Economic Times Are Changing A Study of Our Industry
I have been doing quite a bit of research recently including interviewing industry experts in the area of the new economic situation and how it is touching us here in the convention and trade show industry. I put out a call for experts to reach out and tell me about their ideas and opinions. I have spoken with vendors and suppliers, those in the convention centers, and meeting planners and others all of which have an opinion on how their lives have been effected by the downturn in the economy. I am finishing up the series of interviews and getting my notes finished up and will be providing a series of posts related to my findings and the results of my investigation.
If you are someone that I have spoken with and are here to see what I have posted, be patient. As I indicated the response to my call for ideas and opinions was more than I expected. If you are here as a regular reader, I think the information I have gathered will prove to be informational, inspiring and a little revealing. If you have not already signed up for our RSS feed or have not signed up to get our posts via email you can do that on the sidebar. If I have not talked to you yet and you want to add your opinion or ideas to the piece, feel free to email me or just leave a comment here. I’ll add you to the already overwhelming response for people that have weighed in.
[photo via jenn_jenn]
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I can’t wait. Even though this is a slow time for the industry, we are still seeing the crunch of the economy. Budgets in marketing seem to be the first cut and they do it without fully examining what trade shows mean to companies. Interested to see what industry experts have to say on the matter.
Hi Jim…
I’m very interested in reading your findings of the Economy of Trade Shows, especially in Las Vegas. As the entire world economy has been turned upside down as well as sideways, it’s time for a major wake up call. We need to look behind the curtain, or should I say the “Pipe & Drape”. The business model for trade shows is broken. The short answer is to have turnkey solutions for exhibiting at trade shows. Pre-determined pricing without last minute on-site charges to the Exhibitors, upscale environmentally designed exhibits, while providing creative interactive retainable experiences for the attendees.
This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
I have a solution that will start the process without the status quo trade show fix going “cold turkey.”
Jeff
702-487-5041
This year, the current challenges within the event industry gave me a great idea that turned into a successful company that is changing the way trade show exhibitors run their marketing programs. As a former display sales person for a trade show house, I was pretty nervous about ad budgets of my clients being tossed to the wind. But then I saw an opportunity to service the new needs caused by the economic downturn within our event industry.
I started a website that helps small businesses find out about smaller trade fairs that they can participate in locally. The site operates like a cooperative small business community where members offer trade show marketing goods, services and booth spaces at lower rates with added benefits. So far, every side has benefited!
Show organizers fill their booth spaces months sooner by listing shows through the website, which translates to money saved when show organizers find themselves at an early preparation advantage.
Exhibitors are happy because they get reduced rates and added benefits when they sign up. It’s hard for small businesses and start-ups to compete sometimes because the costs to market are so high. The website, http://www.ShowcaseConnections.com, helps keep costs down because members supports each other with cooperative pricing and membership benefits.
I thought you would like to know about this because it is a successful web community that was born out of challenges happening within our own event industry and the present challenges of our nation. If you go to the site, let me know what you think. Again, it is http://www.ShowcaseConnections.com.