Some people like to talk up trade shows and some talk them down - you choose your poison - but the ultimate justification for exhibiting for most companies lies on the bottom line, and I would be very interested to hear from exhibitors whether they found that business held its own at the 2009 show, and whether results from the show are justifying the expense of setting out the stall. My impressions from the European trade in general were positive at the time, despite the backdrop of a recession.
From SGB Golf's perspective, editorially, there is absolutely no question of whether the PGA Show justifies the trans-Atlantic flights, hotel, slow wi-fi and a belt-busting consumption of surf 'n' turf 'n' coleslaw. The show represents a veritable explosion of magazine material, from product launches and brand acquisitions to interviews, to which many of the pages in this issue stand testimony. One characteristic of this economic climate is that the trade is fast changing, and as Europe's most progressive golf trade title it was vital to attend the PGA Show to keep up with the pace.
Robin Barwick, Editor
