Have trade shows had their day?
If we listen to the ‘doom and gloom news’ you’d think that trade shows have been delivered a death knell by the internet and the pandemic. But the resounding word on the street is NO! Retailer after retailer, visitor after visitor, keeps telling us that nothing beats the face to face chatting and seeing and touching products that attending trade fairs offers. We’re coming into the trade fair season of January and February when every good retailer will head to their local or national trade show to see new ranges, source stock and network with their suppliers. And again and again they say this can’t be replicated online. If you spent the same time sourcing online you’d never discover those hidden gems from new young suppliers, or feel the quality of the products, see the packaging or keep your stock fresh.
Added to this trade shows are working harder than ever to attract buyers with added value such as awards, educational masterclasses, entertaining seminars, a huge range of exhibitors and clear and concise show layouts. Although maybe businesses in these harsh times can’t afford to send a huge team of buyers, those buyers that attend will work harder with every moment at the Show counting.
There is one thing the pandemic has taught us – we are all humans and humans naturally crave company and nothing beats the face to face interaction of a trade show. As local shops have, in the main, performed relatively well over the last few years with people shopping local, these shops must attend the Shows to ensure they have the best products for their customers. If they don’t they main find they’re behind their competitors with the range and quality of products they offer.
So if you own a shop make sure you’ve registered for your local trade show this spring and get along there – you’ll be surprised at how many orders you can make and how much you’ll enjoy it!
PS If you’re in Scotland, Scotland’s Trade Fair and Speciality Food Show takes place at the SEC, Glasgow from 22-24 Jan. See you there!