Is the Tradeshow dead?
Jon Trask of Grass Shack Events & Media talks about Tradeshows for meeting professionals with Elizabeth Glau of Building Blocks Social Media and Laura Bergersen of Laura B Events at the Evening Coffee event with MPISCC.
Introduce new elements, venues, technologies, cool things. Bring the product in and show it!
How can we find balance for all parties involved?
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I think the traditional tradeshow is dead.
Planners don’t want to be sold to, they want the vendor’s value proposition. Planners want to build referral relationships. Most vendors don’t get it. From a planner’s prospective, until I see someone who CARES about my business and is willing to HELP me grow it or OFFER me a unique value offering, I am not interested.
Hi Elizabeth!
As a supplier I would love to know how to approach a meeting planner at a tradeshow? What are some of those unique value offerings that planners find the most interesting and how do you propose these without “selling” it?
I enjoy attending tradeshows and value the face-time I have with meeting planners and would love to know how to make the best of these events!
Hi De-de!
It is great to hear from you. So glad you found this podcast! Your feedback is right-on.
Elizabeth
Couldn’t agree with you more De-de! Most exhibitors seem so focused on just selling their products that they aren’t willing to listen to what other vendors and attendees have to say or how they can help each other. As a trade show display supplier, I have noticed that social media is beginning to transform the trade show industry and making it easier to connect with other attendees and exhibitors before even getting to the event. Is traditional trade shows dead? Maybe. But the face-to-face meetings will continue to be one of the most effective ways to build relationships.
I have put together a survey so that we can figure out exactly how to foster relationships between planners and suppliers. Take the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FC9Q62H
Planning is not an easy task especially for tradeshows, I think if both can can team up with vendors, they would both profit, but unfortunately most people never want a win win situation. It is so unfortunate yet there is enough for everyone in this industry!