SALTEX received more than 9,100 visitors in 2019

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Findings from the SALTEX 2019 post-show survey have revealed another year of record-breaking attendance.

From 30 to 31 October, 9,104 visitors streamed into the NEC, Birmingham to explore the latest trends and products in groundscare.

The growth in visitor numbers at SALTEX 2019 was supported by a large proportion of first-time attendees. More than a third visited SALTEX for the first time compared to 28 per cent in 2018, 27 per cent in 2017, 26 per cent in 2016 and 23 per cent in 2015.

A total of 93 per cent of survey respondents rated their overall show experience as being either very good or excellent.

The buying power of SALTEX attendees was also high, with 36 per cent of survey respondents confirming that the purchasing responsibility was solely theirs, while 43 per cent contribute to the buying process and 32 per cent have the authority to sign-off on purchases up to £50,000.

The post-show survey findings also revealed top priorities for attending with 68 per cent saying they visited SALTEX to source new products / services / suppliers; 66 per cent attended out of general interest; 44 per cent wanted to see the latest industry innovations; 39 per cent attended to network with other like-minded individuals and 35 per cent to witness machinery demonstrations.

Product innovations were a big pull, and 87 per cent of attendees rated the mix of products on display as excellent. The show also offered visitors the opportunity to see a number of these products in action through Eco Village demonstrations and this new feature did not disappoint with 78 per cent of survey respondents also rating the Eco Village as excellent.

SALTEX attendees also made use of the training, advice and educational opportunities. The 57 free-to-attend, CPD-accredited seminars in the Learning LIVE programme proved popular with 84 per cent of survey respondents claiming the education offering was either very good or excellent; 83 per cent made the most of the Ask the Expert feature and 77 per cent said the Pathology and Soil Science LIVE was also an excellent feature.