Trade Show Madness?

[Jim Miller]

I hope the PPFA events and activities at the PMA-Orlando show this month are successful, especially since this will be their first joint effort. It looks like a good schedule of events.

Trade show mailings fill our mailboxes this month. How did we end up with three major east-coast trade shows, all appealing to framers, on three consecutive weekends? Who thinks this is a good idea?

February 23 -- 27
PMA -- Orlando (PMA/PPFA; 33 classes by PPFA educators)

February 28 -- March 3
ArtExpo -- New York (Framing Business News; free seminars?)

March 7 -- 9
Decor Expo -- New York (Decor Magazine; 36 classes by PFM Seminars)

Granted, PPFA sort of backed into the situation this year. Since the merger, PMA/PPFA has tried to condense what is rightfully a half-year trade show planning effort into a few weeks, while the move from Richmond to Jackson was in process. Thankfully, PMA has a professional staff to handle the task; I think less-experienced planners would not have been able to pull it off in time.

Before the PMA vote, PPFA was assured to have its own trade show. There were concerns about PPFA getting lost in a corner at the huge, annual PMA show. What happened with that? Was there a change of mind? Will PPFA indeed have a large enough presence at the PMA show? Will PPFA eventually have its own shows?

How are framers supposed to decide which show(s) to attend? How are exhibitors supposed to justify the considerable expense of pitching three east-coast tents in three weeks? All three of the organizers seem confident of successful shows. Surely there will be winners and losers among them, but it need not be so. If they consolidated (again), or if they spread out over the year and the geography, all of the shows could be more successful -- and more meaningful. Framers, exhibitors, and organizers all would be better off.

Our industry's large trade shows are important events, and should be worthy of our support. IMHO, we should go to as many of them as practical, but this year few of us could attend them all. I guess we'll make hard choices this month, and hope that our industry's trade show organizers will learn valuable lessons about scheduling.

But next year's schedule is almost concrete (advance planning is essential), and it isn't looking much better. The PMA/PPFA trade show will be in Las Vegas, one week after the fourth annual West Coast Art & Framing Show (Picture Framing Magazine) in the same city. Will ArtExpo and Decor Expo have the same conflict next year? If framers have two west coast shows on consecutive weekends, and two east coast shows on consecutive weekends two months later, it will be another year of unnecessarily confusing and conflicting schedules. A no-win situation.

Maybe it's a case of incredibly unfortunate coincidence, since all of the organizers plan independently.

Trade show organizers, please stop this madness.

[Bob Carter]

[Bogframe]

I did the two Vegas shows last year, and the first one was a bust as far as framing went. The WCAF show that came after it went well for us, though.

[CharlesL]

Hope to go to Atlanta show. Anybody know dates?

[ozcrescent]

Jim I agree,How many shows do we really need??
If I had my way(scary) we would have Atlanta and NewYork
and two or three small regional show's that were education focused.

[Hobbes03]

Off Topic:

ozcrescent:
Nice cover photo on Feb. DECOR!

-Mike. ;)

[Jim Miller]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ozcrescent:
...If I had my way(scary) we would have Atlanta and NewYork and two or three small regional show's that were education focused.<hr></blockquote>

Exhibitors and educators might all agree with you, and probably most framers. A year ago the organizers seemed to agree, too.

Formerly-successful shows in major cities were discontinued when attendance declined. That leaves the shows you mentioned, plus the successful West Coast Art & Frame Show in Las Vegas -- which proves there's plenty of support for a good west coast show.

Maybe the organizers still think a few big shows are the best approach, but they seem more willing to compete than to cooperate. What's happening now looks like an open competition. It can't continue for more than a few years, because neither framers nor exhibitors can support all of the shows.

[johntaff]

Off topic:


Thanks, Hobbes, for the compliment on the cover!

