We’re heading back to Austin for the 3rd annual Viva Fresh Produce Expo on April 20-22. We have fond memories of this foodie city from the first expo in 2015, not to mention our enjoyment of 6th Street.
As a marketing company we get to work with a variety of clients with different needs and help them bring their ideas and vision to life which is exactly what we’ve been doing in our work with the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) since their first conference in 2015 and here we are three years later getting ready to welcome guests to an even bigger and better event. It’s no stretch to say it will be the best yet; the Expo sold out weeks ago, attendance is on the rise for the third year, and sponsorships have nearly doubled from last year, along with a continued focus on amazing food and compelling and interactive education.
We have lots of tasks that we work on year round to create an amazing event for each and every attendee that includes focusing on the details of a well-planned expo floor and adequate time for networking. In 2016 we posted about how to highlight your brand before, during and after the Expo. This year, we’ll focus on networking 101. Seizing opportunities to meet, greet and network is important for any trade show. Making the right connections will help you build sales.
6 Tips on How to Maximize Your Viva Fresh Expo or Any Trade Show Experience
- Create a Plan for Visiting: Make a list of goals in advance of the trade show that includes contacts you’d like to meet. This will help you to focus and keep your priorities top of mind. If possible, schedule meetings in advance, but if not, then make a point to reach out to key contacts during the receptions, events and the Expo. Online networking platforms such as LinkedIn provide a good resource to connect with attendees before and after the show.
- Attend Educational Seminars: Friday is seminar day at Viva Fresh and the schedule is full starting at 8:00am, and runs until 3:00pm. There is a wide range of relevant topics from technology and marketing, to “Know GMO’s” and the future of NAFTA. Fill your schedule by attending as many workshops as possible. The time before or in between seminars is a great way to strike up conversations. You’ll also want to pay attention to those who ask questions during the workshops because you may be able to assist them with the answers they need.
- Take advantage of the Whole Foods Market Workshop & Events: If you’re interested in becoming a Whole Foods Supplier, then you don’t want to miss their Responsibly Grown program on Saturday, April 22 at 9:00am in Ballroom B at the Austin Convention Center. Afterwards, Whole Foods will be hosting short, speed dating sessions with suppliers. You can register to attend both events.
- Be Willing to Talk to Strangers: A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet. Viva Fresh provides several key networking opportunities at a variety of events. During the luncheons on Friday and Saturday, don’t sit with your team members, instead make a point to select a table with contacts you’ve been hoping to meet or those you don’t know and introduce yourself. Be willing to talk to strangers at every networking event. They just might become your customers.A special networking event of new friends is Aggies for Fresh. This campaign to inspire Texas A&M University students to pursue a purpose-driven career in fresh produce gives you the opportunity to meet college students eager to learn more about you, your business and our industry. There will be a special Aggies for Fresh reception at the Hilton Hotel on Friday at 4:00pm. This event provides an opportunity to meet students you may want to hire, and gives you an opportunity to network with other companies at the same time.
- Connect via Social Media: Post photos and updates of your trade show experiences using the #VivaFreshExpo hashtag. This will allow you to connect and network online with other attendees.
- Follow-up after the show: One of the biggest lost opportunities of event networking is lack of follow-up. Make sure you send a card or email to the contacts you’ve met at the show to let them know you enjoyed speaking to them. Experts say it takes several points of contact before making a sale so you may want to keep in touch periodically weeks and months later by sending pertinent articles other information to these contacts that maintains a personal point of contact. But keep in mind, don’t generically spam them with your price list. Recall personal conversations that you had with them and use that information to continue to dialogue and build a relationship.
Expect to see us at every even at the Viva Fresh Expo and we hope we get a chance to say hi and get to know you. For more information on the Viva Fresh Expo and the full schedule of events, visit www.vivafreshexpo.com. We look forward to seeing you in Austin and if you’d like to schedule a meeting to discuss marketing, drop us an email or give us a call at 407-222-3695.
Written by Heidi McIntyre
Managing Partner
Heidi@FullTiltMarketing.net
