Trade Shows

[susien]

I went to one in Long Beach last month just looking for something to add to my booth that I did not have to craft. I found an item, bought several and Walgreens had them in their stores the following week! Just my luck.......

[davejs]

Sorry to hear about that. I know the feeling. There have been times when I was selling items that were much cheaper at KMart, Ross, etc. What really is bad is when people look at your item and they say out loud 'Oh, I can get that at Wal-mart much cheaper'. Of course, you always have those that comment 'Oh, I can make that myself.' Yah, right....look how difficult it is for you to find the materials and run around collecting them, you know.

I'll start a threat about comments that people make. That should be interesting.

Anyhow, I would like to mention the ASD/AMD Trade shows in Las Vegas coming up during the second week of August. For many of us who have to sell commercial/buy and sell, this is a great place to find things to sell. Anything and everything. I've been there many times. They have several venues with the best one being at the Sands Exhibition Center where they have a couple thousand booths of geneal merchandise/gifts. For a huge majority of the wholesalers there, you have to place an order for your goods and have them shipped to you. The show in March is much larger and the weather is more pleasant.

If you go, be sure to hit the buffets. High prices, but good food. Bellagio is my favorite and Paris is pretty good. Mandalay Bay was good and Mirage has improved over the years. I used to get highly P.O.ed at the place. They had two lines there. One for people like us and the other they kept open for buses, etc. Comps. You would be waiting in line for 45 minutes and be right near the front of the line and a whole busload of people would come bee-bopping into the buffet for their free meal. Right in front of you. However, I do believe that has changed..

[susien]

I have been to the shows in Vegas in both March and August and let me tell you it takes the whole time they run to try to see all of it. They also put the one on in Long Beach that I went to last month and it was a bad show. Not many vendors at all!
My main thing about the ones in Vegas is so many of the companies now require a large order (over $1000.00) and I do not have that kind of money to try the resale part.
As far as buffets, I have two teenage boys and the best value as far as a buffet is as Texas Station! It is huge and has every kind of food you can imagine, all at a very reasonable price. Plus they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. My kids love to go there just to eat!!!

In answer to what I bought for resale..... I bought the back supports and I still have some of them. They do work and the worst thing that can happen is people I know will be getting them as gifts. Not going to sweat the small stuff!

[traveler]

I haven't sold at one, but wanted to say that many companies now are lowering, and even eliminating the minimum first time buy. Still, sometimes it isn't enough. I found a company that sold paper products. All I wanted to add to my line up was Elvis, Lucy, and Betty Boop. Even a 250.00 minimum couldn't be met when you only pay a dollar for a pack of stickers. (& I don't need more than a dozen!)
Just a word of warning though. SHipping is astronomical. I usually make that extra purchase because the freight is killer!

[traveler]

May I also add. Working as a merchandiser for 10 years. K Mart... etc. might have it NOW, but they do resets every quarter. Sometimes they are only sent in a single shipper that is dropped in the aisle and once it sells through, it is over. Unless it's set in the main
plan-o-gram, it could be a test to see if it will sell. Even then, when they reset for the season, the companies that have done the song and dance to get into the store, many times don't renew the contract, (or vise versa) or the lisencing company declines to renew or increases the fee to a point that they lose the licensing rights (for say... Elvis.).. Happens all too often I'm afraid!!

[dasilva05]

Great information on the trade shows. Few weeks ago, I arranged my friend’s company trade show and displayed excellent trade show displays which were designed by a reputed graphics designer. Glad to get such lovely displays.