GlassBuild is Behind Us. Now What?

GlassBuild in Las Vegas was well attended by exhibitors and attendees. It is always nice to spend time with old friends, as well as meet new ones. There was a lot of machinery on the floor, and many new companies were exhibiting. The seminars held were full, and I got a lot of comments at our booth about our educational programs.

Show Floor Takeaways

Education was a strong theme again this year. It seemed to me that there were a lot more companies from around the globe exhibiting than even last year. Machinery, software products and hardware companies seemed to dominate. There were several software companies that had products to help support small shops, from complete business packages to supporting measuring, designing, quoting and fabricating various products.

The machinery at the show showed more technology and robotics than ever. There were also some new features added this year. The skills challenge booth was popular. Glaziers could show off their skills and win some prizes. Social media was also at full speed with industry influencers posting more than ever.

Make It Count

Now that the show is over, it is time to get back to work. As an exhibitor, you need to make sure that you follow up on the leads you receive. Too often, companies never make the effort to follow up on their show leads in person or with a phone call. If attendees spend a lot of time and money to visit your booth, you should treat them with the same importance.

If you went to the show and made a large purchase or brought in a new product line to offer your customers, you should tell them. Create a marketing flyer discussing how you have invested in new machinery, software, or equipment to better service them, or make you more competitive in your market. If you find new suppliers or decide to offer new services, don’t keep them a secret; let your customers know. If you add new finishes or products in your showrooms, place a “NEW” sign on them to bring customers’ attention to the new trends in the market.

Even letting your customers know that you attended the show, looking for better ways to service them and new trends in the glass industry, will help your business grow. All you have to do is take a photo and post it.

Be sure to also share your show experience with your employees. Let them know what new trends you saw at the show, and what people were talking about. They will pass this info on to your customers. Remember, the show only lasted three days; the follow-up over the next year is what will make it a success.