More History in the Making

Published: March 31, 2005, By Yolanda Simonsis, Associate Publisher/Editor

Editorial

If you read down to the last paragraph of my March editorial, you may have raised an eyebrow over my reporting CMM was rumored for sale. It was, but the offer was declined, and we’re back to the CMM you’ve known in the past…well, not completely. There have been a few remarkable changes you’ll want to hear about.

For starters, the next CMM will be held June 4–7, 2007, moving from early to late spring. The bigger news is the show is moving to a more convenient location—none other than Rosemont, IL. It’s enough to make a person scream "Alleluia!" followed quickly by "What took them so long?"

Scheduling any sizable exhibition obviously requires the facilities of a large convention hall. And determining what date a show is held is negotiated by contract with management of the exposition hall for several shows into the future. Years ago CMM’s show dates were contracted through 2005. CMM president Ian Johnston explains, "Chicago is a great location for CMM and McCormick Place has been a good venue to grow and prosper for many years. However, rising labor costs and union issues at McCormick Place have made it increasingly expensive and difficult for our exhibitors. This change in venue is clearly in the best interest of CMM participants. We are responding to our exhibitors’ request to provide a more cost-effective, hassle-free environment. We believe Rosemont will help us make an already great event even better."

As attendees of the event, this must be welcome news to your ears, too.

Being located just outside O’Hare Airport boundaries, the newly renovated Donald E. Stephens Convention Ctr. in Rosemont also is near many reasonably priced hotels and restaurants. So you’ll want for nothing on these accounts. And, being a lifelong Chicagoan, where politics is considered sport, I can’t help giving our infamous Mayor Daley something else he can get angry over with the loss of yet another convention. Haa!

But the move to Rosemont doesn’t mean there’s nothing to get excited about this year at the McCormick Place venue. The show has shaped up to offer more than 100 conference sessions, including a PFFC-sponsored session titled "Navigating the Challenges of a Global Marketplace" at 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on Monday, April 18. I plan on counting the number of times "Wal-Mart" and "China" are mentioned at this session and whether it’s in a positive or negative manner.

To introduce the controversial subject matter at CMM, I plan to use some intriguing responses to survey questions PFFC posed to 7,476 of our readers. Of these, 407 returned usable responses, yielding an 8% response rate with +4.7% margin of error. First we asked: Has offshoring of converted products to other countries affected your business in the last 6 months? A total of 228 respondents, or 56%, said yes, with 176, or 43%, saying no. Three did not respond, but there is obvious movement of business to offshore locations with more than half of the respondents indicating this is a serious issue in the converting industry.

We then asked: Has your company expanded in the last 23 months or does it plan to expand in the next 12 months by acquiring or constructing new facilities in an emerging market (e.g., China, India, Eastern Europe, Latin America, etc.)? A revealing 188 respondents, or 46%, said yes, with 31% having expanded in the last 12 months and another 22% planning to expand in the next 12 months. A total of 214, or 53%, had no plans for expansion in an emerging market.

The survey produced other revelations, but you’ll just have to come to the session if you want to learn more. And don’t forget there will be a new Consumer Packaging & Converting Connection conference that will focus on "management strategies to deliver packaging solutions that meet the needs of retailers and time-starved consumers." Last, but not least, another first-time event will feature the Flexographic Technical Assn. offering its multi-level certification testing at the show.

Come visit us at Booth 3953 and share your interpretation of converting history. See you there!

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