Exhibiting at the Wilmington Expo

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Vehicles are nice to look at but they are tools and may not be all that great of an idea to give an impression that they need one of them to do the work.

I am going to return to something, handing out flyers with questions to ask.

This morning I was asked why would any company want to do this.

I thought about the question for a while and realized in my last business, it created an edge when a company actually told the customer what to look for and why. We didn't act like we wanted the business as some do (pressure sales, fear sales and so on) but an honest "here is a list of qeustions that you should always be asking".

I mean we gave up a little information to gain business and it worked out rather well. The customer, like potential contractors sometimes doesn't know what they are looking for or what this is all about but when a company helps or guides them, it builds a bit of loyalty with the contractor which will work to both yours and their advantage in the long run.

If you want to know more, PM me.
 

Bruno

Veteran Expediter
Fleet Owner
US Marines
Thinking about that.... The first year we had a sprinter and straight truck on display, another year we just had an exhibit booth. What are your thoughts on putting vehicles on display?

Having a unit there is a good thing. It shows people how you have the units set up as far as the QC and the signs. Plus it shows how much you support the Expo. The year I went to the Expo my old company had the best booth but didn't support the Expo like Panther did that year. They had a get together at my old company and Lawrence was there with his staff. Lawrence was standing next to the CEO and I walked up to the CEO and asked when the company was going to step up to the plate and support the Expo like Panther did. I would have loved to know what Lawrence was thinking when I said that. The look on his face was priceless.
 

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Having a vehicle on hand doesn't mean a whole lot to most serious O/O's I don't think. It's more important to be professional and honest and provide full and complete information than to show a truck, fancy or otherwise.
 

piper1

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Vehicles in a booth to me say that you are going after 100% newbs. You are displaying a "look what this can be like" vehicle. I would say that most serious folks already know what vehicles are like. Unless you are selling or leasing trucks, displaying them to me is pretty pointless other than it provides a large backdrop.
 

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Vehicles in a booth to me say that you are going after 100% newbs. You are displaying a "look what this can be like" vehicle. I would say that most serious folks already know what vehicles are like. Unless you are selling or leasing trucks, displaying them to me is pretty pointless other than it provides a large backdrop.


It does provide a good place to keep your hand outs!! I don't see the need for a truck, proves nothing to me.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Vehicles in a booth to me say that you are going after 100% newbs. You are displaying a "look what this can be like" vehicle. I would say that most serious folks already know what vehicles are like. Unless you are selling or leasing trucks, displaying them to me is pretty pointless other than it provides a large backdrop.

I'd feel more like.."step into my parlor said the spider to the fly";)

As far as sample settlement sheets IF they were handed to me by a CEO or recruiter I'd treat them like a 3 dollar bill....

Forget the numbers samples, forget the charts...
Just look me in the eye and serve a good cuppa Joe and talk to me...I'll be the judge from there....my spider senses will be on high alert:)
 

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
Again more good input. Maybe an area to sit down and talk and rest or relax a bit is more useful than having a truck on display. I agree that they do make good storage, but the reality is we all know what a straight truck looks like. I agree with Bruno, supporting the expo is important to Lawrence, all of us, and the industry.
 

Lawrence

Founder
Staff member
I can't agree more with the comments on booth staff. I recall last year we had a truck dealer who would NOT stand up from his chair and greet visitors to his booth.

After seeing people in his sleeper - someone on the Expo staff confronted him and told him people where in his truck and looking at it...his comment? "Yeah, they been doing it all day".

How many truck do you think he sold from the Expo?

...........0.

He told his employed the expo didn't work.

Indeed - it didn't work.

But with feedback like this - it can be a great success for an exhibitor!

Thanks all!
 

moose

Veteran Expediter
Sorry !!
yes just a bad sarcastic remark, nothing to it.
here , this will make up for it...seen your friend yesterday , but the shades where down , and ZZZzzzz... was coming up the FantasticFan...
Beautiful truck Tho'w...
 

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layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
And be sure to make sure that anyone who comes with you has a sense of humor!! We are all in a really good mood when at expo and love to have fun!! Shoot, OVM might even where his shorts again!! :p
 

moose

Veteran Expediter
Having a vehicle on hand doesn't mean a whole lot to most serious O/O's I don't think.

Question is , hoe is HIS targeted costumer !

depending on Load1 recruiting goals for the Expo ,
a tricked out, ready to go - just sign here and choose the seat cover - truck , can go long way , far more then 'know alls'.
 

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
And be sure to make sure that anyone who comes with you has a sense of humor!! We are all in a really good mood when at expo and love to have fun!! Shoot, OVM might even where his shorts again!! :p

You definitely need a sense of humor when seeing those. :D
 

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
To bring those who missed the show into the loop, these are the shorts in question. It's been nine months since the 2009 show and people are still talking about them. Exhibitors, take note.:D

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u158/ateam_photos/ovm_shorts.jpg
ovm_shorts.jpg
 

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
To bring those who missed the show into the loop, these are the shorts in question. It's been nine months since the 2009 show and people are still talking about them. Exhibitors, take note.:D

ovm_shorts.jpg


If I were OVM I would be really worried about the guy standing behind him staring longingly at his shorts!!! LOL!! Thanks for the picture, Phil, brings back wonderful? memories!!
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Man I take a good picture...*lol*

Thanks Phil...

9 months eh? Guess I leave a lasting impression one could say...;)
 

ebsprintin

Veteran Expediter
The idea of having a vehicle on hand shouldn't be limited to "this is what a spiffy truck looks like". Me personally, I'd be looking for the driver for their perspective. It could be like an extra booth in addition to the recruiters table.

eb
 
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