Why I Enjoy Trade Shows

  • Posted By: Bob Buskirk
  • 11 Comments... What do you have to say?


I really love going to trade shows. Trade shows are events / expos where computer and electronics companies show off their products. Each company has a booth with their latest and most popular products. I usually only end up going to one trade show a year, CES in Las Vegas. Trade shows are usually expensive to go to, the travel and the hotel stay really adds up. I really wish I could go to more trade shows because that’s what I like most about what I do.

In any job you are given a task and if you do that task well you feel good about yourself. If you are selling something and do a large volume of sales you feel like you really have accomplished something, but in what I do (write reviews and run websites) I really do not feel like I accomplish that much if I finish a review or the site does a lot of traffic. I guess it’s just not the same as other jobs might be.

That is why I enjoy going to trade shows so much. The first main reason is I get to “sell” the site. What that means is I meet with companies face to face and get them to send us review products. So whenever we meet new companies and they sign on as a sponsor I feel a big accomplishment.

Another reason I like trade shows so much is that I get to meet with our current sponsors and other website owners. Sort of a meeting of peers. Usually companies will have functions like picnic’s or parties, also there is usually a meeting place like a bar or restaurant where employees like to meet. When you are your only employee you really don’t have those types of gatherings especially if you are in the internet business because people usually do not live close to each other.

I really enjoy what I do and I am glad I can do it as my full time job, but it really does not feel like a job to me. Doing things like reviewing products and maintaining the websites does not seem like work. When I’m at a trade show I actually feel like I’m doing work and it is really fulfilling.

So those are some of the reasons I really enjoy going to trade shows. I would like to be able to travel and go to more, but sometimes it is just too expensive. CES is just around the corner, it’s going to be January in no time!

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11 Comments»

Comment by Alex
2007-09-12 10:14:11
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Sounds like fun. I always wondered how people got companies to send them free stuff to review.

 
Comment by Colin Dean
2007-09-12 12:32:29
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I can’t wait to go this year. Vegas, baby!

 
Comment by ScottUA
2007-09-12 18:06:14
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Sounds like a fun excuse to get out of the house and play with new toys!

 
Comment by Shawn Knight
2007-09-13 01:11:34
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Im right with ya here, I loved CES… although I was a total noob last year and went in without a clue of what to really do or expect, but this year will be much different :)

 
Comment by Sean
2007-09-13 01:54:28
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Hopefully I’m able to go…

 
Comment by Charles Lau
2007-09-13 08:42:59
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That sounds really cool! Going for trade shows to look for companies to sign up as sponsor for product review! I would love to have such a review! Yeah!

 
Comment by BigMan
2007-09-13 10:27:51
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Hoping to see you at Cebit one of these years Bob :)

 
Comment by Joel Szerlip
2007-09-13 12:21:00
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You know trade shows are what you make of them, if you get the right contacts, and know some people to go with, your right they can be a good time.

 
Comment by Zach
2007-09-14 14:21:42
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I love trade shows, I went to one this year in Chicago. The best thing about them… free stuff!

 
Comment by Leo
2007-09-17 17:03:41
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Never been to one myself, I’m gonna have to mooch my way into them one day ;)

 
2007-09-23 01:34:39
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Same here Bob, I absolutely love trade shows and conventions sooo much! I’ve been to so many and my faves are definitely CES and Comic-Con. I just don’t know if I’d go as far as saying that I don’t feel like I’m accomplishing anything unless I’m at a trade show. It’s definitely a different environment but there are seperate senses of accomplishment while at home still…

I can’t wait for January myself! I got CES (with you) and the Sundance Film Festival - almost the best month of the year!!

 
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