Bring on the Shows!
While it’s been a slow crawl to get back in the swing of things for trade shows – we’re now full speed ahead! The Southwest show in June was a great opportunity to get back to seeing old friends and making new ones; now we’re gearing up for the ICA show this November! The 2020 show postponements have us squeezing in events in an effort to get back on track for upcoming calendar year.
Bring on the Shows!
Just to give you an idea, here is a lineup of all the upcoming shows between now and the ICA Car Wash Show in April of 2022:
- Oct 5-8, 2021 NACS www.nacsshow.com
- Oct 18-19, 2021 HCA https://www.heartlandcarwash.org/product-and-equipment-show/
- Nov 2-5, 2021 SEMA www.semashow.com
- Nov 15-17, 2021 Car Wash Show (ICA) https://www.carwash.org/the-car-wash-show
- Feb 27-Mar 1, 2022 SCWA www.swcarwash.org
- May 9-11, 2022 The Car Wash Show (ICA): https://www.carwash.org/events
That’s 6 shows over the next 8 months! That’s a lot for the manufacturers to manage, plan and pay for! To say that you will need to pick and choose where and when to attend goes without saying. You might need to be selective and strategic about what you are looking for in equipment, contacts or services, then travel accordingly.
Regardless of what show you attend, here are some tips to help make the most out of your trip.
- Research the vendors attending the show – decide who you need to see and map out a plan for spending time at their booth.
- Schedule important meetings ahead of time – vendors and suppliers are busy at shows; make sure to get on their schedule ahead of time.
- Don’t worry about home/work– you made the investment to come; make it worth your time and focus your energy on where you are.
- Attend educational sessions– there is always something to learn in these sessions or a person to meet that will become invaluable to you in the future.
- Enter your new contacts– don’t loose those contacts or business cards, take some notes to remember who that person was and why you need to stay in touch with them.
- Wear comfortable clothes/shoes– this isn’t a fashion show but dress for the occasion. Look professional, but understand you will be walking and on your feet most of the day!
- Summarize your trip– take a little time at the end of each day to jot down a summary of the day and also make some notes at the end of the show!
I believe the trade shows are worth every bit of money and time you invest in them, but as the saying goes, ‘you get out of it what you put into it.’
If you are going to take the time to attend a show, make it worth you time – you and your car wash will be better for it!
