This show was proof (as if any was needed) that our economy is way down. First off this show is normally tough to get around in because of the crowds but this time you could leisurely walk around without dodging people every 2 feet.
Secondly they put tables in the unsold space for people to sit and grab a snack, normally there are a few tables and many people end up standing to eat and many also end up sitting on the ground to rest their feet. This time they had about 20 tables with 4 to 5 chairs each and less than 25% of them were being used.
Yes I am saying the place was empty. Fewer exhibitors than I have ever seen and even fewer attendees. The good news is that the attendees that did go got the full attention of the sellers where in the past you had to fight your way to some of the booths to ask a question or two.
While the offerings were few I did find a few items of interest to myself. One company had some inexpensive (key word) super tiny LED's on a 3' string with a battery powered driver box on the end. The LED's were about the size of a cooked grain of rice and very bright, they had white and blue on display. With the driver box you could make then on steady, flash at several rates and fade in and out all for $15 a string. You can not get them longer but you can cut them shorter if needed and the wire is a dual white wire that reminds me of very old earphones that you could get for transistor radios (tiny).
Another product that I found of interest was some adhesive backed vinyl (sign vinyl) that is a little thick and is black... So what's the big deal, oh the face of it is a chalk board. Basically cut it and stick it on any solid surface and you have an instant chalk board, write on it with school chalk and wipe it off...
This same company also had white vinyl that makes an instant dry erase board. Not sure what these would be good for but I will try and think of something.
