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Trade shows

Mikki Kavich MCPF

Mikki Kavich MCPF

Frequent Poster
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Messages
689
Loc
Crossville, TN
Company
Mikki's Frame Shop
Do you pay any attention or care if other professionals you do business with go to their industry trade shows?

Have you seen them advertise that they "keep up" with their industry? Beautician, barber, heat and air, mechanic, plumber, exterminator ...

Because this is my thought I always try to let my clients and potential clients know that I go and see the latest and greatest and learn what is new in framing but other than my hair dresser I have never wondered if other people go for their trade.

I have a young barber friend that just got back from a show and posted to all his Social Media sites photos and tips from the show. I found myself interested in what he was doing even though he mostly does mens hair and beards.
 
I think it's good for us to keep up on what's new, but most changes tend to come slowly in this industry. We have an edge in design over the craft stores, so why not tout it?

I used to go to a "Hair Stylist" who had huge trophies all over his shop proclaiming him the World Champion hair stylist. He charged a lot to cut my hair.
Now, I have less hair so I go to a "Barber" who only charges $10.

Maybe we need to give out big trophies.
 
Heading to Nashville on Thursday for the Needlework Retailer Cash n' Carry show. Yes it is as expensive as it sound as it is a giant shopping event. Meet the designers, see the latest new goodies, recharge the batteries.
For years I did not go as I thought it was too expensive to travel to the venue and then spend heaps on new stuff. I thought I could just buy through regular means and save the money. I was so very wrong. It really recharges my battery. Gets me excited about the new season stuff, get to meet so fabulous designers, and get so limited edition stuff. And my customers go nuts. They are all over the internet telling me don't miss this or that and pick up this or that for me. It is COOL.

I look forward to TNNA in Columbus for a knitting/needlework show. Even cooler.

It is kind of like dining out with a mob of friends, sure you could eat alone but how terrific is it to experience en mass.
 
I do too and they work great. I also tell my customers the fact that I keep up with the "latest and greatest" trends in both design and technique. When we are looking at moulding and it is a new profile, I will say, "this is a new frame - isn't it fabulous." Because I have a CMC, there is a framer close by that I cut round mats for, I could not believe it when she told me she has NEVER gone to WCAF show. That baffles me to no end, how does anyone expect to keep up with the trends? How do they not want to offer their customers the best options available?
 
Paul Cascio said:
I think it's good for us to keep up on what's new, but most changes tend to come slowly in this industry. ...
Click to expand...
Interesting comment Paul.
I have been in this industry 13 years.
Many of the things I was taught 13 years ago I now know better ways to accomplish those tasks.
EVERY year I have learned something new at a show. Not just equipment and styles, but techniques too.
There are a couple things that I remember as "hot" a few years back, that aren't considered useful today.
(Micro dot hinging being one example.)
I find that material, products, and techniques change very rapidly.
 
Paul Cascio said:
I used to go to a "Hair Stylist" who had huge trophies all over his shop proclaiming him the World Champion hair stylist. He charged a lot to cut my hair.
Now, I have less hair so I go to a "Barber" who only charges $10.
Click to expand...

My wife used to cut may hair, but she hated doing it. So when I felt we could afford it I started going to a barber. Problem was, there are no "barbers" in our town - just a couple salons - so I had to drive 15 minutes one way, and then wait in line, as that barber didn't take appointments.

After a few times I decided it was worth spending the extra $9 to go to the salon. Not only did it save me an average of 45 minutes of my time, but also 15 miles on my vehicle, and I was supporting a local business. Win-win-win IMO.

More to the point, the salon I use does go to trade shows. It doesn't really matter to me, as I'm just getting a basic haircut, but I know they charge more than some other places for women's hair (my wife goes to a friends' which is a lot cheaper even with no friends discount). Whether they do/can charge more is because they keep abreast or not, I don't know. But I doubt it hurts.
 
Things that get me high end customers...and better yet those who travel 2 hrs one way:

MY CPF stickers & logo
My PPFA signage & ads
My ribbons and awards

I have something new to talk about every time they see me because I am constantly learning. The top 5% of my customers know that if I learn something new that might affect art I have framed, I will be asking them to bring it back in so I can inspect it and make changes if necessary...at no charge.

