Q: What is EDS?

EDS is not a traditional trade show. It’s a week of pre-arranged, scheduled meetings, private events, and networking opportunities designed specifically for the electronic components industry.Participants use EDS to advance and reinforce existing business relationships while also exploring new partnerships in a structured environment. Most meetings take place in company suites and meeting spaces, which are only accessible by prior appointment.While there are display areas and open networking events, EDS is not set up for casual walk-up traffic. To get the most out of EDS, participants should plan their schedules in advance and confirm meetings before arrival.

Q: As a small Distributor, how do I get access to those good industrial lines who are locked away in suites?

Although most of those companies have established and very limited distributor networks, they do make changes from time to time. If you want to stimulate an interview, however, you can’t wait until you get to EDS. Identify lines for which you think you’re qualified, and call the Distributor Sales Manager in January or February to ask for an appointment at EDS. Many companies leave time open on their appointment calendars just for the purpose of meeting with selected potential distributors.

Q: Why aren’t the suites closed while the show floor is open?

EDS exists to facilitate dialogue between Manufacturers and Distributors, but not to regulate it. Accordingly, we provide a choice of venues to meet the style and preferences of the various companies who participate in EDS. Typically the companies in suites are heavily OEM-oriented Manufacturers and their Distributors; where the companies on the show floor are more likely to be MRO-oriented.

Q: How many people attend?

Attendance at EDS is typically about 4000 individuals, divided relatively equally among manufacturers’ suppliers, distributor, and manufacturers’ representative personnel. EDS has superb market penetration, attracting some 80% each year of the target audience of companies who distribute electronic components. Electronic distribution is a compact industry, so that computes to about 600 distributor attendees from 200 companies. When you divide that number among 300 manufacturers, participating in meetings that often run half an hour or longer, you understand why it’s so important for manufacturers’ suppliers to take aggressive action to be sure to attract the distributors they want to see.

Q: Why are some manufacturers in other hotels? It would be much more convenient for distributors to see everyone in one place.

It’s rare that we can’t accommodate every manufacturer who wants to be part of the EDS marketplace in the headquarters hotel. Chances are that any company in another hotel is there to avoid paying a participation fee to the Show Corporation. Thus, that company is taking advantage of a marketplace paid for by others. We advise you to decline appointments with manufacturers in other hotels. It’s not the best use of your time, and efficient use of time is what EDS is all about!

Q: Why is EDS always in Las Vegas?

First and foremost, because it works best for most people! Las Vegas comes out on top every time we survey the industry on the best place. That has something to do with value — low priced plane fares without a Saturday stayover, deluxe hotel rooms over $100 a night less than comparable rooms in most big cities, favorable rates for exhibit services, etc.But the other big point is that the industry likes the “under-one-roof” idea, with suites, conferences, seminars and housing all in the same place. There are very few facilities that offer enough hotel rooms, meeting suites, and adequate space for displays, seminars, meetings, conferences, etc., all in the same complex!

Q: Why does EDS have registration fees for distributors and representatives?

EDS operates for the benefit of the three functions in the distribution channel; Manufacturers, Distributors, and professional field sales (Manufacturers’ Representatives). All three groups derive financial benefit through their participation; but essentially the entire cost of producing EDS has been borne by Manufacturers. The EDS Board believes that the manufacturing community should not pay the full freight for putting on an event which is of equal importance to the other functions in the channel. Given the over-all investment Distributors and Reps make in coming to Las Vegas (plane fares, hotels, meals, etc.), the $1,000 badge fee (per person) is not expected to deter anyone from attending, but will help keep the bottom line black. Of equal importance, it will spread the cost among all the people who benefit, not put the whole burden on one segment.

Q: Who owns EDS?

EDS is operated not-for-profit under the sponsorship of the electronic industry trade associations most concerned with distribution, ECIA and ERA. (Originally organized by radio parts manufacturers in 1937, the distributor association joined in a year or so later, and the Electronics Representatives Association became an equal partner in the early 1970’s.)A Board of Directors of leaders in the two trade associations sets policy and direction. Directors are selected because of their stature in their companies and their association and serve without compensation, for terms not to exceed six consecutive years. The presidency rotates among the three groups.

Q: The OEM segment of the EDS universe and the MRO segment seem to have differing needs. Would the industry be better off with separate shows?

