible. While you can apply for a visa yourself, I recommend using a professional visa service provider to avoid any hassles. Also, make sure your passport is valid for another six months.
5. Book Your Accommodation
If you start looking for accommodation options three days prior to the actual event, chances are you will not find anything within a 5-mile radius of the venue. Brands start prepping for trade shows at least 6 to 8 months in advance and book accommodations for their representatives well before the event. If you are planning to attend a lighting trade show, make sure to book your accommodation well in advance so that you can pick a locality close to the venue of the show.
6. Arrange for a Pick-up and Drop
With buyers and sellers frequenting in an out of the airport, the city, especially the district, hosting a lighting trade show becomes a busy place. In such a case, finding a taxi may become difficult, especially if your flight lands at an odd hour. Thus, it is also advisable to arrange for a pick-up and drop to avoid any inconvenience.
7. Carry a Lux Meter
If you are a buyer and plan to spend some hard-earned money, make sure you are carrying a lux meter. Directly looking at the brightest flood lights would be blinding. Ideally, you would want to carry a portable lux meter with data logging capabilities and accuracy of around 3%. This way, you will be able to record readings and compare them before making the final purchase.
8. A High FPS Camera Is Another Must
From traditional incandescent lights to LED bulbs, almost all lights register some amount of flickering. Flickering is hard to detect. At lighting exhibitions, buyers must try their best to buy lights with almost imperceptible flickering. The trick is to avoid buying lights whose flicker frequency is higher than the refresh rate of the FPS camera being used. If you do not have professional equipment, a smartphone having 240 fps or 960 fps slow-motion camera can also help.
9. Do Not Forget to Fit in a Pair of Anti-Glare Glasses in Your Backpack
From backlit lights and spotlights to gigantic chandeliers and lights that have a blinding effect, at lighting trade shows, one is expected to encounter all kinds of lights. It is, thus, a good idea to go prepared. Carry a pair of anti-glare glasses. The reflective coating on the lenses of these glasses will protect you from unwanted reflections, thereby allowing a clear vision.
Bonus Tips: Carry Some Cash
At many lighting exhibitions, exhibitors sell the bulky light fixtures at the end of the exhibition for a much cheaper price, simply because shipping them back is a cumbersome and costly process. If you are good at haggling and have some ready money, you might get successful at buying these at 30% to 70% of the original rate.
By following tips, you can ensure that your hard-earned money is being well spent and is going in the right product and not in pockets of the vendors.