Comments on: Are Trade Shows Obsolete?

By: The Trade Show Guru

The Trade Show Guru — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:42:34 +0000

Anders,
Good points that we are “social animals” and the value of “face to face” marketing. I agree that trade shows will always be a part of the marketing mix. How much of the mix may change, but they will remain a part of the mix. Thanks for stopping by again. ~ Steve

By: Anders - Trade Show Infotainer

Anders - Trade Show Infotainer — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:22:49 +0000

Trade shows will always be around in my opinion because humans are social animals. Even though there are more virtual trade shows these days they will never take the place of what we know as a trade show. If you look at the ancient Bazaars of the middle east they were very similar to a trade show. They have always been around and will continue to exist. I’m not sure who said it but the quote sums up my feelings.

“No matter how much you click place to place, you will never replace face to face.”

By: The Trade Show Guru

The Trade Show Guru — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:54:22 +0000

hi GrowMap,
Sorry, I found you in the Akismet bucket and it looks like you’ve been in there for a few days with some unsavory company. Anyway, I dug you out and hosed you off. I’m also sorry I don’t have a twitter account (at least yet). I guess I’m still living in the last century. I’ll click through and check out your post though. ~ Steve
Hey Tim,
Good to hear that it sounds like the Agri trade show is alive and well, and bury. That is a good sign.
And I agree with you that people probably think a bit before they pull the trigger on a 300k deal. And they’d also want to see the product (like at a trade show) rather than buy it based on a picture on the internet. Trade shows are still relevant. Good insight. ~ Steve

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:15:55 +0000

We just attended the huge Agri Trade Show in Red Deer, Alberta and that show is always incredibly busy. Booths have to be reserved years in advance, in many cases, unless there is a cancellation I suppose. It is an agricultural show, which leaves it wide open for a variety of items. Everything from home products, to farm equipment, to building supplies and tools. It is definitely an event that is alive and well.
My observation is that most sales don’t happen at the show. People like me go there and look at everything, collect a few goodies and take some cards and pamphlets. Then a week later I might phone and try to wrangle the trade show special price out of someone.
I’m pretty sure all the big deals happen this way too. If you are buying a harvester or combine, for instance, you might think it over and see who is going to give you the best deal before you put your $300 000.00 on the table. People wait for fall specifically to go to this sale and hold off buying because they know there are always Agri Trade Show only deals. And I’m pretty sure most farmers never buy online, so real world is where its at.

By: Internet Strategist @GrowMap

Internet Strategist @GrowMap — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:46:04 +0000

Here I have a nice su.pr to your blog all ready to #followfriday you and I can’t find a Twitter address for you anywhere. Are you not on Twitter?

I found @tradeshowguru and others using that phrase but none of them are you.

While I’m here I thought I’d invite you to check out my Best of GrowMap post I linked to this comment.

Invoking my “Friend of the Guru” comment policy name exception as usual. I’ll be back.

By: Will

Will — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:39:13 +0000

@ Mitch – That is a great point about relevancy. I went to a garden show this summer where more than 50% of the displays/vendors had absolutely nothing to do with gardening. Some where as off topic as wireless phone vendors, banks, or home water purifiers. I think because the groups that put on these shows need a certain number of booths filled to break even, they take all comers.

By: The Trade Show Guru

The Trade Show Guru — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:17:58 +0000

hi Ian, Thanks for your comment about trade show internet.

hi Mitch,
You wrote: “I don’t think trade shows are obsolete either, but I do think some of the people running them are trying to kill the industry.” LOL
Just like businesses and websites, not all trade shows are well run, and it’s a bummer to exhibit at or attend a trade show that isn’t well run…

Hi Barbara,
Your are right that people should not even think about trade show exhibiting unless they have a plan for success (which usually involves making a profit and NOT generating a loss!) Thanks for stopping by. ~ Steve

By: Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:29:37 +0000

The key for successful trade shows is to obtain profit (ie, leads, orders, networking, viral marketing) – I’ve seen lots of people, however, really miss that boat with their exhibits!

I enjoyed learning about that back when I was manning my own. It helped a lot.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:21:50 +0000

I don’t think trade shows are obsolete either, but I do think some of the people running them are trying to kill the industry.

I went to one last week for home and small businesses, which was badly attended. The problems were many. It wasn’t advertised well. It also had many vendors that had nothing to do with either home or small businesses. I mean, not a single office supply company, nor office furniture. There were a couple of restaurants there, tons of banks and credit unions, and a few hotels.

There were some government agencies there that help out, as well as all of the Chambers of Commerce in our area, but that was about it. To me, these folks are just failing us.

By: Ian Framson

Ian Framson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:38:17 +0000

Steve,

So long as people conduct sales, you will have the need for in-person meetings and relationship development. As technology advances, we have an ever increasing challenge to put email, Webinars, teleconferencing, and all other forms of “virtual” communication in their rightful place. These electronics means of contact are efficient, but they are no substitute for in-person traditional face-to-face communication.

Ultimately, people buy from people they know and like — and the trade show environment is a great place to solidify relationships and build new ones. Many of the best contracts that were ever written began with looking the other person in the eye and a firm handshake.

When planning trade show booth design, it’s often difficult to strike a balance between showcasing your wares and making your booth staff approachable. Many companies are using technology to engage their visitors and showcase web-based products and services. With our internet-in-a-box solution, exhibitors are creating WiFi cafes in their booths to attract and retain visitors while providing access to the web and personal email. Software-as-a-service companies and firms with content-rich websites are displaying their virtual selves alongside their human selves in their booths. If you have a website where you collect contact information or process online transactions, providing a kiosk or laptop (with an internet connection) can be a great place to send a visitor in your booth when the conversation leads to the “next step”.

Trade Show Internet can help exhibitors keep their internet costs low and share strategies of how to best deploy technology in the trade show booth environment — but please make sure your technology never eclipses the real reason why you’re there, to interact with and engage your customers in relationship building conversations.

In success,

Ian Framson
CEO
Trade Show Internet