Many cleaning contractors are planning on attending the ISSA Tradeshow, which will be held this year in Las Vegas, starting on November 18, 2019. Attending tradeshows can be very expensive, especially if a contractor is taking a few staff members to the show.
For instance, the first big expense is just getting in the convention door. The company will need to join ISSA to go plus there may be a charge for each staff member. Then there’s airfare, hotel, food allowances, and of course entertainment.
It can add up quickly. Because it is such an investment, contractors need to make sure they and their staff get the most out of the show.
However, the stats indicate that at best, this is a mixed bag. In July 2015, Statistical Research conducted a survey asking tradeshow attendees how engaged they are when attending an industry tradeshow. The study reported the following:
• 8% of the attendees were fully engaged with the show from start to finish
• 57% said they were engaged with the show about 80 percent of the time (indicating they spent the rest of their involved with non-show activities)
• 22% reported they were engaged with the show about half of the time
• 10 % said they were “just going through the motions.”
So, how can we make sure none of us are “just going through the motions,” and get something out of the ISSA show? Here are some suggestions:
Have a plan.
Decide on what types of equipment and products you want to check out.
Arrive early.
With your plan in hand, go to the show early and map out all the booths that have the equipment and products you are interested in seeing. The ISSA show is generally laid out so that similar equipment and products are in the same area, making this a bit easier. However, this is not always the case.
Dress up.
No, a 3-piece suit is not necessary, but exhibitors tend to spend time and give more attention to attendees wearing casual business attire.
Shoes.
Bring two pairs of shoes and wear them on alternate days
Busy.
Avoid busy booths on the first day. By the second day, the floor will be considerably quieter and so will the booths. This will allow you to spend some time with an exhibitor and learn more about their equipment and products.
Wait.
Salespeople at tradeshows are usually very busy. Sometimes, they are working with two attendees at the same time. Check out their booths and wait for them to come to you. They will. This way, you and your questions are their only focus.
Literature.
Be discerning. Pick up literature only on the products you are interested in and leave the others behind. After two or three days at a tradeshow, everything tends to blend together. Having lots of literature from many different vendors just adds to the confusion.
Contact.
The exhibitors will likely scan your badge to get your contact information. But, be sure and get their contact information. If you are interested in a product, follow up with them as soon as possible. If they sell directly to end-customers, they may have a special “show price” for attendees. Or, they will refer you to distributors marketing the product in your area.
The Segura & Associates blog is where cleaning contractors and other contractors find information that can help them grow their businesses and run them more successfully. Our goal is to help you become a leader in your industry. For more information, contact Ron Segura at seguraassociates@msn.com.
