- Digital Retailing Expo (DRE), the international trade show and conference dedicated to screen-based, in-store media networks, digital signage & interactive solutions within retail, hospitality, transportation and financial establishments, surpassed itself in numbers of exhibitors and attendees for the 3rd time in just over two years. DRE took place May 16 & 17th in Chicago in Chicago, IL.
- The 2006 event featured 97 exhibitors (over 20% growth since 2005) and attracted a record number of 1220 qualified attendees and buyers within its niche market. The conference portion of DRE was strong, attracting standing-room only crowds for many sessions. Among the presenters was Digital Signage Weekly/Digital Signage Quarterly executive editor David Keene, who chaired a panel on content creation issues in digital signage.
- Major chain retailers were represented as attendees included Fortune 500 companies such as Dillards, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Whole Foods, Food Lion, Hallmark, Ace Hardware, Sears, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, Wal-Mart, JC Penney, Target, McDonalds, Office Depot, Lowes, RadioShack, Advance Auto Parts, Best Buy, Tweeter, and more.
- Digital Retailing Expo has become this exciting industrys annual event, attracting top attendees and exhibitors from all points of the globe. Many of the eighteen International Summit conference sessions were at full capacity, providing attendees with the knowledge they need to move forward with their digital implementation. This years record attendance included new key retailers and many other potential users of digital signage and interactive solutions reflecting the rapid adoption of this cutting edge technology. says Chris Gibbs, Executive Vice President of ExpoNation, producer of DRE.
- He continues, Beyond cutting-edge retail, the acceptance of digital signage and interactive solutions is spreading. Our exhibitors saw representatives of major consumer service venues within the hospitality, transportation, government, medical and public space arenas, organizations such as Milwaukee Public Museum, OHare International Airport, Chicago History Museum, Hilton, U.S. Postal Service and Hines Hospital all attended.
- Gibbs also cited leading advertising agencies and consumer product manufactures in attendance: Saatchi and Saatchi, Leo Burnett, Draft, Bayer, RJ Reynolds, Coca-Cola, Levi Strauss and Co., Benjamin Moore, Motorola, Nike and Miller Brewing Company.
- When asked his opinion of growth trends within the industry, he divulged plans for an Interactive Pavilion to debut as a featured area on the show floor at Digital Retailing Expo 2007, May 16 & 17th in Chicago, IL.
- "One of the most dynamic new product trends at DRE 2006 was interactive, including the touch-screen overlays by NextWindow, for example. Their interactive overlays allow the user to touch-enable any large display screen to make it completely interactive for the consumer at the point-of-sale. This, he says, is one of many options available to further influence and impact the consumer experience altogether.
- To exhibit or attend Digital Retailing Expo 2007 contact Chris Gibbs at 77-649-0300 ext. 17 or chris@exponation.net. Digital Retailing Expo is produced and managed by ExpoNation LLC.
