EDPA ACCESS: Complete Program Released
The 58th Annual EDPA ACCESS conference full agenda has been released! Join your peers at the only executive conference for designers, builders and suppliers of exhibits and experiences for three days of learning, networking and growth.
We’re often asked by Classic Exhibits Distributors about the benefits of blogging: “Isn’t it time consuming? How do you decide on topics? How often should I submit posts?” I have a hard time answering those questions because the answer is, “It depends.” I ask them if they enjoy writing about our trade shows and events, or if they feel they have something to share about sales, marketing, or small business. They do, even if they don’t realize it. That’s the first reason to blog. Everything else is frosting on the cake.
People like to have a drink, especially when a vendor comes around and asks “Do you want to go to happy hour?” Of course, you do. From the vendor’s point of view, it buys some extra time with the customer, puts them in a decent mood, and most of all spreads some goodwill
I am a Marriott Man. And proud of it. I love the hotels, the way it’s run, the options it provides, the generous rewards program. I Love Marriott!
So this is going to be really weird, because I am going to throw them squarely under the bus. And, not just under the bus but pull forward and backwards multiple times kind of running over with the bus.
Sandwiches, French Toast, and Bread Pudding
Recently, we conducted Shared Knowledge University (SKU), our two day distributor training program. On the first day, we started the meeting by discussing “Shared Success” and “Shared Knowledge.” These philosophies serve as the foundation for our business, not only with distributors, but also with Classic employees and our suppliers. Shared Success and Shared Knowledge depend on honesty, trust, and respect. That starts with us. We do our best to work within those guidelines, but it would be naive to assume that every distributor views our business relationship as a partnership.
Sales/Marketing, Finance, and Operations
Choose one. Just one. You’ll won’t be good at all three.
In a former life, I was a small business consultant for start-ups, mostly with technology companies and inventors. It was rewarding . . . and it was brutal. Nearly every day, I worked with entrepreneurs on their financials, marketing plans, and operations. Most were obsessive and deluded. They knew their product or service, but they struggled with long-term planning, raising capital, implementation, and customer service.