A Checklist to Prepare for Gourmet Trade Shows

January 9th, 2008 at 11:12pm Lorie Obernauer

I’m registered to attend the Fancy Food Show in San Diego. I’ve received regular reminders from the show organizers about show events. I just received a planning guide that I think would be helpful to anyone attending this show or other trade shows.

See below for a copy of the email that I received. I like that it covers “things to do” before and during the show. It would be simple to adapt this list to cover events at other shows.

NASFT Fancy Food Show, San Diego
January 13–15, 2008
 The Winter Fancy Food Show
is Almost Here!

Use this checklist with final tips to get the most out of this record-breaking Show.

Before you leave:

Make a personalized shopping list of exhibitors at specialtyfood.com.

Browse What’s New, What’s Hot! (formerly Focused Exhibits) online to find trend-setting products.

Check out our 20 Educational Programs. Starting two days before the Show floor opens, find fresh ideas at workshops, seminars, tastings and tours.*

Purchase tickets for the Meet the Tastemakers® reception* on Sunday night. Network as you sample from 30 wineries/breweries and local top-drawer and ethnic restaurants. Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels.
  * Buy now, prices increase onsite!

At the Show:

Start at What’s New, What’s Hot! onsite in the 5300 aisle—the only area organized by category (What’s New?, Natural & Organic Foods, Gift & Holiday). sofi™ award Winners/Finalists and Focus on Diversity will also be displayed here.

Don’t miss the Natural & Organic Pavilion with natural/organic food and beverages products from 250+ exhibitors starting in Aisle 4700.

Cook-Off Corner—be inspired and entertained in this competition area spanning the 500–700 aisles. Events sponsored by American Culinary Federation and National Pork Board.

Buy Educational Program and Meet the Tastemakers® tickets at any registration counter, or buy online before January 11 to save!

Look out for electronic Product Locators to organize and print a personal shopping list.

Getting to the Show
and around San Diego:

Book your travel and hotel online or contact Travel Planners at 800.221.3531/212.532.1660.

Make your airport shuttle reservation.

See the Shuttle Bus Schedule from area hotels to the convention center.

Visit San Diego’s Official Site for local attractions.

See you in San Diego!

I would also recommend some things to do after the show:

  • Organize all of the business cards and price lists you collected.
  • Make notes about those vendors with whom you want to follow-up.
  • Show the brochures that you collected to your employees. Point out the products you like and ask for their opinions.
  • File all of your information for future reference. Since you probably have brochures from companies that you’ve never done business with, file by product categories: cookies, chocolates, beverages, etc. Six months later you may remember that you saw some really cute tea sachets, but if you’re like me, you won’t remember the name of vendor. By filing by category, you’ll be able to retrieve the information you want.

Entry Filed under: Industry News, Business Tips

2 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D.  |  January 10th, 2008 at 12:51 am

    This is great advice Lorie. I’d like to add a bit more I’ve learned from experience:

    –Wear comfortable shoes. If your feet hurt, the Show is ruined.
    –Eat a good breakfast before entering the show and downing all those samples. Your stomach will thank you.
    –Pace yourself and rest periodically.
    –Carry bottled water for sips between tasting.

    The Fancy Food Show is an exciting event that can be very rewarding if you plan thoughtfully.

  • 2. Angie  |  April 2nd, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    Great list! I’m printing it up and handing it out to all of my employees haha
    I wish there were more blogs like this out there.

Leave a Comment

Required

Required, hidden

Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>

Trackback this post  |  Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed

Calendar

January 2008
S M T W T F S
« Dec   Feb »
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Most Recent Posts