People who purchase expensive art want to make sure it is handled by someone who is knowledgeable about protecting it, and will be there to help if there is a problem later.

To me, it is all about being professional. I approached my prior career this way, so I just transitioned into this one the same way. I am now a regionally recognized expert.

I expect to pay more for services from professionals who travel to trade shows, get continuing education and compete. Not only is there value-added, but I also know that there cost of doing business is higher than someone who does the same thing over and over. It also means that they are more likely to be successful and be around when I might need them in the future.

I agree with Cliff about change. Compared to other industries, the development and new materials and techniques seems really rapid to me. There is not much I am doing this year that isn't at least a little different than last year.
 
I agree that those PPFA (and other) Ribbons I have displayed along side the winning pieces have a huge impact on customer confidence. I advertise that I am the most Award Winning Framer in Ohio and people do come because of that. Often times they will say that they came because of my great reputation.
 
So a few people have noticed that their hair person has attended a professional trade show of some kind and has done a good job of letting their clients know. No one has mentioned any other profession that they have noticed any certification or "keeping up" kind of thing.

I have a friend here and he is in concrete and his show tends to be in Vegas around the same time as WCAF and a few years ago he was written up as "The King of Concrete" He has also done many high end installations at Dollywood and other amusement park locations. He is the only person in his industry that I know and when I needed some advise I gave him a call....I figured the king knew what he was talking about.

I see a few of my framer friends making posts about their trips to PPFA or WCAF shows for education and trade show updates on framing products.

I personally use my competition pieces as shop models when I come home. I feel like I get more response from my clients that see the posts on social media and my web site than I do here in the shop.

So kind of my point is do you GET THE WORD OUT to to your area well that you are a member of a professional organization and do you tout your accomplishments well?
 
I got a feature in the local paper with a pic. I always send a press release even when I attend a chapter event. It gets in about 50% of the time, and almost always results with an order from somebody at the paper within the next month.

I picked up a good customer once by sending those press releases to the TV stations & radio stations. I also got lots and lots of calls from reps wanting to sell me advertising. That was ok too; I wouldn't talk to them unless they came through the door...and when that happened, it was dueling pitches!

And I'll tell you a weird (to me) coincidence. I framed something for one of my customers recently that had just been at that big concrete show. She wasn't the "king," or even the "queen," but I'll have something to talk to her about next time she is in!

The FC is great for trivia as well as technical help! And that trivia can help (forgive me) cement a business relationship.
 
Mikki Kavich said:
I have a friend here and he is in concrete and his show tends to be in Vegas around the same time as WCAF...
Click to expand...

A little off topic, but last year when we came out of LAS we saw the tons of World Of Concrete (WOC) signs and thought "huh, wonder if my brother-in-law is here" (he owns a pre-cast company in NJ). So we texted him, and lo and behold - he was. We met up for dinner at an authentic Mexican restaurant.
 
Gregory K. Norris said:
And I'll tell you a weird (to me) coincidence. I framed something for one of my customers recently that had just been at that big concrete show. She wasn't the "king," or even the "queen," but I'll have something to talk to her about next time she is in!

The FC is great for trivia as well as technical help! And that trivia can help (forgive me) cement a business relationship.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, yeah!
 
I do pay attention to what the professionals I work with attend or are awarded for. Wow... now that is some poor grammar. Oh well. Because my background is in industrial, interior, architectural and the building industries in general, I pay close attention to who is getting recognized for what. The key to me is what kind of clout does the organization that is putting on the event or giving out the award have? As much as we loved winning the Washtenaw County Big Leap Award, the PPFA Vivian Kistler award for Innovation sits front and center on our display wall as you walk into our showroom.

Continuing education is not only key to any good career it is mandatory in most industries. We at UA like to constantly talk about what it is we are doing to better position ourselves as leaders in our industry because we find it valuable to us when those that we work with are leaders as well.

I personally like to be involved with the cutting edge of what is new. So, I look for other pros who are out on the front lines as well, taking new classes, attending wild conferences, getting recognized by their industries, lecturing to the industry and getting recognized on national media.

I now step off of my soap box.
 
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