One door closes another one opens
After many decades CEBIT Hannover has finally closed it's doors!
Whilst
Hannover was not everybody’s preferred city for many reasons, especially the
extortionate prices for very average hotels, over the years CEBIT has grown to
become a key tradeshow & meeting point for our industry. IPT are proud to
have been a driving force in this tradeshow for the IT, Mobile Phone &
Consumer Electronic wholesale industry. We spotted the opportunity to have an
industry marketplace back in 2003 when our 1st area was based in
Hall 1. Then we decided to move and combine IT companies with mobile phone
traders (most of whom were meeting inside the orangeire café in Hall 25). We
formalised the industry by creating an area of stands within Hall 26 (inside
the new Planet Reseller). From here we evolved and grew the areas each
year, and they became the focal point for the industry to meet and network.
We
remember the early days of CEBIT (for us) 2003 – 2006 and the pressures to get
accommodation within 20 miles of Hannover! We have been forced to rent houses
in the country and visit local pubs where no one speaks English and witness
patrons walking in with rifles (after our initial concern we realised there
were shooting ranges downstairs!)
But
alas CEBIT is no longer viable after different attempts to revitalise the
tradeshow for multiple industries. CEBIT has fundamentally been left behind by
major brands in favour of IFA, CES & other events.
However memories have been made, friendships founded. Thanks for everything CEBIT.
Read the full press release from CEBIT.
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