The people in our web design department have been pestering me for a while now to start a blog. I’ve been reluctant to do it because it seems a bit self-serving, but they’ve worn me down. So starting with this installment, I’ll be doing a monthly blog.
I haven’t decided what to call it yet, so if you have suggestions, feel free to post a comment. If something tickles my fancy, I just may use it. Now, on with the show…
On the road again, and again and again
Trade show season has been in full swing for several months now. Goodson Tools & Supplies jumped into the fray back in December and we’ve been going strong ever since.
The International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) in Indianapolis was the first show on our schedule. I was a bit apprehensive about this show since 2009 was it’s first outing. With the economy still on the skids, we didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Not only were there many exhibitors on hand, many of you attended too, making it a great success. IMIS was held during the week instead of over the weekend and it was held in Indianapolis, which hasn’t hosted a major motorsports tradeshow in several years.
One of the best things about the show was the chance to reconnect with the guys from the upper Midwest who either haven’t been able to or have chosen not to attend the PRI show in Florida. The only downside that I found to the show was that it was scheduled for the week before PRI and back-to-back events are tough on the budget and on the people involved. If you’ve been considering going to a trade show, give this one a try.
As I said, the PRI (Performance Racing Industry) Show was on tap the following week. PRI has been going on for 23 years and has become the granddaddy of the high performance trade shows so it’s one that’s hard to miss. It was held in Orlando, Florida again this year, giving us northerners a little break for the cold weather. As we have for the past 23 years, Goodson exhibited new products in Machinery Row. We had a chance to touch base with many of our long-time international customers and distributors as well as meeting new customers from the US and around the world.
Thankfully, we had a short break before we headed off to the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati, Ohio at the beginning of February. This show is dedicated to a segment of the industry – the V-Twin segment and is a fun one to attend. Goodson has expanded its product line to include hard parts and tooling that is specific to these engines and we’ve been widely accepted into this area. Again, lots of folks stopped by to see us and see what we have that’s new. We’ll be talking more about those new products soon.
The long hours and travel are the downsides of the tradeshow season but meeting so many people face to face more than makes up for it. Getting face time with customers always gets me going and is a large part of why we go to trade shows. They’re also a great way to introduce new products and catalogs, to find out how you think we’re doing, to see what’s new and to thank you for being loyal Goodson customers.
That’s why we go to trade shows. How about you? Why do you go? What do you hope to gain from the experience? What show or shows do you consider “can’t miss”?
See you at your shop or at the shows.
Dave