Exhibition Hall B Booth # 6113

Supporting IWF 2010

You may not be planning on purchasing a specific piece of machinery, software, etc. but think about what brought you to the IWF Atlanta show in the past? The answer is probably to gain new knowledge, to learn new procedures, see demos on machines, find a new piece of hardware, network with fellow business owners and support the industry.

As a microcosm of the larger economy our bubble burst around the same time as the housing bubble. The last ten to fifteen years have been a great run but like all runs this one had to come to an end. Now what do we do to get back on our feet?

I believe as and industry, and I mean both vendors and end users, we need to support each other. What good is it to own a piece of machinery or incorporate a piece of hardware or software and than have the producer of that product go out of business. Conversely, the producers of these products need to support the on going needs of the end users by spending the money to be at these shows ready to show better more efficient ways to improve productivity and answer technical questions for better use of the equipment, materials, software etc. already owned by their customers.

I think the larger companies that have pulled out of IWF 2010 may have felt as we all do. We just can’t afford to be there because we can’t be sure what the return will be, or basically, sorry customers but because you may not buy we’re leaving you high and dry.

And I think IWF, World Congress Center and probably the City of Atlanta are culpable too. They know vendor profits are down or more likely gone but their attitude was still we can’t possibly work with the exhibitors to make this show be succesful. We must maintain our bottom line regardless the economy.

After hearing some of the big companies had pulled out of IWF we at Tritec and Gannomat spent some time weighting our options. It came down to three points 1. IWF is always a good marketing opportunity 2. the best marketing you can do is to support your customers and prospects and let them know you're there for them. 3. We believe there is budding demand for your products which in turn will mean demand for ours.

So here’s my suggestion for this year’s IWF. Forget the perks for your employees because a job is the important perk right now. Come to Atlanta see all that will be there and take the knowledge learned back with you to improve your businesses.  By doing so you’ll know you’ve done your part to support your business and our industry because we are all in this together.