John Taff
Editor
DECOR

[Bogframe]

While we're on the subject of trade shows, how about bringing back the Chicago show? That was always a fun one, and any excuse I can find to get to the Windy City is a good one.
[b]Also[\b] Are the grumble ribbons that were supposed to be given out at the Atlanta show going to be given out at the DecorExpo show? (Btw, I'll be there at the Cornerstone booth...come by, and I'll show you the greatest oval cutter on the planet smile.gif )

[mbshir]

Charles,
In answer to your question,
I was just checking last night -
the Atlanta show is September 20-22

[Jim Miller]

Originally posted by Bob Carter:
...Which will I attend? The one that invites me first...You may have hit the key question, Bob. But c'mon -- I'm sure your evaluation of the shows will be more thorough than a look at postmarks on the invitations.

Going to a trade show costs several hundred dollars at least -- sometimes thousands. So the choice is an important one for most framers. As with any other significant expenditure, we want to get the most for our money, and we can't afford to waste it. Right?

The downside: As long as trade show organizers are willing to lock horns, framers and exhibitors we have to make hard choices. The upside: We have choices.

I think framers ought to give some thought to what is important in a trade show, for their own purposes. Which show(s) will provide the most of what you want? For example:

If you're after education, check the course offerings carefully; not just the educators' names, but course content, presentation format (lecture, slide show, hands-on?), take-home items and/or publications for later reference, and class size. Contact the educators if you have specific questions about what is or isn't covered in a class. Go for the ones that will give you the best value -- based on your own needs.

If you're looking for new tools & equipment, consider the level of involvement for the exhibitors you would go to see. Good indicators might be how much booth space they will occupy, and how many company experts will be there. And if heavy machines are your interest, will they be hooked up nearby, so you can try one out?

If you want to know what's new in framing materials and supplies, or if you want to know what's going on in the art market, your "perfect" trade show might be different from someone else's. Which show(s) are best for you?

The point is, don't take the decision too lightly. Attend the show(s) that will best serve your particular needs.

Rest assured that Grumblers and Hitchhikers will attend all of them, so there will be social time in all cases.

And please -- never mind the invitation postmarks.

[Bob Carter]

Shucks, Jim, I'm really going to the one where I know you will be. We still have that "adult beverage" to share. But my point was we won't be going to both that close to each other and that I wish a little less competition for my travel dollar and time was a larger consideration.

So, my friend, this will be a very easy answer for me.

[Merrill Grayson MCPF]

Which will I attend? The one that invites me firstConsider this point.

There are now, in my mind, 2 major trade shows and 2 major education shows.

In the foreseeable future there will be a 3rd major trade show in conjunction with one of the major education shows.

The alliance of PPFA with the PMA will create that 3rd major trade show.

For a large number of shops, it is a which one decision because their yearly budget will only allow one show a year.

As a PPFA member, we have always attended the PPFA Convention and associated trade show. For a number of years that trade show was produced by PPFA and for the last several years by Decor Expo.

We have also attended "driving distance" shows like the old ABC-DM shows in Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis and Chicago.

But always the PPFA show. Why? Because we are PPFA members.

If you are a PPFA Member, the PPFA/PMA trade show and education programs are YOUR show and YOUR education programs.

Will the "framing" section of the PMA/PPFA trade show that I am leaving for tonight be sparse. Sure. What would you expect with 2 1/2 months to plan and promote and sell.

Will the classes be small? Maybe, but who knows. There are a lot of framers in Florida. But if you have seen the lineup of classes you know that this has to be one of the most outstanding educational sessions yet. Not to mention the cost of the classes. This is part of the new PPFA.

And what will it be like next year? My guess would be more and better classes and a bigger trade section of the trade show.

A couple of weeks ago, I was provided with a preview of a communication to PPFA members from the "new PPFA" staff. And today's mail brought a copy of it that was sent out to all members. Let me share a part of it that has a direct bearing on this topic.

There are the four basic legs that support virtually all successful trade associations and should be part of any discussion of PPFA goals.

One is the Loyalty of the Membership; Two, Education for the Membership; Three, Communication to the Membership; and Four, Gathering Together the Membership.

