Tradeshows 101

What are trade shows?

Trade Shows are Events where Manufactures, distributors and many other resources come together to promote their products and get new clients. These are one of the best places to gain access to suppliers more then willing to sell their products to you is at a wholesale, drop ship, or manufacturer trade show.  These trade shows take place all over the country from Hawaii to Las Vegas to New York. 

If you are really interested in selling a specific type of product, but are having the hardest time locating a supplier then you might want to check out Dropshipping, and trade show lists.  Getting access to a supplier through one of these shows could be the best Dropshipping relationship you ever set up.

These guys are eager to be working with internet business owners that will be making them money.  They will give you the best possible prices if you can establish a good personal relationship with them.

Finding suppliers through trade shows is a great method to find new suppliers. Some of our most successful clients found one of their suppliers while attending a trade show.

How do I find trade shows?

 There are many ways to search for trade shows in your area.

Google:
Search Google for Trade Shows in your area. Or search for convention centers in your area. These resources can tell you what events are happening in your area and typically they have links to the event website where you can get more information on the event.
 
Trade Show Websites:
-TSNN – www.tsnn.com – The Ultimate Event Resource, houses an extensive show/event, supplier and venue databases, but complemented the site with a couple of value-added sections – Products and Services and TSNN Shows On The Move (SLAM) Benefits of registration include:
-FREE full access to our 15,000 global event database
-FREE full access to our supplier listings
-FREE full access to venues
-FREE listing your event, supplier information or venue
-FREE membership to join 30,000 opt-in subscribers who receive TSNN’s ExpoFiles bi-monthly newsletters
-Biz Trade Shows – www.biztradeshows.com
 
The Shipper.com:
The Shipper has a full resource of tradeshows in your area that are related to your nice. They also provide a lot of the information you will need to know to get signed up to attend one of these events.
Give a lot of good info about the shipper.
 
Attending shows, things to know:

When attending these events you will want to get as much information as you can. Here are some of the things you will want to look for:

• Attendance prices – Some events will cost you very little or even nothing. Other might be much more pricy, knowing this can help you to determine if this event will be cost effective. This information is typically provided on the events website. Tax deduction
• The Vender List – this might be a website or in a book they send you before the show. This information shows you who is attending and you can see if there are enough venders related to your niche to make the trip worth while. Remember that venders will be added to the list almost to the day of the event.
• Floor plan and booth locations. – This can help you plan your rout and help to manage your time. We will talk more about time management in a second.
• Know the Schedule – by knowing what the hours are and when different events are taking place, you can join in and build good solid relationships with suppliers and learn a lot from speakers and guests.
• Build relationships – This is your best chance to build a solid relationship with a supplier and to get the best deals you can.
• Bring Business cards – When passing out cards Get a name and write it down. Make sure to follow up.
• Catalogs, Mailing lists – Sign up for catalogs and mailing lists. A good tip is to create an email address for this event. Collect catalogs.
• Drop ship – ask if they drop ship, if they say no, ask another way…
• Build relationships – just incase you forgot that one.
• Wear good shoes – all depending on the size of the event, you will do a lot of walking.
   

Time management:

One of the biggest mistakes made by the first time Attendee is not managing their time. Here are some easy ways to make sure you get the most out of every event.

• Plan your days in advance – By reviewing the schedule and floor plan you will know when different things are taking place. If you have a PDA or a Phone with a calendar, set reminders to make sure you don’t forget about events or meetings.
• Priorities your needs – Plan if events, finding suppliers, or sight seeing is most important, and be committed to your decision. 
• Plan Breaks – You will need to take lunch and other breaks during the day, make sure you give yourself extra time to get to events and talk with venders.
   

Finding Deals and Suppliers:

Recently I had attended a (Dropshipping) trade show for home furnishings (everything from memory foam mattress to bedding and the night stands to go along with them) and I realized how big the world of Dropshipping products has become.  I also leaned how important it is that The Shipper keeps attending shows like this to keep providing the most accurate and #1 Dropshipping list on the web.

You can find products to drop ship at much better prices by going directly to the source (at these kind of expos), If you already have a business and currently use a supplier that drop ships, what if you could find a supplier that drop ships your product for even 10 percent less?  Over long term you can save a lot of money even with two actual dropshippers.