Research, due to natural changes in work flow, now requires more work than 15 years agao before the Internet. After attending 15 years ago, I went to several shows in January, including The Javit's Center Convention Center in NYC, what I found in January were smaller shows by half or more, and the good exhibiters stopped exhibiting as sales went to the Internet.
At the Winter Gift Show exhibitors used to fill orders for at least half a year, now very few orders are done at this major show. The followups are on the Internet, anyway.
Everything is changing, certainly as these shows die.
I liked the concentrated exhibitors and could research lots 15 years ago. Now I'm learning only side things at these shows.And then I have to follow up when I return to the office.