View From the Trade Show Convention Floor
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Loading ...by Marie Marra
We launched a SpyCam drone to pick up views from the convention floor (and ceiling and exhibits) at the ASD/AMD trade show just wrapping up in Las Vegas. Here are notes from a bot’s-eye-view.
· Thinner But Still Huger. The ASD/AMD Trade Show hosts over 3,000 companies in segments that range from variety and gift merchandise to jewelry, outdoor/military and “China Brand” manufacturers of electronics, textiles and clothing.
· Despite other negative news about the current state of our economy, it still appears that the general merchandise industry is still strong.
· Battle of the Bags. Our SpyCam kept bleeping, It’s in the bag. But we think that was a flashcard hiccup. Seems the Publisher’s Pavilion, where ASD’s Media Partners exhibit, was the site of Dueling Carry-All Bags: Show attendees carried bags sporting the logos of Top Ten Wholesale or Alibaba. We’re not sure who won; bag carriers refused to stay inside the lines.
· Doing Search Marketing With – and In — Class. On Monday, August 11, Jason Prescott, CEO of JP Communications/ Top Ten Wholesale, and Eugene Byun, Search Engine Marketing Specialist, gave a well-received seminar offering insider tips on how to use industry and trade verticals in successful search marketing campaigns. The group of about 50 show-goers showed genuine interest in the Vertical Search Marketing topic and jumped in with lots of audience participation … especially during the Free SEO Tune-Up conducted on their business web sites. Anyone chewing gum during the presentation did so quietly, and remains at-large.
Not long after ASD/AMD packed up on Wednesday August 13, our SpyCam drone collapsed from extreme heat outside the air-conditioned convention center. That’s Vegas in August.
But we have 10 days to overhaul SpyCam and put it back into service in Las Vegas. From August 23 to 27, we’ll be working double-time at Off-Price Specialists Show (this year co-locating with the Army-Navy Military Expo) and then ASAP Global, the authority on global apparel sourcing (returning this year with the “green” ECO Apparel Trade and Fashion Show). Stay tuned. And stay cool.
What show were you at? The attendance at ASD was off, and our company as well as all of our neighbors didn’t even make expenses. While you may equate your success with giving out free shopping bags – the vendors inside the show floor have to make sales – exchanging actual goods for MONEY. And, this did not happen at the ASD Show, this one or the last. It will be our final swan song. Your blogs of how the economy is good and how many BMW’s are at Walmart is ridiculous. You should look at the real world and the real numbers — WE ARE NOT WALMARTS. We are small and mid sized independent businesses who are suffering. Maybe if you concentrated your “spy cam” and your schmoozing to the REAL wholesalers and retailers in the ASD type industry you will get a more accurate picture than sitting behind your computers and “wishing it be better!” – Fact is, the economy does suck – fact is that the trade shows suck – and the final fact is that most people in the ASD-type industry are treading water.
Hi Joe,
I deeply regret that you had a bad experience at ASD. As a trade show organizer, we always want our competition to do well to support a healthy industry.
I do however, challenge your assertion that trade shows in general suck.
Our recent Off Price Show in August had close to 10,000 retail buyers, wholesalers and other industry professionals who were open to buy and and the volume of order-writing was tremendous. On the second day of our show, buyers stayed past the 6:00 pm closing time and were doing business with our vendors up until 7:30.
I invite you to check out our website and contact me at 262.782.1600 to learn more about our rare exhibition. If you are a merchandiser of apparel, accessories and footwear, or other products and services that support the retail industry, our show could be a fit for you. Our biggest category of exhibitors – the jobbers or off price specialists – carry quality apparel at 20-70% below wholesale, and thr products range from low-end to top designer, from basics to brand names. There really is something for everyone in our show that can really make their season.
Check us out and let me know if the Off Price Specialist Show is a good fit for your company.
Best regards to you and your company.