While the premise of different needs is largely correct, a significant number of respondents in our surveys classify themselves as both OEM and MRO, and thus could be faced with having to attend an extra show.Moreover, the costs of operating two separate events would be so much higher that the industry prefers to accept the small trade-offs necessary to accommodate the OEMs, the MROs, and the hybrids in a single event.

Question 1

What is EDS?

Accepted Answer

EDS is not a traditional trade show. It’s a week of pre-arranged, scheduled meetings, private events, and networking opportunities designed specifically for the electronic components industry.

Participants use EDS to advance and reinforce existing business relationships while also exploring new partnerships in a structured environment. Most meetings take place in company suites and meeting spaces, which are only accessible by prior appointment.

While there are display areas and open networking events, EDS is not set up for casual walk-up traffic. To get the most out of EDS, participants should plan their schedules in advance and confirm meetings before arrival.

Question 2

As a small Distributor, how do I get access to those good industrial lines who are locked away in suites?

Accepted Answer

Although most of those com­pa­nies have estab­lished and very lim­it­ed dis­trib­u­tor net­works, they do make changes from time to time. If you want to stim­u­late an inter­view, how­ev­er, you can’t wait until you get to EDS. Iden­ti­fy lines for which you think you’re qual­i­fied, and call the Dis­trib­u­tor Sales Man­ag­er in Jan­u­ary or Feb­ru­ary to ask for an appoint­ment at EDS. Many com­pa­nies leave time open on their appoint­ment cal­en­dars just for the pur­pose of meet­ing with select­ed poten­tial distributors.

Question 3

Why aren’t the suites closed while the show floor is open?

Accepted Answer

EDS exists to facil­i­tate dia­logue between Man­u­fac­tur­ers and Dis­trib­u­tors, but not to reg­u­late it. Accord­ing­ly, we pro­vide a choice of venues to meet the style and pref­er­ences of the var­i­ous com­pa­nies who par­tic­i­pate in EDS. Typ­i­cal­ly the com­pa­nies in suites are heav­i­ly OEM-ori­ent­ed Man­u­fac­tur­ers and their Dis­trib­u­tors; where the com­pa­nies on the show floor are more like­ly to be MRO-oriented.

Question 4

How many people attend?

Accepted Answer

Atten­dance at EDS is typ­i­cal­ly about 4000 indi­vid­u­als, divid­ed rel­a­tive­ly equal­ly among man­u­fac­tur­ers’ sup­pli­ers, dis­trib­u­tor, and man­u­fac­tur­ers’ rep­re­sen­ta­tive per­son­nel. EDS has superb mar­ket pen­e­tra­tion, attract­ing some 80% each year of the tar­get audi­ence of com­pa­nies who dis­trib­ute elec­tron­ic com­po­nents. Elec­tron­ic dis­tri­b­u­tion is a com­pact indus­try, so that com­putes to about 600 dis­trib­u­tor atten­dees from 200 com­pa­nies. When you divide that num­ber among 300 man­u­fac­tur­ers, par­tic­i­pat­ing in meet­ings that often run half an hour or longer, you under­stand why it’s so impor­tant for man­u­fac­tur­ers’ sup­pli­ers to take aggres­sive action to be sure to attract the dis­trib­u­tors they want to see.

Question 5

What’s the procedure for getting a badge to EDS?

Accepted Answer

For Distributor and Rep companies who have attended EDS in previous years, there is online registration right here on our website beginning in January. Badges are $1,000, but are prepaid by association members when they pay their association dues. Distributor and Rep companies attending EDS for the first time must contact EDS Management to attend.Manufacturers who are at EDS order badges for their meeting staff when they purchase their meeting space.Manufacturers who wish to meet with EDS attendees, or to evaluate the event for the future participation and who do not require meeting space may register for the EDS Manufacturers Not Renting Other Space Registration badges. These badges provide access to all areas, to all official EDS programs, and provide space for a limited number of meetings. Manufacturers Not Renting Other Space who register in advance will be listed in the Show Directory and on the EDS website, including address, phone, email, key personnel and products. There is a fee of $1600 per company for ECIA and ERA Members and $2200 per company for Non Members for this level of registration, which includes the issuance of up to four (4) badges. Additional badges may be purchased for $250 each. Manufacturers attending EDS for the first time may be eligible to register at a special rate ($825/ECIA/ERA members, $1140 for Non Members. This special registration option is subject to verification). Manufacturers attending EDS for the first time must contact EDS Management to attend.Note: ECIA and ERA member companies receive substantial discounts on EDS registration. A company must be an ECIA or ERA member in good standing at the time of registration to receive Member rates. No credits or refunds will be issued for a change in member status.

