If you’re new to these parts, yours truly and many F-I members have been meeting at a sewing equipment trade show called SPESA. SPESA is no more; it was purchased by Messe Frankfurt (yay!) who have renamed it Texprocess. Catchy, no? Okay so it’s not. It is still the happening place to be come April 24-26, 2012 in Atlanta GA USA.
If you’re not sure if this show is for you, there is a lot of coverage of this show on Fashion-Incubator. I think it is good to attend even if you don’t intend to buy equipment because it will give you a better idea of the kinds of equipment needed to sew your products. There are also ancillary products of use such as software, dress forms etc. Furthermore, it should be a priority to attend because this show is only held every other year.
Many of us have had the show on our calender for two years so I don’t remember to mention it. Hopefully it’s not too late for you to make plans to attend. If you are going, please let us know so we can plan activities, hotel accommodations etc. If you’re not a forum member*, we will wait for 30 minutes after the show closes each day in the foyer at the top of the escalator. I realize that sounds ambiguous but you will find it. And you’ll know it’s us because we will be milling around, talking in twos and threes and have some kind of distinguishing feature on our badges. As dress is business casual, we won’t be wearing suits (hardly anyone does these days except salesmen and even many of them don’t). In 2010, we had holographic star stickers.
It is a good idea to register now because the entry fee is only $25. The fee is $50 at the door. You also have the option of attending various seminars (termed symposium); the number of days selected determine the price. See this for more information. I do not know if any of the seminars are a good value. The recent trend in trade show seminars generally would suggest there is not much bang for the buck. Based on our experience in 2007 and 2010 (admittedly, under previous management and ownership) the seminars amounted to a presentation of why you should hire the company represented by the speaker to solve the problem listed as the seminar’s topic.
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*You also have the option of calling me on my cell (575-635-8131) at the show but don’t use that number for for regular business calls, use my land line (505-877-1713) instead . Be advised that I don’t know how to use a cell phone other than to answer and dial it so assuming I can access caller ID and call you back is beyond fantasy. My use of call waiting is also dicey. If it is noisy and I cannot hear the phone ring, I cannot call you back so keep trying. The cell doesn’t take messages, we did that on purpose because I can’t retrieve messages anyway. And in case you’re wondering, no, I cannot turn on the TV either. However, I am progressing in that it would seem I can now remove a DVD from the DVD player having done so three times in a row with minimal injury to self, the unit or any cats residing within flinging distance. Lest you think less of me, I can install and rewire circuits, repair/build a computer, repair any number of appliances, machines and vehicles, manage numerous websites, build an entire second story in a loft completely by myself, plumb a kitchen sink and drain from scratch (ibid washer hookup), etc. My technical prowess does not extend to televisions, dvd players or cell phones.
Yay, Kathleen. My technical prowess doesn’t include cameras but I can wire a house. Just don’t ask me to take a picture and post it on the web.
I just hope they did not change the format of the show and made it into something like Itma, which from the description on it’s website looked very much like Spesa’s description.
I haven’t attended an ITMA show so I can’t speak to that.
I’ve attended three Messe Frankfurt shows, two here, one in Paris. I was very pleased with the management and organization of them. Minimally stated, I haven’t been as enamored of Spesa’s management. Based on my (albeit limited) experience, I see Messe Frankfurt’s acquisition of the Spesa show to be a very welcome change. By way of comparison, at the very least, MF makes the effort to follow the most rudimentary of show protocols -say, labeling each booth with a booth number -but then maybe I’m just picky in that I want to be able to find a vendor on the show floor…
I’m so happy that the cost is extremely lower than the previous years. I felt a little cheated attending those seminars but I did learn a lot about those companies. I will definitely try to attend this year.
Wish I could join you at the show, if only to see how you will be identifying yourselves this year! We’re in the same boat Kathleen; I don’t do call swopping or holding (never mastered it), don’t have voicemail on purpose, and am probably the only person from my generation never to have recorded a tv show by either video or dvd, but am quite comfortable with the power drill and soldering iron.
Wish I could join you all there, but I’ll be in New Zealand for my grandfather’s 80th! Can’t believe I have to wait another 2 years for the opportunity :(
I’m planning on going to the show! I’m very excited to here about this because I think it will open up a whole new world for me (home sewer going industrial). I am looking to purchase some machines, but………………I am already concerned about the size of the show, not afraid, just concerned. I think this can be a little intimidating for new people.
After reading the entries for the past show, I hope people are more open on prices!!
I’m looking forward to meeting you, Kathleen and other F-I members!!
Is beautiful today, we FINALLY had snow in Chicago!!!!!!!
“-but then maybe I’m just picky in that I want to be able to find a vendor on the show floor…”
nothing too picky about that. makes sense to me. I personally hate it when I cannot follow an ordered number pattern to find a booth.
Ug, I made a mistake. The correct word is “hear” not “here”. Now we have a thunderstorm in Chicago, melting all our SNOW!
Kathleen,
Thanks for taking time out to talk to me today.
It was very helpful.
Since we talked, I have found another sewing machine company called Global from the Netherlands that I’m checking to see whether they will be at the show. They have videos of their cylinder arm & postbed machines & I think you’ll be impressed. Check it out:
http://www.imca.net/global-home
No idea of pricing yet.
Hope to see you in Atlanta.
Okay, I’m coming to Atlanta. I’m very interested in mass customization! And meeting Kathleen. :-)
Kathleen~
I’m going to try to do my VERY BEST to make it to ATLANTA in April!!! I would love to meet you & the FI Members that are going!!! I feel this Trade Show will help start off the Spring Flow for a lot of us even if we just browse….
Thanks again for your NEVER ENDING SUPPORT & GUIDENCE!!
I haven’t been keeping up on posts for a few months, so here I am today reading… and I was elated and deflated one after the other. First I saw Atlanta, and my brain read “Alberta” which is about 2500km closer, then I saw that the event was already over and I would have to wait 2 years. I can’t take this rollercoaster of emotions. I am going to have to keep up with the reading just for the sake of my heart!
Hope everyone had a great meetup without me. *pout*