The most familiar pre-EAG comment from exhibitors was that they had “travelled to London for the show with low expectation,” but by the end of day two, there was not one adverse comment to be heard from any of the exhibitors we spoke to.
The bad weather, the previously depressed market place, the uncertainty over the future of the Britain’s Category C machines, had understandably led to the negative thoughts about the show, quite apart from the fears that moving it away from the same week as ICE would be catastrophic.
It would be fair to say that the footfall might not reach 2012 levels, but for all that the turnout on day one was good and day two (usually the better of the three days) could be described as busy. The most important thing, it seems, is the ability of those who made it to ExCeL to spend money. The serious operators were there and they apparently made commitments.
Many had also felt that the show would seriously lack non-UK visitors, but that too was hastily revised. One exhibitor said he’d sold 20 of one particular novelty machine and all of them had been to non-British buyers.
It was, without doubt, the most positive EAG show for some years, with apparently the odds all stacked against it. The organisers must at least feel well satisfied.
