Follow up to Columbus Show
Posted by Traveling Salesman at 5/23/2008 7:41 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
I will be curious to hear the comments on whether or not the Columbus Show was a success. I have spoken to several people already. I think if people can just get over the fact that it is NOT Las Vegas, they can certainly get their money out of the show. Columbus is, essentially, a regional show - and it takes place in a heavily industrial region, not a tourist area. There are a few great things about Columbus. First, you actually have time to talk to the attendees. In Vegas, it is so busy, that the people you want to talk to are often busy talking with other people and you miss the opportunity. I hear suppliers say that they were talking with one customer when antother big customer walked by. I hear distributors say they tried to stop by a booth to meet "so-and-so" but he was busy talking to someone else so they never met them. That does not happen in Columbus.
Secondly, there is nothing to do in Columbus but hang around the show environment. The 2nd floor of the Hyatt was not nearly as busy as it used to be but there were still a lot of people hanging around the night before the show. I am a fan of going to Las Vegas once a year and the show out there is huge and awesome, but there really needs to be a central meeting point for people to mingle/network/drink beer when they are not in meetings or out to dinner. If you just feel like having a drink at the end of the night it is great to have a meeting point where you know you will run into some other fastener people. The 2nd floor of the Hyatt used to be that for Columbus. The round bar at the Paris filled that void when the Vegas show was at the Paris. I did not see that a "meeting place" existed last year at Mandalay Bay and that is a huge void.
The Columbus show was heavily attended by distributors from Ohio, Western PA, Michigan, some Indiana and a cross section from other areas. Some very, very large distributors attended the show. I personally do not call on McMaster Carr but their people were there. I will not list the companies here but - TRUST ME - if you do any business in Ohio, Michigan or Western PA - many of your biggest customers were there talking to the suppliers that exhibited.
It is not necessarily about the cost of the show. It is about how much value you can get out of the booth fee you are asked to pay.
Secondly, there is nothing to do in Columbus but hang around the show environment. The 2nd floor of the Hyatt was not nearly as busy as it used to be but there were still a lot of people hanging around the night before the show. I am a fan of going to Las Vegas once a year and the show out there is huge and awesome, but there really needs to be a central meeting point for people to mingle/network/drink beer when they are not in meetings or out to dinner. If you just feel like having a drink at the end of the night it is great to have a meeting point where you know you will run into some other fastener people. The 2nd floor of the Hyatt used to be that for Columbus. The round bar at the Paris filled that void when the Vegas show was at the Paris. I did not see that a "meeting place" existed last year at Mandalay Bay and that is a huge void.
The Columbus show was heavily attended by distributors from Ohio, Western PA, Michigan, some Indiana and a cross section from other areas. Some very, very large distributors attended the show. I personally do not call on McMaster Carr but their people were there. I will not list the companies here but - TRUST ME - if you do any business in Ohio, Michigan or Western PA - many of your biggest customers were there talking to the suppliers that exhibited.
It is not necessarily about the cost of the show. It is about how much value you can get out of the booth fee you are asked to pay.
I have to agree that if you use the show to your benefit, a lot can be accomplished. Even in spite of the show's smaller size, I had two occassions where poeple were waiting to speak with me or someone else in our organization. They were willing to wait instead of rushing off some place else and saying they would come back, but never getting back around. I also feel that the attendees at the Columbus show tend to be the people who do the day to day buying, not just upper management. I like having the opportunity to BS face-to-face with the people I know very well, instead of the upper management people who tend to go to Vegas. I understand that those ultimately could be the decision makers, but having a beer with the guy I work with constantly seems just as beneficial to me as meeting the higher ups in Vegas. I think its good to have both shows where all bases can be covered.
Reply to this
I did not attend the Columbus show this year, but I wish I had reconsidered. It sounds like it would have been a great opportunity to network without all the glitz and glamour luring you away. I'm glad you feel it was a good show. I hope that the Columbus tradition continues - even if it is every other year.
Reply to this
Also, was it ever determined if in fact Ifastegroup was selling direct? Let's just say I wouldn't be surprised in today's world. I know for a fact that at least 2 companies that are direct competitors of Ifastgroup (with branches in Cleveland) have sold direct to my customers. And will deny it all day long. I know we can't allow this forum to be a basis for rumors to circulate - but distributors need to be aware that it's a jungle out there. And people need dough. And sometimes funny things happen when they really shouldn't be happening. That's all I'm saying. Be careful.........
Reply to this
I have said this numerous times before and I will say it again. I love that Traveling Salesman guy! Not because he says nice things about our Shows...but because he "gets" it.
People who criticize the East Show because it only attracts 25% of the audience that our West (Las Vegas) Show attracts are only looking at numbers.
The East and West Shows should NEVER be compared. They are different products, each with their own set of values. Wise exhibitors know that different people attend the East Show. These are people who may, by reason of time, expense, company rank or whatever do not attend the West Show. Yet they specify, recommend and buy products and services.
Missing the East Show is missing an important segment of the market.
Thank ytou, Traveling Salesman, for being astute enough to recognize this.
You "get" it!
Jim Bannister
General Partner
National Industrial Fastener Show
Reply to this
I'm disappointed in some of the comments that have been posted. Back on 4/30 Mr. Bolt indicated that Ifastgroupe sells direct to OEM's. Anonymous responded that the comment might have to be yanked if Mr. Bolt did not provide some proof. Has he? If not, why wasn't it yanked? Now on 5/24 Fastenation is questioning this. If it's true, where is the evidence? If not, why is it still being questioned? I happen to know a couple of fine people over there and they are disappointed at the comments. Who will be accused next?
Reply to this
I agree with you completely. I have gone back and yanked the comment by Mr. Bolt. First of all, no proof was offered. Secondly, I was afraid when I started this blog that rumors or unbubstantiated comments would get posted. The intent of this blog is to encourage dialogue but I do not want it to be used by anyone or any company to hurt or misrepresent.
I think the subject of selling direct is interesting all the same. Many vendors do it on select accounts. Some have "distributor pricing" and "end user pricing" with large gaps between the two. I used to compete against a supplier that sold to both distributors and end users and customers would complain to me but they would turn around and buy from my competitor. When I asked them why they supported that vendor they would tell me "they have amazing prices".
Reply to this
Ifastgroupe/Infasco DOES NOT sell direct OEM's. This is rumor, not fact and as one other person stated, this blog should not be used to spread rumors.
Reply to this