Question 6

Why are some manufacturers in other hotels? It would be much more convenient for distributors to see everyone in one place.

Accepted Answer

It’s rare that we can’t accom­mo­date every man­u­fac­tur­er who wants to be part of the EDS mar­ket­place in the head­quar­ters hotel. Chances are that any com­pa­ny in anoth­er hotel is there to avoid pay­ing a par­tic­i­pa­tion fee to the Show Cor­po­ra­tion. Thus, that com­pa­ny is tak­ing advan­tage of a mar­ket­place paid for by oth­ers. We advise you to decline appoint­ments with man­u­fac­tur­ers in oth­er hotels. It’s not the best use of your time, and effi­cient use of time is what EDS is all about!

Question 7

Why is EDS always in Las Vegas?

Accepted Answer

First and fore­most, because it works best for most peo­ple! Las Vegas comes out on top every time we sur­vey the indus­try on the best place. That has some­thing to do with val­ue — low priced plane fares with­out a Sat­ur­day stay­over, deluxe hotel rooms over $100 a night less than com­pa­ra­ble rooms in most big cities, favor­able rates for exhib­it ser­vices, etc.But the oth­er big point is that the indus­try likes the ​“under-one-roof” idea, with suites, con­fer­ences, sem­i­nars and hous­ing all in the same place. There are very few facil­i­ties that offer enough hotel rooms, meet­ing suites, and ade­quate space for dis­plays, sem­i­nars, meet­ings, con­fer­ences, etc., all in the same complex!

Question 8

Why does EDS have registration fees for distributors and representatives?

Accepted Answer

EDS oper­ates for the ben­e­fit of the three func­tions in the dis­tri­b­u­tion chan­nel; Man­u­fac­tur­ers, Dis­trib­u­tors, and pro­fes­sion­al field sales (Man­u­fac­tur­ers’ Rep­re­sen­ta­tives). All three groups derive finan­cial ben­e­fit through their par­tic­i­pa­tion; but essen­tial­ly the entire cost of pro­duc­ing EDS has been borne by Man­u­fac­tur­ers. The EDS Board believes that the man­u­fac­tur­ing com­mu­ni­ty should not pay the full freight for putting on an event which is of equal impor­tance to the oth­er func­tions in the chan­nel. Giv­en the over-all invest­ment Dis­trib­u­tors and Reps make in com­ing to Las Vegas (plane fares, hotels, meals, etc.), the $1,000 badge fee (per per­son) is not expect­ed to deter any­one from attend­ing, but will help keep the bot­tom line black. Of equal impor­tance, it will spread the cost among all the peo­ple who ben­e­fit, not put the whole bur­den on one segment.

Question 9

Who owns EDS?

Accepted Answer

EDS is oper­at­ed not-for-prof­it under the spon­sor­ship of the elec­tron­ic indus­try trade asso­ci­a­tions most con­cerned with dis­tri­b­u­tion, ECIA and ERA. (Orig­i­nal­ly orga­nized by radio parts man­u­fac­tur­ers in 1937, the dis­trib­u­tor asso­ci­a­tion joined in a year or so lat­er, and the Elec­tron­ics Rep­re­sen­ta­tives Asso­ci­a­tion became an equal part­ner in the ear­ly 1970’s.)A Board of Direc­tors of lead­ers in the two trade asso­ci­a­tions sets pol­i­cy and direc­tion. Direc­tors are select­ed because of their stature in their com­pa­nies and their asso­ci­a­tion and serve with­out com­pen­sa­tion, for terms not to exceed six con­sec­u­tive years. The pres­i­den­cy rotates among the three groups.

Question 10

The OEM segment of the EDS universe and the MRO segment seem to have differing needs. Would the industry be better off with separate shows?

