Tips For Getting the Most From Wholesale Trade Shows - Part 1

Wholesale Trade Shows can be a wonderful resource for anyone who buys new merchandise for resale. It doesn't matter if you have a brick and mortar gift shop, sell at flea markets, fairs and festivals, or are an online auction seller, if you buy in bulk - that is multiple quantities of an item, then finding new sources is simply a "must". And trade shows are a one-stop chance to make many new wholesale connections. Here are proven tips for getting the most from your trade show experience that will maximize the benefits of attending.

* Do plenty of advanced preparation

-All trade shows are not created equal. If you sell novelty tee shirts exclusively then you would not want to attend an all jewelry and fashion show. The Internet is a great resource now for finding out just about everything, and trade shows are no exception. Read the NCE calendar for upcoming trade shows. Find a show with a date and location you think might be a good one for you. Call the promoter and ask questions about the kinds of companies who will be attending, how many will be there, what kind of buyer attendance they expect, etc. Or, you can try searching on the Internet first to see if the Trade show has a website. Most of them do these days. Google - is a great search engine for this. A search by the name of the event a should help you find what you are looking for.

-Decide how far from home you can afford to travel to attend a show. Will you drive? Carpool with another dealer? Fly? Make a realistic list of expected travel expenses: gasoline, air fare, car rental, and don't forget to include food and overnight lodging. If a show is close to home you will be able to cut way back on the cost of attending.

-Contact the Show Promoter to find out what business credentials you will need for admittance. You wouldn't want to travel 800 miles to a show just to be turned away because you didn't have the necessary paperwork needed to get in. Remember... these are Wholesale events that are not open to the public, so the promoter has an obligation to see that attendees meet the qualifying criteria for entrance.

-If time permits prior to the start of the show, pre-register by mail or over the Internet. Pre-registration is almost always free, while there is usually a small fee for registering at the door. Another advantage of pre-registration is that your ID badges may be mailed to you making getting onto the trade show floor a little easier. Some shows have long lines of buyers trying to register the day of the show which can cause a delay in starting your buying experience. Not so bad for a small show, but for the major events you will want all the "floor" time you can get to see everything. Some shows will actually mail you their exhibitor book. This will give you the names of the exhibiting companies and their booth numbers. Some books have more detailed info. This can be helpful in this way. Before you go to the show you may be able to do an Internet search using a souce such as Google, to see if a company you might be interested in has a website..

*Using the Exhibitor List as a Trade Show Treasure Map

There are two ways to see a trade show. One is the shotgun approach. That is to go out on the trade show floor with no advanced planning and to wander around taking in the sights while trying to remember what you saw, where you saw it and who you spoke with. Not the most efficient use of your valuable time! This is the way many new trade show attendees start their exploration of the booths. In some ways it is understandable, because the impact of seeing a huge number of wholesalers in one place displaying their wares can be a little overwhelming. You may feel a little like a like a kid in a candy store. You will want to see everything but you need to let logic not emotion lead the way.

A better way to work the trade show is to take time to familiarize yourself with the companies who are exhibiting at the show by reading the exhibit book/list and making notes for yourself. Find a place to sit down - a snack bar or buyer rest area works well, and go through the book. If the list doesn't give much detail about the companies, look for names that might relate to the kind of merchandise you are looking for. XYZ Wholesale doesn't tell you what the company sells so pass them by for now. But if you are a buyer of ladies purses and fashion accessories then a company named - World of Handbags - sounds like a good one to put on your list of booths to look for first. Your list doesn't have to be extremely long. You can always sit down and go through the book again later. The advantage is that you will have a map of sorts of places to hit first so that you can stay on task with all the distractions you will encounter walking row after row in the hustle and bustle of business activity taking place all around you. Your notes will be invaluable both at the show and when you return home.

** More of - Getting the Most From Trade Shows - Part 2 coming in September.