Gadget expo a failure; falls short of hype with 20 stalls

Hyderabad: India Gadget Expo 2014, the first of its gadget show in the country has failed to take off smoothly on its first day on Thursday despite several weeks of preparation for a show that took inspiration from similar events in Las Vegas.

“When I came to know about this event, I was very impressed. But today, I saw a very thin crowd. Footfalls were very low. I don’t know how a gadget show could not attract youngsters,” said a delegate, who came to attend the Expo on Thursday.

Though organisers of the event claimed that 60 brands from gadgets and electronics industry would participate in the exhibition, hardly 20 brands have actually set up their stalls as on Thursday.

“About a 60 super brands from gadgets and electronics industry like LG Electronics, Haier, Qual-comm, Panasonic, Nokia, D-Link, Gionee, Xolo, Amazon, Game Sastra, etc., would be part of the event,” a pre-event statement issued by the organisers on June 10 claimed.

But none of these major brands except five have participated in the gadget expo on Thursday by setting up their stalls.

Wondering aloud, a delegate was observed telling others that the comic themed Comic Con held in September 2013 was much better than the gadget expo. The organisers, however, reiterated their intention to make India Gadget Expo an annual event and to position it as an event, where all electronics and hardmakers would launch their products.