PHOTO GALLERY: Ingram Micro ExpoTech wraps up in Brisbane

The event was a great success, allowing vendors to showcase their products and services to resellers and providing an opportunity for the channel to network with industry insiders.

Stephen Casey, business development manager for Ingram Micro, said the focus of the event was to meet new tech partners and resellers at the event.

Guests commented on the demonstrations on the stands saying how impressed they were with the latest products available in the marketplace.

Winner of the popular CRN Grab For Cash machine was Daniel Swann, marketing manager of Parasyn, who won a Sony PSP.

“I can’t believe I won. It was the first time I have been to the event and it was really good. It blew me away with the amount of vendors and the quality of the presentations on the stands. It was interesting to see all the different products in one place,” he said.

More than 800 visitors attended the Brisbane ExpoTech. The exhibition kicked off in Canberra in February then moved to Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.

Jamie Black, MD of Queensland Computer Solutions based in Emerald, Queensland said he had come to ExpoTech to find some new products to outsource for his company which was three months old.

“I flew in today especially for the ExpoTech. I want to see what other supplies are on offer as I am a new start-up company with seven people. I am also on the hunt for some new resellers,” he said.

Ray Gale, sales representative for Cherri International on the Gold Coast, said he was visiting the exhibition as part of a proactive exercise to collect information, find out what’s new and get as much information as possible within the industry. Cherri supplies the SMB and Printing Industries with laptops, custom desktops, and HP Servers.

Brendan Gibson, director of Answers IT, a support company for small to medium sized businesses, said it was good to talk to people in the industry and see what’s new.

Ross Arriola, senior IT consultant for Xerox business solutions, said his company, based on the Gold Coast, was a VAR system integrator and provider of IT solutions.

“I have come here today to speak to IT service providers, gain new product knowledge, liaise with vendors, discuss existing products and gain vendor support,” he said.

The attendance numbers for each of the ExpoTech 2008 shows were; Canberra – 158, Sydney – 992, Hobart – 154, Melbourne – 1,137, Adelaide – 525, Perth – 811
and Brisbane – 871. The total number of people across all of the shows was 4,648.

"This year we have seen record attendances in all locations and with greater participation from our Solutions Group and CHOS (Consumer Home and Office) vendors. Next year promises to be even bigger and better," said Rochelle Krason
events manager, Ingram Micro.

Cashgrab prize winners:

1st Prize (Sony PSP) - Daniel Swann from Parasyn
2nd Prize (Nintendo DS Lite) - Adam Harden from Highcove Pty Ltd
3rd Prize (Apple Ipod) - Christine Taylor from Comscentre

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