Las Vegas is a great place to go for a getaway vacation. It is also know as one of the most popular places to hold a trade show. If you look at the Las Vegas Convention Convention Center there is back to back trade shows.Still for someone like me, who happens to love trade shows, it is not practical for me to spend so much time in Vegas. In fact there is another location where I can go to a trade show and be more out of them. Where is that you ask? I am talking about in my own backyard.
All across our great country, in just about every city, there is a convention center. In that convention center local businesses and special interest groups will hold their own trade shows at least two times per year. It is at these trade shows many many benefits can be gain.
See What is Available Locally – Local trade shows like to feature local businesses. Here I can get more details from local vendors about their products and services. Every year I seem to always meet at least two or more new contacts.
Gauge the Economy - In a political year like we are currently in, it is hard to gauge how our economy is doing. I have found a true sense of the economy can be found at a local trade show. In 2007, there was no degree of optimism at many of the trade shows. A lot of pasted on smiles from those who manned booths as well as those who were walking around. In 2008, there were less vendors. The vendors who were present had a straight face. So far this year I have seen vendors and attendee with smiles. In my book the ecomony is improving.
Opportunity for Price Breaks – At every trade show I have attended there is always coupons, discounts and free products and services available. Over the years some of the more notable price breaks were; Introductory price breaks for changing internet service provider, and a complete edition of Microsoft Office 2007 professional. Then there is all those coffee cups, pens and SWAG. I forget the last time when I bought a pen. I collect so many every year.
January is the start of what I call Trade Show Season. I have been told that I have an addictive personality. That may be so. When it come to the first five month of the year, I find myself attending two or more Trade Shows per month, sometimes more. I find that I have to limit the number of trade shows I attend every year. I have listed some of the ones I will be or have attended, this year
- January Trade Shows
- Jan 25 – 26 Idaho Business & Technology Expo
- Jan 28 – 29 Remodeling and Design
- February Trade Shows
- Feb 9-12 Treasure Valley Boat Show
- Feb 25-26 Gem Show and Sale
- March Trade Shows
- Mar 1 thru 4 – Idaho Sportsman’s Show
- Mar 9 thru 11 – Roadster Show
- Mar 15, 16, 17, 18 - Car Wars
- Mar 15, 16, 17, 18 – Spring Home and Garden Show
- Mar 17 – Idaho Cat Show
- April Trade Shows
- Mar 31 & Apr 1 – The Man Show
- Apr 28, 29 – Experience Idaho
- Apr 28, 29 – Family Fun Pet Expo
- May Trade Shows
- May 3, 4, 5 – Writers and Reader
- May 19 – Idaho’s Largest Garage Sale
- May 19, 20 – Active Womens Show
- May 27, 28 – Tat2Fest
Still there are other special interest Trade shows that are being held. If you look in your local area, I am sure you will several that will spark your interest. There a some for special breeds of goats to job fairs.
You can network on Facebook. It is good place to social network. You can tell me that I need to be on Linkedin and Google+.
Some even argue that I should be Twittering my daily activities. Call me old fashion there is nothing like face to face meeting. There is no better place than a good old Fashion Trade Show.
Bottom-line: The bottom-line for me is trade shows can be fun. They do offer a benefits where just walking through Wal Mart or Walgreens does not have.
Have you been to a trade show lately? If so tell me about it. I want to hear from you.
