Tips on Trade Shows for Plumbers
Trade shows offer an opportunity for professionals to display and discuss new products, network with individuals in the same field or complementary fields, interact with vendors and close sales deals. Plumbers may examine new faucets, flow systems and other plumbing innovations or share best practices with other plumbing professionals. Because trade shows can be busy, bustling places, it may help to review tips for maximizing effective interaction for plumbers.
Other People Are Reading
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Booths
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Everyone has some reason to learn more about plumbing, whether professionally or for improvements around their own homes. Respect trade show attendees by remaining near your plumbing booth to field questions or explain products; standing in the aisle in the hopes of dragging people to the booth comes across as pushy or desperate. Another tip: combine booth displays to include printed materials describing new plumbing products, product samples that people can pick up and manipulate with their hands, and easy-to-understand charts or statistics showing how products can improve efficiency, cut costs or increase sales for individual plumbing companies. Before the trade show, review lists of companies attending and request to be located near vendors with similar products. Rather than compete, partner together to answer similar questions or refer customers to one another depending on customer preference. Steer clear of major competitors or vendors you already know to be aggressively competitive, however.
Co-Sponsors
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Trade show booths can be expensive, with higher-priced booths costing $2,000 or more, according to Biznik.com. One tip: plumbing vendors or plumbing companies can save money and pool resources by co-sponsoring a booth together. It helps to offer related goods; for example, a low-flow toilet company might partner with businesses specializing in "green" heating and air-conditioning units. Besides saving on booth rental costs, companies can share printing costs for promotional materials explaining how plumbing companies and consumers can save money and help the environment by purchasing your products.
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Visitors
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Plumbing company representatives should take their time strolling trade show aisles to get a feel for products, companies or reps that interest them. If you're more comfortable repairing sewer lines or installing water heater units than communicating with wheeling-and-dealing sales representatives from large plumbing product corporations, avoid making on-the-spot decisions or committing to contracts. Another tip to consider: while vendors may offer special trade show promotions or discounts, you may save money in the long run by avoiding commitment until you've had time to weigh all options. Don't invest money in a new product that might not be the best fit for your plumbing operation just because someone hustled you on the trade show floor. Collect business cards and printed materials at the trade show, reserving big decisions for later.
Reality Check
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While networking is an important part of any trade show, refrain from participating in the grandstanding antics of other trade show participants. As a vendor, don't let tall tales of a PVC pipe competitor's hot sales three aisles over dissuade you from talking frankly with customers about the ways you can help improve their businesses. Whether you decide to enjoy a beer with colleagues after the trade show is up to you, but remember: you want vendors and industry friends to return home talking about your superior plumbing products, not your after-party skills.
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References
- Photo Credit collection of plumbing parts image by TimC from Fotolia.com
