EDS preview
Get up close and personal
The Electronic Distribution Show (EDS) is all about one- to-onemeetings. Planning your trip requires careful consideration of two key factors – time and topic
Every year,manufacturers of electronic components, instruments and accessories, as well as distributors andmanufacturer's representatives, come together tomeet,make contacts and build their businesses at EDS. The event ismore than a traditional trade show however, with the emphasis on forging andmaintaining business relationships through scheduled one-on-onemeetings.
This year, the show will take place at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas,
a hotel which boasts a number of entertainment and dining options, luxury guest accommodation and a design thatminimises time spent getting frommeeting tomeeting.
Make a plan
More than a typical trade show, planning for EDSmeetings requires careful consideration of two key factors – time and topic. EDS is appointment-oriented with structuredmeetings. An online meeting scheduler is provided on the show website to facilitate the process ofmaximizing your time. For new participants, it’s important to know that thesemeetings are scheduled well in advance and conducted in privatemeeting suites throughout the hotel and show floor. Although there aremany opportunities for a chance encounter, for themost part attendees come prepared with a tight schedule.
Themost successfulmeetings are those that are not only
scheduled in advance, butwhere both parties arewell versed in the topics to be discussed. It’s best to define a fewkey issues and remain focused on those throughout
themeeting.Maximize your return on investment by sharing your goalswithmeeting participants in advance and having all support data available to
review.Many manufacturers use this annualmeeting to reviewsales goals and year to year performance. Others introduce newproducts. Regardless, it is an important timewhenmanufacturers and their distributors and sales reps have each other’s undivided
attention.Meetings are typically scheduled fromearlymorning to evening, back to back in one-hour increments.
What if your schedule has some holes? Check the EDSwebsite for
lists of participants looking to pick up lines or have lines available. Use this information to introduce your company to those that fit
20 |March/April 2012
Marketingmatters Many trade shows stress that bigger is better but at EDS it’s different. Grand scale booths are not the normand your companymay never make it to the exhibit floor, yet it's still important tomake a splash in front of 4,000 top decisionmakers in the electronic distribution industry, somarketing is key.
Whether you are amanufacturer, a distributor or amanufacturers'
representative, you'll find helpful hints at the EDSwebsite specifically geared towards structuring bettermeetings at
EDS.More expert advice on getting themost out of EDS is available frommembers of the EDS board and/or showstaff.
www.edsconnects.com www.electronics-sourcing.com
those needs. Thewebsite is full of useful information tomake the show experience successful.
Work it
Remember that every meeting is a chance to build your company’s brand.Whether you are in a booth, a suite or a conference room, your company is on display. EDSmakes planning easywith a preparation checklist and an online manual for logistics and support services.
An onlinemeeting scheduler helps delegatesmaximise their time
Making each encountermemorable takes thoughtful development.
Company representatives should deliver a clear, concisemessage about your business. Discussions should center around the benefits of your company or product versus the features. Above all, remember that there should be amethod to collect information about the people you have encountered, aswell as a followup planwhen you return fromthe show.
EDS is held in Las Vegas for a
reason.Make connections outside the company’smeeting space to build on business relationships.
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