Just got back from the Midwest Fastener Assocation Table Top Show.  I thought it was a pretty good show.  As I understand, this is their "table top" show and next year they will hold their larger, convention style show with full booths.  The tables were pretty packed into a ballroom but there was space to move around.  One good thing was you could look across the ballroom and basically see everyone else that was attending.  So, if you wanted to track someone down there were no partitions or sight barriers.  Sure, it was not a huge show but it was good.  The Chicago folks have a unique fastener community.  They all seem to know each other.  Heck, most of them probably worked with one another at some point so it's kind of cool to see how everybody interacts.  Vegas and Columbus have a lot of interaction between suppliers and distributors but Chicago seems to have more supplier interaction.  Just kind of interesting.

I must also report that (despite what people wish or think) the Columbus Show and Midwest Show seem mutually exclusive.  I did not see a single distributor from Ohio, PA or Michigan at the Chicago Show.  I saw more Illinois and Wisconsin distributors and suspect those people might not have attended the Columbus Show.  I did not see any Indiana name tags in Chicago either though they might have attended.  So, what's a vendor to do?  Do you go to both, do you choose one and skip the other?  I did hear several suppliers discussing that issue but I did not really hear what they concluded.  Chicago puts together a few additional events around the show like a golf outing and some plant tours.  They certainly have access to more plants and factories in the surrounding area.  And I have always thought the multiple hour "Bash" was a good idea as it keeps more people around networking.  In the old days, Columbus had all the sponsored hospitality suites and those were good for continuing discussions that began at the show.  As great as Vegas is, it still needs a central, social location for people to hang out when they're not at the show and they're not out losing money.  People like to go out for dinner in Vegas but even after that they like to have a place to return where they will run into fastener people.

One thing I heard about in Chicago I thought was very progressive and worth mentioning.  I was speaking to someone from the Ifastgroupe who told me they have an online program where their customers can anonymously leave comments, positive or negative, and these are reviewed by Ifastgroupe management.   Their customers must register to use this but the comments that are left are not traceable back to the person who leaves the comment.  They call it "Voice of the Customer" and you can get to it through their web site at www.ifastgroupe.com.  If I left out any details or put inaccurate information on this site, please someone from Ifastgroupe correct me and I will correct it.  It sure seems like a lot of companies say they want to hear what the customer has to say but I credit it them with providing a vehicle for it to happen.  And, for the record, I do not represent, work for or benefit in any way by passing along that information.  Truth is, I more compete with them than anything but a good idea is still a good idea.