The Electronic Security Expo (ESX) has officially launched the Presidents’ Club Sponsor Program, a new initiative to reward leading security companies who participate in the yearly trade show. The show, which is just over a week away, will have about 170 exhibitors and around 3,000 attendees among the almost 35,000 net square feet of North Carolina’s Charlotte Convention Center.

Ten companies have signed on so far, the businesses have made a commitment to participate in the event through 2013 and are required to spend a minimum of $15,000 on exhibit space and or sponsorship at every show over the next three years.

“This has been a great program for us because it benefits both sides,” says Nancy Franco, vice president of operations for the show. “It benefits us because we get the commitment from the exhibitor and we also appreciate and try to give back to the companies that have made the investment in our event. It’s a great way for us to partner with them and get to know them a little better and that’s something we pride ourselves on with our trade show—having a relationship with our customers.”

The companies signed a binding agreement to honor the commitment to the show. The show had targeted conversations to identify companies that had previously stepped up and made large dollar investments and multi-year commitments to the event as well as higher profile companies in the industry that regularly attend the association’s events.

“The goal was to get company’s committed long term and also to recognize them for the investments they had made. It also helps the show by having those companies as a foundation for other exhibitors and to show other exhibitors these companies are stepping up and hopefully encourage others to do so as well,” Franco says.

Any company that can make the financial and time guarantees can participate in the program, ESX also reaches out to companies that are getting close to spending that dollar amount. 

“We’ll continue to sign up new companies; they will have the opportunity to do so again and they would make their commitment starting with next year’s event (through 2014),” says Franco.

Businesses involved get access to special logos ESX has designed for them as well as Web banner promotional materials highlighting their involvement in the Presidents’ Club Sponsor Program. The show also promotes the companies throughout the year, among other special bonuses.

“The program really helps the exhibitors—they receive a rate that’s locked for the term of the agreement so if they sign up this year they’ll get the same rate for the next three years on exhibit space. They also do receive discounts on sponsorship, training and our rewards program. They are invited to an exclusive reception and they get to meet with the executive committee members from the two associations, which are typically the larger companies that they would be seeking to sign on as customers or already have as customers,” she adds.

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