A new expo focusing on consumer electronics, video gaming and cartech is set to be held in Melbourne this July. Purporting to be the only event of its type in Australia, The Gadget Expo 2015 is scheduled for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for 4-5 July 2015.
“For decades Australian’s (sic) have had to go overseas to experience consumer gadget expos and events, it wasn’t until 2013 when PAX, a gaming expo, did its first Australian event that we got a taste of what a big tech expo could be like in Australia,” the organiser AM Wicked said in a statement. “Even though it brought 150,000 people through the doors, it was only based to a targeted niche being gamers.”
Seeing a niche in the market, AM Wicked has created this new event, which promotes itself as connecting brands directly with consumers, and will incorporate seven broad tech spaces (Lifestyle/Active, Gamers Bubble, Automotive, Home Tech, Innovation, Techno Kids and Platform Future) as well as a Gadget Stage for presentations and talks.
Retailers will also be invited to participate, AM Wicked said. “The Gadget Expo will provide a highly interactive platform for tech-inspired manufacturers, entrepreneurs and retailers to launch and showcase their brand and products right here on Australian soil to thousands of consumers and networks.”
According to its website, AM Wicked is responsible for securing Ian Botham a spot on Channel Ten’s commentary team for the Big Bash, recruiting Jason Alexander to be the face of Catch of the Day and signing boxer Danny Green for Retravision’s West Australian relaunch. In fact, Danny Green appears to be AM Wicked’s cornerstone client, having also promoted one of his fights, signed him to speak at a financial management conference (along with, incidentally, Ruslan Kogan) and taken a photo of him standing next to Arnold Schwarzenegger. AM Wicked also runs a VIP experience service that promises “complete satisfaction as well as discretion”. It’s unclear exactly what that means but apparently Eminem and Snoop Dogg have delved into this product at some point in the nebulous past.
The dedicated website for The Gadget Show doesn’t list any exhibitors, sponsors or presenters. We called AM Wicked to ask if any companies were already on board and our call had not been returned at the time of publishing. We will update this story with any new information as it becomes available.