What IS a Real Trade Show in 2021?

By: Shelley Allen, Owner | March 25, 2021

Yesterday I got the most exciting email I have seen in a long time! It was an invitation to an in-person tradeshow! I could hardly believe it! As a matter of fact, I read through every word on the email to make sure I wasn’t reading it wrong. I’m so excited! It’s one I have always attended every year in Chicago, so being able to go back this year is very exciting!

It got my brain a-whirring. I wonder if there are any other tradeshows that are going to be held this year in the pre-COVID norm of face-to-face, in-person, real live people fashion. Google to the rescue!

This is what I found out about the future of trade show events

Experts believe that we will start seeing more and more in-person events as the year progresses and as more people get vaccinated. This doesn’t mean that virtual events will be a thing of the past. Experts speculate that hybrid in person/virtual events will be a very common type of event so marketers can reach a broader audience.

It's the truth that virtual events will never fully go away. As an introvert, I can’t say I’m disappointed. I’ve attended 3 virtual events for the promo industry this year with each one being different. None were a real trade show as we know it, but there were positives to each one.

One of my favorite new options was a networking “room” where you would be randomly connected to someone else whether a vendor or another distributor. I really enjoyed that because it’s not something I normally do at in person events. I made a couple of pretty good connections that way.

Are you ready for … spring?

I don’t know if you’ve noticed but temps are on the rise and that means spring is around the corner! I’m pretty excited about warmer weather but I am a southern girl that gets cold easily. I am always on the lookout for warm. And whether you are thinking about spring or attending a trade show, you need to get ready.

With warm weather comes lots of sunshine and everyone loves a nice pair of sunglasses on a sunny day while you’re planting some flowers in your garden!  

While I’m on the subject, don’t forget sunscreen! I don’t know about you, but this fair skinned girl burns super easy, especially in the early spring.

With all the things that you like to have in the springtime, don’t you think that others like those things as well? What better way to promote your business than with those things people are using now and are excited to be using?

Besides the virtual “networking room” for introverts, one of my favorite things to do is to brainstorm with my clients! You need to be ready for whatever form your industry trade show events take. Call me at 317-76-4309. Let’s set up a time to brainstorm.

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Feel the Joy of an Online Store

By Shelley Allen, Owner, On Point Promotions & Embroidery | March 7, 2021

For the last year, the only thing that has been constant has been change. Even after a year of major shifts we can always count on something else changing … and often. Since things aren’t the way they used to be we can’t expect to continue running our businesses the same way we always have. They have to change, too. We are still needing to wear masks and use social distancing measures so we must adjust the way we work with our clients and sometimes employees, too. Some options that have existed but not used as a general rule like virtual meetings and group chats become more mainstream, including the idea of online stores.

The use of online meetings exploded in the last year. After countless hours on Zoom, I’ve become completely comfortable and use it often for meetings.  I knew in the beginning that I needed to change more than just the way I met with clients but just didn’t know what direction to take. It took me a little time to figure it out, but I found something that could be useful to many of my customers, as well as other companies, while remaining in the same industry.

In that same vein of expanding opportunities, I want to share a new advantageous option for businesses that I am now offering.  Online stores!

Are company online stores new?

Your business can have a store of your very own that is filled with products completely branded with your logo. I know online stores have been around awhile.  I’ve looked into them for several years but never found a provider that I felt would truly meet my needs as well as my customers’ needs so.

Since I joined iPROMOTEu (the company I hired to take care of back-office work) in 2019, I have found that they have abundant resources available to me. One of them is company online stores. I’ve got the first one up and running right now for a local high school track team. So far, it’s been easier than I imagined for both my client and me. My hope is it will continue to operate without a hitch!

The benefits of company online stores

There are so many benefits for you with online stores. I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about some of them:

·         You have more control with brand consistency without all the work. You’ll enjoy a quicker approval process. Select your items once and approve the artwork for them once. Eliminate the need to repeat the process for every order.

·         It’s easy for you to track budgets and control costs for departments and/or locations. A budget is set for each group that they can’t exceed.

·         Save time with less man hours for large apparel orders. Each employee can see the options and order what they want. Just like departments and locations, you can set a budget for each employee. If they decide to exceed their budget, they can pay the remainder with a credit card. They get what they want, and you remain on budget.

·         Invoices can be sent directly to the accounts payable department or another designated person(s).

·         Shipments can be sent to one main location or other locations. You make the choice that is most convenient and expedient for you and your staff.

·         Warehousing is an option, so some items are available quicker than they would be with standard production times.

·         There is always the option of adding new items or removing old items. It is quick and easy with a few clicks on the keyboard.

·         Online stores are easy and work well for special company events or teams.

Company online stores are customizable to meet the needs of each individual company. Plus, they can be ready to run in a matter of weeks, not months! If this sounds like something that would benefit your company, let’s chat!

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