lawn and garden consultant, lawn and garden products, rick pontz, lawn and garden performance group

Trade Shows

To Show
Or
Not to Show
That is the Question

As you know there are many national and regional shows that are not cost effective to participate in for most manufacturers of lawn & garden products. It is too expensive or they take place at the wrong time of the year to have much impact on retailers and distributors. There are even shows like the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas that have gone through a metamorphosis to become the "lawn & garden event of the year" as it once was. Other shows like The National Lawn & Garden Show that offer manufacturers one-on-one meetings with prospects that would cost you a small fortune & time to try to accomplish without the event.

At the same time trade shows offer you a great opportunity to accomplish non-sales goals that would cost you even more money to achieve. Below is a check list of some of the non-sales objectives you may be able to achieve at a trade show. Check off which ones would meet your objectives, If you check off three or more objectives you can accomplish by attending the trade show you may want to re-evaluate your decision.

To meet with manufacturer representatives who attend the show. It is a great cost saving place to have sales meeting to review all the past years changes and next years products and programs.

To show attending accounts, prospects,suppliers, and media your new displays and point of sale material. It's difficult to lug displays around the country to show how much work you put into them. A trade show is a great place to set them up and show them off to the important people you want to review them.

To spy on your competitors. There are still a lot of companies who exhibit at regional and national shows even if it is not cost effective. This is a great place to stay informed as to what new things your competitors have thought of.

To meet with your suppliers. Many suppliers attend shows to look for prospects.. It's worth the trip if you setup appointments to meet with two or three of them to review your business or potential with them.

It's a great place to brag. Bring a Press Release and leave it in the media room or meet with the attending media Try to set up meetings with the media during the show, or better yet, set up appointments with the media in advance of the show.

The Lawn & Garden Performance Group
4440 East Ficus Way
Gilbert, AZ 85297
Phone Number: 480-840-6023
Fax Number: 480-840-6028