The Domainer Trade Show, scheduled for May at Grand Rapids, Michigan, has canceled its early 2014 event.
Citing the apparent congestion in the domain conference space, along with personal health issues – which we hope will be resolved soon – event organizer, Doug Haan, announced the news today:
Dear friends,
It is with regret that we will not be able to go forward with the May ’14 show. While we have free-early-bird show registrants and some some excellent speakers to whom I am very grateful, no one has registered with the hotel to-date.
Since our announcement for a new show offering for domainers last fall, three large shows and several large meet-ups have entered the marketplace ahead of our proposed dates. One show, scheduled a few days before our dates, was offering 1/2 off its rates this week. It’s our opinion the show-space may now suddenly be reaching a dilution point, with multiple opportunities for shows and that some of our perceived advantages, such as an exciting new venue, our desire for alternative cross-channel programming, and lower costs, are now being adopted by other shows, which is nevertheless, a positive for the greater domainer community, as all shows have since come forth with reduced rate offerings.
We remain committed to our location and will continue to work with them in looking at new dates for a show.
Also, the recently accelerated/unexpected back surgery for my wife and the unexpected admittance of my son into the emergency ward on March 30, with 14 other team-mates, and his subsequent 6-day hospital stay and doctor follow-ups due to his March 27 injury, have made this now an impossible task; I cannot move forward with the success it deserves for all affiliates and participants.
The packing of several domain conferences during the first six months of 2014 most likely created participation problems; NamesCon rolled the ball in early January and DNSeattle followed at the end of the month, ICANN 49 in March and Domainfest in April, Domaining Europe and TRAFFIC West in May, with ICANN 50 to follow in June.
Many more domain conferences are scheduled for the second half of 2014.
This post is 100% true!
Sad to hear this ! One more reason is that the awaited big inflow of Marketing Budgets from NewGTLD Registrars are not coming true. They do not support very much the conferences. I don’t know if it’s lack of funds or interest ! One thing is certain, conferences are a fantastic tool to meet people and have fun making business deals!
I never hear of this tradeshow.
Where it was announced and promoted?
I agree, there is a plethora of domain shows for such a tiny industry.