Advertising

On the Cutting Edge

This is your opportunity to do some significant networking. Bring your walking shoes and your team of employees. Spread out and take in all you can to kick your business up to another level.

Once again the flooring industry is headed to Las Vegas to display new products and trends as well as offering thought provoking seminars.  have been attending The International Surfaces Show for twenty years and it just gets better and better

For the past two years, the event has been paired with Design and Construction Week (DCW). DCW features the co-location of the NAHB International Builders’ Show^® (IBS) and the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). If you’re in the flooring business, this is certainly the place to check out new customers and get serious about improving your bottom line.

Are you prepared to work this show? Here are some quick tips.

Determine why you’re going to the show and what the top 10 things you hope to accomplish are. It’s easy to get off track. If you meet someone you haven’t seen in a long time, take their card and write a note to call them when you get home. It’s likely that they’re on a tight schedule also.

Register early before the show and get the “lay of the land” before you get there. Know what your hotel has to offer, how far it is from the event and if there’s a shuttle to get where you need to go.

Make a list of who you must definitely see. If possible make an appointment with them before the show. You must do this quickly because calendars fill up fast, especially if it’s a short show.

Get dressed up. You don’t need a suit but looking prosperous is always a good thing. I always go shopping before the show and see if there’s something outstanding.

Have more than one pair of shoes with you. I always carry an extra pair with me and change in the middle of the day. This will give both your feet and shoes a chance to recover. Don’t wear brand new shoes if you haven’t ‘broken them in.’ I have found that some shoes are comfortable for short times only. I have done some serious damage to my toes.

Don’t forget to bring plenty of cards. When you take someone’s card, take a photo with them also. This way you won’t forget who they are and what made them unforgettable. Don’t bring lots of large brochures; it’s easier to send things electronically when you get home.

Make friends in the lunch lines! If you decided to grab a snack talk with the person next to you in line. If you think it’s a good contact, maybe you can sit with them and get to know them. If you’re alone, find a table of people and ask if you might join them. This has always been good for me.

Take lots of pictures if allowed. This was you can put them on social media to show your customers what you’re up to. I’ve had several people tell me they’ve actually gotten orders from customers who have seen the ‘hot, new items’ on line. Some people like being first.

Make sure you find to recuperate. Working a trade show is like having another job, but a good one.

Lisbeth Calandrino, speaker, Associate Publisher and Director of Social Media, Fabulous Floors Magazine, http://fabulousfloorsmagazine.com/, https://lisbethcalandrino.com/.