I'm not repeating last years mistakes at the WCAF in Las Vegas

[Grey Owl]

Last year I attended the WCAF in Las Vegas for the first time. I signed up for too many classes and did not allow enough time to see the exhibitors. I was overwhelmed by what was available at the show.

You can now sign up for classes, but I'm not going to make the same mistakes this year. I have signed up for 1-1/2 days of classes with the rest of the time for the show. I'm also planning on what I want to see / discuss with each of the exhibitors.

 

[Rick Granick]

That's a good strategy, Russ. When I get there and receive the floor map, I highlight the booths of my priority suppliers and plan out my route. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the time passes when at a trade show. Of course you want to have a good tote bag with shoulder strap for collecting literature, catalogs, etc. If someone in a booth buttonholes me into a conversation about something I'm not too interested in, I just say that it's my first quick trip through the show and that I'll stop back later. That helps avoid burning up a lot of time.
Rick

 

[Dave]

I've never attended a WCAF show but spent many years going to NAMTA, HIA, Toy Fair, NY Gift Show, the Atlanta Gift Show and a few others.

Before the show I'd sit down with the show map and highlight the booth location of the vendors I already knew I needed to see on the map and on the booth listings.

For smaller shows like NAMTA and HIA I'd do a quick stroll of the entire show the first morning saying a few very quick "hello's" and, as Rick suggested, not get hung up anywhere. During this walk I'd note on my map new exhibitors or other booths I wanted to make a point of revisiting.

I'd have lunch with either an employee I brought along or a colleague and compare a few notes. Afterwards I'd start conquering my list of must-sees and want-to-stop-and-sees.
This would usually take up the rest of the afternoon and often the next morning.

I would not place any orders until I had followed the above procedure and was confident I'd seen all I needed to see. Depending on how long I stayed at a show it may be the second, third or even fourth day before I'd place any orders.

If I had one of my buyers with me I'd have them go place the orders for items we knew we needed to order and I'd spend my time searching out new products or meeting with colleagues and trading information about what shouldn't be missed or deals that could be had.

Inventory lists were printed out well before the show and taken with me on the show floor.

Evenings were spent either at function gatherings or with colleagues, both vendors and other dealers, over dinner.

Classes and seminars served to be a time where you could get off your weary feet while receiving an education and then get back on task.

 

[BatesMotel]

Never been to the WCAF show but I am going this year. I signed up for the VIP pass, a good deal there. So I signed for a lot of classes, I'm getting my moneys worth there. I hope I didn't make the same mistake as you did last year, Russ. I am getting in late Friday night but leaving late Tuesday afternoon. I want to see the convention as well but I'm planning on doing the NY show so what vendors I don't see in Vegas I will see in NY.

 

[Jim Miller]

I've never attended a WCAF show but ...Classes and seminars served to be a time where you could get off your weary feet while receiiving an education and then get back on task.

I guess most trade shows are set up that way. The exhibitors are usually the main attraction for framers to attend, and education is considered to be secondary.

For the benefit of those who have not yet attended, WCAF is different from most framing trade shows -- nearly the opposite concept, in fact. That is, WCAF attracts framers by providing exceptional education on every framing topic imaginable. The most serious and successful professional framers are there, and they attract the exhibitors.

That explains why WCAF had fewer exhibitors than New York and Atlanta in the early years. But the number of exhibitors has grown substantially all along, and WCAF '09 will probably have more exhibitors than any framing show did in 2008 or will in 2009. WCAF has become the must go show in the framing industry.

Back in 2000 when PFM first tried their new concept, skeptics said it would not work. Now, after eight annual shows, WCAF is still growing stronger, while all other major trade shows have either vanished or diminished. (PPFA is a notable exception -- growing even faster than WCAF, but on a smaller scale.)

The point is, it's easy to get carried away with classes at WCAF, and a lot of framers simply run out of time before they get to the exhibit hall. As Grey Owl cautions, don't do that.

Attending a major trade show is a major investment of about $2,000 or more. If you were shopping for a $2,000 piece of framing equipment (and WCAF would be a great place to do that) you would spend some time researching the choices and planning to get the most for your money. Plan your time at WCAF the same way. Research the classes and exhibitors you want to see, as well as social activities, then plan your schedule so that you can achieve all of your goals for the trip.

Word to the wise: Register and schedule your classes as soon as possible. The most popular classes sell out first, so if you want it, others probably do, too. Don't be among the many framers on waiting lists, trying to get into sold out sessions.

And be sure to save time to see your favorite exhibitors. And go to Rob's Chinese Dinner in an overstuffed limosine. And maybe see one of the famous Las Vegas shows. These are the things memories are made of. See you there!

 

[Mike Labbe]

Rob's Chinese dinner extravaganza is NOT to be missed!