CES 2009 Shrinks With Dwindling Economy

nandemoari writes "Not long after we first heard murmurs Microsoft may be ready to lay off as much as 17 per cent of its workforce, the popular Consumer Electronics Show, held every year in Las Vegas, is rumored to be shrinking alongside the global economy. The Consumer Electronics Association, host of the CES, estimates that the numbers of both exhibitors and visitors will be down in 2009. The CEA expects about 130,000 people will attend this year, down 11,000 from last year. And about 2,700 exhibitors are expected to attend, down from 3,000 in 2008."

Comments

... In inverse proportion to Homeland Security

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a U.S. citizen who has been residing abroad for the last several years. One thing I have noticed, in speaking with friends from all over the world, is how much more difficult it is to attend family ad professional functions in the US. People have to apply for transit visas, they have to get fingerprinted, have more and more data entered into federal databases. More and more people seem to being denied entry, too. I've heard of nominees for the Latin Grammies who were denied entry because they were coming from Cuba, Europeans who were denied entry because they overstayed a visa a decade ago by two days. Other governments are getting more hostile to travellers, too; please don't get me wrong. (rant=on)However, the US goes a magnitude beyond most other Western governments. The UK seems to be the only other western country that treats business persons, shoppers, etc., whose only fault is being born on the wrong side of an arbitrary line in the sand, like criminals.
Of course because non-citizens can't vote, it's next to impossible to get this reported in media in the US, and policy will not loosen anytime soon. Of course, policymakers don't realize how much this hurts trade relations, tourism, etc.

So what?

[MikeUW]

The lack of unabated growth in everything we do is not necessarily a sign of some impending doom.

Our culture seems to have this mentality that it's a bad thing whenever something isn't consumed more, or more popular this year than the last. But at some point in the long run, if it doesn't stop, things will be far worse. It's okay if fewer people don't go to CES this year...there's still next year. Plus can't people keep up-to-date online? Isn't that what the digital age is all about?

If you need a reality check re. growth, watch this professor's summary of how continuing growth is ultimately going to hurt us (as most of us at least recognize in an arms-length, academic way): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY

The video is 8 parts (sorry) and mostly focused on energy/economy, but it's pretty interesting/eye-opening. Most people already recognize these issues, but mostly at an arms-length, academic level. This video really brings reality of our future into focus.

Re:So what?

[MikeUW]

You should maybe watch the video then...growth (in its various forms) has more implications on our future than just economics (i.e., survival). Economics has little purpose if the day comes around that we have no oil or energy left without sufficient alternatives (leaving us with severly limited productivity/mobility), no food to feed billions, and/or no safe climate to live in.

I've minored economics...it's a great subject, but as a predictor of the future, it's no better than a weather forecast...that is, it's only moderately accurate in the short term. What I think economics does best is fill-in blanks to explain past trends and observations (e.g., by allocating fictional/hypothetical values like 'opportunity cost' to explain why people make one choice over another), with the hopes of modelling what might happen in the future.

I wouldn't argue that we shouldn't take indicators into account in our decisions. But lets say this was the last CES, or the tech sector were to 'crumble'. If that happens, something else will take its place - unless we all collectively decide to sit around on our asses moping about the situation.

Re:So what?

[jlarocco]

Wow, thanks. Very interesting videos.

Re:It's the price of success

[knutkracker]

You don't have Whirlpool fanboys or people who endless post on the Internet on the virtues of push fit versus compression joints.

Welcome to the internet. Please be sure to familiarise yourself with the safety information provided before posting such a silly idea again.

Re:i'm suprised it's not more

[value_added]

In volatile market, only stable investment is porn!

A member of my family is a big name Hollywood director/producer. I asked him the other day how the economic downturn is affecting his industry. During the Depression the entertainment industry did fairly well, so I expected to hear things were fine.

Turns out I was wrong. Hollywood is hit as hard as everyone else. I'd expect the porn industry to be the same.

Re:Trade shows are less relevant

[LynnwoodRooster]

This is EXACTLY the correct answer. One of my larger CE clients is forgoing CES and NAMM this year. Why? They got a bigger marketing return from hosting a $300,000 invite-only party at the Hard Rock Hotel in July 2008, than from spending an equivalent amount of money at the 2008 CES and Winter NAMM shows...

.
Dollars are still flowing, they're just going to either smaller/up-and-coming shows, or to private/direct shows and efforts. CES has been about 3 times too big for the last 10 years; there is simply too MUCH of CES to make it relevant for most people, dealers, etc.

Best to break it in to about 5 different shows: Computers (bring back a real COMDEX), audio/video, telecom (including the 9,000 cell phone accessories guys on the 2nd floor of the convention center), home automation (really belongs at CEDIA anyway), and mobile electronics (which may be a better fit at SEMA).

When your show takes half the LV Hilton, 1/3rd of the Venetian, the Sands Convention Center, the entire LV Convention Center, and hundreds of additional off-site presentation and demo spaces, it's just too big. Running your own bus system for conventioneers should have been the first clue!