Technology For Marketing & Advertising kicks off at Earls Court today. While this event could merit a special award for "most syllables in an exhibition name", it's also a useful opportunity to see what's currently grabbing the attention of marketers. With so much activity in the digital marketing space (and here I am excluding print), I'm expecting a busy show. Last year, Alterian impressed with its analytical approach and sophisticated measurement and management tools for integrated marketing, and as such I'm not surprised that Lateral Group has deepened its partnership with them.
Even for printcos who aren't necessarily planning to transform themselves into "marketing communications service providers", or some other equally syllable-heavy descriptor, it's a useful event to swing by and see what's consuming the client base this year. And it's good to see that they've included a DM zone that includes print, too.
What's more, TFM&A overlaps with Publishing Expo, also taking place in West London on Wednesday and Thursday, at Olympia, which with the many convulsions affecting the publishing world is sure to be something of a landmark show too.
Luminaries such as Bauer's Paul Keenan, Condé Nast's Nicholas Coleridge, Future's Stevie Spring and Tim Brooks from Guardian News & Media are among those taking part in various debates. On Thursday there's even a panel on the always hotly-debated topic of The Future of Print, and I for my sins will be chairing it. So come along if you want to hear the views of Polestar's Barry Hibbert, Wyndeham's Paul Utting, magazine production expert Alice Beattie and Wanja Oberhof from German personalised newspaper pioneers Niiu, who are arguably achieving the future of print today.