1. Loyalty
<BLOCKQUOTE>Outsiders and new people to our industry immediately notice the loyalty of PPFA members. They see that it is real and genuine. Loyalty's surest test is that thousands of small PPFA retailers voluntarily pay their fair-share dues every year. Associations grow in a business environment where competing interests can find and leverage their common areas of cooperation. It is a place where trust makes the greater good possible. It's motive is not profit. That belongs to the member. But….it must be run profitably. That commands loyalty and loyalty can do wonders.</BLOCKQUOTE>

2. Education
<BLOCKQUOTE>Anyone who pays for high-priced professional seminars knows the value of education for their business. Anyone who pays modest money for even higher-quality professional seminars will understand the leverage PPFA membership can really mean. Anyone who experiences the breadth and depth of PPFA sessions, seminars, workshops, and certifications - especially in Orlando in February - will know how good education can be. With PPFA, education should require a mind, not an arm and a leg. That is what successful association's do. </BLOCKQUOTE>

3. Communication
<BLOCKQUOTE>Successful associations know how to communicate. They do it often and in all forms of media; in print through magazines and newsletters, on the web through homepages and chat rooms, and by personal contact with headquarters or with services like Helpline. It is true that for-profit companies have found ways to make money on specific industries by publishing to them. It is also true that this is a legitimate function of an association and should merit its members' support.</BLOCKQUOTE>

4. Gathering Together
<BLOCKQUOTE>The greatest single service an association can do for its members is to bring them together once or twice a year. Even in a fractionalized and regional industry like art and picture framing, national conventions become even more important. Conventions mean conducting official association business, mean improving business skills and practical knowledge, offer spectacular social and vacation opportunities, and most important, mean face-to-face networking with colleagues who can share each other's business problems and solutions. Gathering together an industry is the core prerogative of any association and the single most important thing it does. When this role is performed well, manufacturers will also attend - and should always be welcomed to exhibit.</BLOCKQUOTE>

These are the four legs of any successful association. Affiliation means that PPFA can, in time, be a fully servicing association with four legs. It may run counter to other vested interests but happily it is all a free choice. Picture framers and manufacturers will choose. And, what is the worst that can happen? The worst, is that PPFA on four legs, will earn a lot of money --- and --- spend it back on its members for the good of our whole industry not just one or two corporation's annual reports.

PPFA can mean many things to many people and go in many different future directions. It is hoped it will go there on all four legs.
So there you have a strong basis for your decision on which trade show to attend if you are a PPFA member.

In one event you get all four of the "legs" that a trade association stands on.

Shouldn't you help YOUR association stand tall?

And Bob, as a PPFA member, you along with all PPFA members are already invited!

Respectfully,

[Mel]

Bob,

I believe you mentioned compensation. Do you know what the going rate is?

[Bob Carter]

Did you ever make what appeared to be a truly innocent comment, only to have it questioned.

For the record-again-If the shows in Vegas are one week apart and I am asked to participate in the PFM show's panel, that is the show I'm going to attend. I won't spend two weeks, two airline tickets or two hotel bills. Period. If PPFA asks me to participate in any of their activities, that could impact my decision.

I didn't get any compensation-It was fun and considered it a great experience

[Dermot]

Could someone post the date’s and locations of the various shows for the rest of this year and into next year, it would be a great help to us who must plan our trips quite a bit in advance.

Some details of the education at these shows would be great also if it is available.

Thanks

graemlins/smiley.gif

[Dermot]

I will start.

SMAC, Port De Versaille Paris, March 8-11, 2002

Irish Spring Fair, Dublin Ireland March 24-26, 2002
The Fine Arts Trade Guild (FATG) will try and invigorate the guild in the South of Ireland, I say good luck to them they will need all the luck they can get.

Autumn Fair, Birmingham England, September 1-4, 2002

Spring Fair, Birmingham, England, February 2-6, 2003