Accepted Answer

While the premise of dif­fer­ent needs is large­ly cor­rect, a sig­nif­i­cant num­ber of respon­dents in our sur­veys clas­si­fy them­selves as both OEM and MRO, and thus could be faced with hav­ing to attend an extra show.More­over, the costs of oper­at­ing two sep­a­rate events would be so much high­er that the indus­try prefers to accept the small trade-offs nec­es­sary to accom­mo­date the OEMs, the MROs, and the hybrids in a sin­gle event.

Question 11

As a new or potential EDS participant, how do I decide which of the many participation options is best for my company’s needs?

Accepted Answer

Your dis­tri­b­u­tion strat­e­gy, the size of your dis­trib­u­tor net­work, and the impor­tance of your line to your dis­trib­u­tors are among the fac­tors that come into play. You’ll find a thumb­nail descrip­tion of the var­i­ous for­mats — Exhib­it Booths, Euro Suites, Con­fer­ence Units, Executive Meeting Rooms and Hotel Meeting Suites — else­where on this web site. In addi­tion, you can ask the experts on the EDS staff and EDS Board or con­tact the spon­sor­ing asso­ci­a­tions for advice.

Question 12

What kinds of products do distributors look for at EDS?

Accepted Answer

Ampli­fiersAnten­nas and accessoriesAudio com­po­nentsBar cod­ing equipmentBat­ter­ies and bat­tery packsCab­i­nets and enclosuresCable assem­bliesCapac­i­torsCas­esCat­a­logs and booksCB prod­uctsChas­sis slidesChem­i­calsCir­cuit pro­tec­tion devicesCoilsCom­mu­ni­ca­tions equipmentCom­put­er periph­er­als and suppliesCon­nec­torsCon­sumer productsCon­trolsCrys­talsDat­a­comDecals and mark­ing devicesDis­plays and readoutsFans and blowersFas­ten­ersFiberop­ticsFil­tersFus­esHeat sinksHeat toolsHybridsIndi­ca­tor lightsInsu­lat­ing productsInte­grat­ed circuitsInter­con­nect devicesJacks and plugsLampsLEDsMag­net­ic materialsMarine elec­tron­icsMATV, CATV, CCTVMetersMicro­phonesMicrowave prod­uctsOpti­cal devicesOscil­la­torsOut­let stripsPag­ing systemsPlugs and socketsPoten­tiome­tersPow­er pro­tec­tion equipmentPow­er suppliesPrint­ed cir­cuit boardsPrint­ersRec­ti­fiersRelaysResis­torsRFI pow­er line filtersSecu­ri­ty productsSemi­con­duc­torsSen­sorsSock­etsSolar equip­mentSole­noidsSol­der and sol­der­ing ironsSol­id state sys­tems and devicesSpeak­ers and sound equipmentSta­t­ic con­trol productsSur­face mount­ed devices and hardwareSwitch­esSwitch­boardsTele­phone equipmentTer­mi­nal blocksTest equip­mentTimersToolsTow­ers and accessoriesTrans­form­ersTubesTub­ingUPSVideo equip­ment and accessoriesVolt­age pro­tec­tion devicesWire and cableWire har­ness equipmentWork­sta­tions

Question 13

Why can’t I just buy a “one day ticket” to attend EDS?

Accepted Answer

EDS is not your typ­i­cal tradeshow where the only option is to explore the show floor and engage with ven­dors. EDS is all about build­ing and fos­ter­ing rela­tion­ships. The core of EDS is valu­able idea exchange. It hap­pens through high-lev­­el strate­gic meet­ings, event func­tions and infor­mal gath­er­ings like the pop­u­lar Con­nec­tions Café and evening social events. Being onsite for the entire event max­i­mizes opportunities!

Question 14

What is the EDS Badge policy?

Accepted Answer

All EDS par­tic­i­pants must be reg­is­tered to receive a badge. Badges must be worn at all times to gain access to EDS meet­ing spaces, events, and activities. Read our full badge policy here.

Question 15

Are all meetings on the same schedule?

Accepted Answer

The vast major­i­ty of the meet­ings run 50 min­utes, begin­ning on the hour. This allows par­tic­i­pants enough time to get from place to place with­in the show area at the hotel. Off­site meet­ings are dis­cour­aged, as they are dif­fi­cult to get to and com­pa­nies hold­ing off­site meet­ings are not reg­is­tered par­tic­i­pants of EDS.

EDS FAQ