Plantarium has come to an end and the organization is looking back to a successful edition. The viewing figures and viewing behavior confirm the increasing need for inspiration and digital interaction in the world of horticulture. There is still plenty of room for development, in collaborations with media partners, expansion of the hybrid event program and expanding interaction possibilities between visitors and companies.
2020 - Year of changes
2020 is a year full of changes, opinions are getting stronger that some of them will have a lasting character. Where trade fair visitors have always focused on physical interaction, there is now the alternative for a safe and responsible digital visit. This is mainly relevant for visitors from abroad. On the other hand, the digital presentation of trade fairs will have to offer much more inspiration and interaction than before. This will allow the number of visitors to grow and the quality of visitors may increase also. An additional advantage is that the traditional obstacles for a visit have become less important. Visitors don't have to travel and they can organize their time more efficiently. The most relevant moments during an exhibition - such as round table discussions and contributions from exhibitors - can be reviewed, which means that the attractiveness of an exhibition platform extends far beyond a traditional trade fair on fixed opening days.
Viewing figures and viewing behavior
Plantarium Digital Expo has welcomed 8,591 visitors so far, with 49,936 page views in total. There were more than 1,000 visitors for the live program on 2 and 3 September, 60% domestic and 40% from abroad, mainly from the United States, Russia and China. With almost 10,000 page views, the content on the platform was viewed well, especially the novelties in the KVBC Summer Challenge attracted many visitors. Visitors made an average choice for 3 programs from the range of 12 in total and these programs were mostly watched from the beginning until the end.
Programs, all newly developed with media partners
All programs have been specially developed for this platform, in collaboration with media partners Greenity, NWST and Mr Plant Geek (Michael Perry) from the UK. Michael would have come to the Netherlands as an ambassador for Plantarium, until the announcement of mandatory quarantine upon return to the UK prevented this. It was meant to be: the ambassador of this digital Plantarium could only be there digitally as well.
Plantarium could have opted for the usual list of guest speakers to fill the live program, but instead of that they went for specially developed program formats that will also keep their value at future events. For example, "Green World Today" can offer new inspiration with the same topical content in six months' time.
Varb product overview
Participating companies can now make free use of the link with Varb, the largest outdoor green trading platform. Product overviews are automatically linked from Varb to company presentations on the Plantarium digital platform. Members of Varb do not have to take any action in order to get their actual product overviews, non-members receive a free trial subscription.
Greentours
With Greentours, Plantarium creates the opportunity to physically meet each other within regulatory boundaries, visitors can safely visit participating companies by themselves. The digital reservation prevents too many people from coming together at one time and the visit can be made within official guidelines for health and safety. With Greentours, a new dimension has been added to Plantarium, which will always be valuable for visitors and participants in the future. Where and whenever possible, Plantarium will create an optimal balance in physical and digital interaction. Based on relevant content, an extension of the hybrid event program will be developed with multiple events per year. Depending on the developments around the pandemic, there will be a suitable follow-up to Plantarium Digital Expo.
For more information
Plantarium Digital Expo
www.plantariumdigitalexpo.com