ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The NACS Show was again named the top trade show in the United States for “buying power” and second overall for buying plans according to the latest annual report on U.S. trade shows developed by Exhibit Surveys, Inc.

The NACS Show was scored as having the highest percentage of attendees with net buying influence, also known as “buying power” – 97 percent, according to the report, which used attendee surveys to provide statistical data on dozens of major trade shows held in 2009.

In addition, the NACS Show ranked second among all shows in terms of total buying plans, a measure that looks at the likelihood of a purchase. NACS’ score of 75 percent was surpassed only by the Photo Plus Expo show in this category.

In 2002, the NACS Show first ranked as the country’s top buying show, an honor it has maintained most of the last decade. The NACS Show also regularly ranks in the top three for buying plans.

Exhibit Surveys defines net buying influence as “the ability to recommend, specify, or purchase products or services; it defines total buying plans as “the percentage of visitors planning to buy one or more products or services seen at show within the following 12 months,” calling it “a strong indicator of what people purchase.” 

More than 22,500 attendees were at the 2009 NACS Show — a 6 percent increase over 2008 NACS Show attendance. The number of attendees classified as “buyers” (retailers, wholesalers and distributors) jumped 16 percent to reach 8,584, the second-largest total ever for a NACS Show.

“The survey results of this report confirm what we see and hear at the NACS Show – it is a buying show that brings together the right people to do business,” said NACS Vice Chairman of Convention & Events Dave Carpenter (J.D. Carpenter Companies Inc.). “As companies continue to evaluate which events to attend, this latest report clearly gives suppliers and retailers one more reason to make it the NACS Show.”

The 2009 NACS Show featured a 350,000-plus net-square-foot exposition floor with 1,222 exhibiting companies — including a record 338 new companies, 66 workshops and three days of general sessions.

The 2010 NACS Show will take place October 5 to 8 at Georgia World Congress Center. Online registration will be available April 1. News and updates about the NACS Show are available at nacsshow.com.