NEC demonstrates the power of integration at the 2011 Showcase
NEC Solutions Showcase at London’s Battersea Power Station
London, 8 th April 2011 - The NEC Showcase has once again proved the success of its unique nature, by providing a platform focused on solutions rather than technology to create a compelling medium for growth within the displays industry. Held at the Battersea Power Station, this year’s show attracted a great mix of end users, partners and providers from across a variety of sectors. These included big corporate names such as HSBC, O2, M&S, Odeon and BAA; as well as digital media organisations including clearchannel, JC Decaux and subTV, alongside representation from over 15 universities. Exhibiting partners were delighted to get face to face with so many big players and consultants, distributors, resellers and integrators such as Impact, Electrosonic and Reflex were also drawn to the event, which offered excellent networking opportunities whilst increasing awareness of potential applications.
“The NEC Showcase once again highlighted that there is a need for an integrated display solutions show where the industry market leaders can work together in showing fully integrated solutions to channel and end customers alike” said Simon Jackson, VP for NEC Display Solutions. “We enjoyed the support of 32 Solutions Partners at the Showcase this year and on some solutions we had five different Partners collaborating.”
With a total visitor attendance of 555, this year’s Showcase boasted double the number attending in 2010 when the Showcase took place at the BBC Studios, and firmly established the show as a key industry event. Paul Milligan of AV Magazine posted on Twitter ‘Amazing turnout here, half the AV industry is here! Which is even more impressive given it's Prolight+Sound today as well’.
Alun Williams who was demonstrating SMART solutions at the event was impressed by the number of corporate end users he was able to reach out to. “We have the facilities to demo product at Steljes, but by attending the NEC Showcase we can generate great corporate contacts,” commented Williams. “I cannot think of any other manufacturer who could pull together such a diverse portfolio of solutions allowing visitors to focus on solutions rather than technology.”
Also partnering in the Showcase, Scala’s Damon Crowhurst witnessed the quality of solutions in the market place, seeing the industry players “raising their game.” He was pleased with the number of end users at the event, “all those with big RFPs are here today,” he said. Many other partners confirmed a high level of lead generation, Steve Greenall, Sales Director at Vbrick said “whilst we have spoken to many people we already know today, we have made many more new contacts with genuine opportunities.”
The event also provided an opportunity for NEC to reach out to the channel and demonstrate to previously non-NEC resellers that the company offers good value and is price competitive. Reseller Leapfrog AV flew down from Manchester to attend the event and “made new friends at NEC.”
Neil Goodman, Chief Technology Officer at The Institute for Strategic Studies described the Showcase as “surprising.” He went on to explain: “I have discovered applications which I had not thought of before today and have found that NEC’s product solutions offer extremely good value.” There was a general feeling that NEC’s inherent and undoubted quality no longer held the inaccessible price tag but offered real value for money.
For the first time, the Showcase offered seminars by partnering with ‘The Screen’. Lisa Goldstein who co-ordinated the speakers said they were “delighted to have matched very appropriate seminars for this audience.” Many attendees commented on the quality of the speakers. Martine Dodwell-Bennett attended the Education seminar about which she said: “It has helped me to form our messaging with regards to 3D and will help us (Steljes) to address the hurdles as seen by users in that marketplace.”
Without exception, attendees were highly impressed by the iconic London venue. Tours were operated throughout the day where visitors donned hard hats and boots and were led by a passionate Battersea Power Station guide through the cavernous cathedral to power, up the Directors stairs to the original control room. An awesome contrast to today’s technology in the showroom below - row upon row of dials, levers and knobs resides as a shrine to 1930s engineering. Visitors who arrived in style to the event courtesy of the free shuttle bus service were also impressed by the efficiency of the historic Routemaster buses – beauty in technology.
Creating a renewed buzz within the industry, NEC, its Solutions Partners, Channel Partners, Customers and Prospective Customers have truly benefited from the Showcase in a variety of ways, all of which have positively contributed to the growth of the industry which can only be good news for all.
Japanese Earthquake
As a Japanese-based company, the whole of NEC Corporation and its staff was and still is indirectly impacted by the earthquake and resultant tsunami that struck the region on 11 March, 2011. All divisions of the company, including NEC Display Solutions Europe, are coordinating efforts to raise funds in order to assist the relief and recovery process of those affected.
NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH has its European headquarters in Munich, Germany and is responsible for all business activities in EMEA, divided into the five sales regions Northern Europe, Central and Central East Europe, Western and South Europe/Mediterranean, Commonwealth of Independent States and Middle East/Africa. NEC Display Solutions benefits from the technological know-how and technologies of the NEC Corporation and, with its own Research and Development, is one of the world's leading manufacturers offering the widest product range of display solutions in the market. The display product portfolio ranges from entry-level to professional and speciality desktop LCDs, via large-size Public Displays for Digital and Retail Signage. The Projector range offers products for all needs, from portable devices via business projectors to products for permanent operation (such as PoS applications) and digital cinema projectors. Managing Director of the European head office is Bernd Eberhardt.
Further information can be found online at: www.sharpnecdisplays.eu
NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society.
For more information, visit NEC at: www.nec.com
NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. ©2011 NEC Corporation.
Contacts for further information:
Megan Sweeting
Marketing Executive
NEC Display Solutions UK Ltd
1 Victoria Road
London W3 6BL
Tel: +44 (0)7860 927103
Email: megan.sweeting@eu.nec.com