While they are both conference/trade shows that deal with the IT industry, there are key differences between them. RetailVision concerns itself with the European as well as the UK market, and has a focus on one-to-one meetings. Channel Expo, on the other hand, is solely focused on Britain, is larger, and has a greater emphasis on product exhibitions. While it would be tempting as a journalist to paint a picture of pistols at dawn between the two organisations, it honestly doesn't look like they will clash too much.
That said, to those who aren't familiar with RetailVision's modus operandi, the perception could easily be that the two shows are poised to go head-to-head in 2010. The fact of the matter is that there are two shows, with exhibitors and stands showing products in the tech sector within a week of each other, in the same city. While those of us who happen to have been to both may be able to list the differences and safely conclude there's no conflict of interest, if Incisive Media is hoping to attract new visitors and exhibitors to Channel Expo (as indeed was the point of moving it to London), and RetailVision wants to make a splash in a territory it hasn't operated in for years, they will both have to embark on a process of public differentiation, or risk being perceived as direct rivals.
Those people familiar with both shows that we approached after the news broke believe they won't get in each other's way, and could even complement each other. And many of those we questioned managed to do both shows this year, when they were in the same week but also separated by 600-odd miles. We've always believed that anything that encourages communication and collaboration in the industry can only be a good thing – so in that sense, the more the merrier.
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