Posts Tagged ‘finding trade shows’
Product Sourcing at Trade Shows
Thursday, October 25th, 2007
No matter where you do the majority of your business, trade shows can be very helpful to you. They are a great place to pickup new products, keep your line fresh, and get some great insight too. If you have considered attending a trade show but never have, here are some tips to help you out.
Finding Trade Shows:
It’s actually rather easy to find a list of trade shows in your area. One way is to simply search Yahoo or Google for a list of upcoming trade shows in your industry. However, if you don’t feel like browsing through the pages of content, visit a website that has the information for you. TSNN.com features some good information, and one of the best trade show list resources for the wholesale and retail industry is the goWholesale Trade Show Calendar . They have an organized, easy way of searching for them. If you still need more information, try speaking with other vendors and find out where they go. Most of the time, they will be happy to help you.
While At the Trade Show:
When you’re at the trade show, there will be a million things going on at one time. Your goal is to gain information on products , which ones are hot sellers right now, and to decide whether you will be picking up any new products. Here are some really great tips to keep your sanity and achieve those goals.
* Take plenty of business cards with you. This is the perfect place to hand them out. You want to get your name and info in front of people.
* Spend the first day or two getting to know what booths are up and what products are available. This will help you when you are really getting down to what you’re going to try and pick up or not. Go through the show directory (most shows hand these out to all attendees) and plan your course of action by highlighting the vendors that interest you most.
* Practice your pitch. A great key is to practice your pitch on the vendors that you’re not really that interested in. You have half a minute to get them interested. That’s why the pitch is so important. Use the first few days to practice, and you will be warmed up and ready to pitch to the vendors you are definitely interested in.
* Keep your eye out for the crowded booths, or the "buzz" from certain products. You want to know which ones are great sellers, and this is a good place to find out.
* Make sure you have cash on you. At the end of the show, the vendors will usually sell their floor samples and this is a great place to pick them up.
* Carry a bag or something with you to collect fliers, brochures, business cards and samples. Back at the hotel, you can sort through them and decide which ones are a definite no, a maybe, and a yes.
* Wear comfortable walking shoes!
* Get interested in the products you can actually see yourself carrying. It’s easy to lose focus and get really interested in a product that wouldn’t be very practical with your line.
Trade shows are a great resource for picking up new products and getting great ideas. Pay close attention, and follow the tips above to maximize your trade show results.
Tags: advice, finding trade shows, Product Sourcing, source, sourcing products, tips, Trade Shows
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