I spent Thursday and Friday on the Exhibitor’s floor and stopped by a few of the educational seminars. It was two good days and I was very surprised at the positive attitude of both attendees and exhibitors. My expectations were not very high due my opinion of last year’s show. But I have to say I was very happy to see people enthused and an upswing in traffic and attitudes about our industry. We survived and we are staging a strong comeback.
Most conspicuos were the people and companies not here. Such great vendors as Hunter Douglas, Springs, Ado, Rollease and others who chose not to exhibit. In my opinion this is a mistake. I understand the arguments of “return on investment” but as Jay Helser of Helser Brothers says, “You can’t imagine all the positive intangibles I receive from the exhibiting at this show. It’s the one-to-one encounters that develop into long term profitable relationships”. This is a big part of why the “majors” should be here not to mention it would be nice to see them support the industry in our only national trade show event.
I am in this industry for over 25 years. I have seen all sorts of trends and relationships that were once important and are not anymore. Remember when the “Big Box” stores were taking over? We fought with our major suppliers not to sell to them, but they did and we were angry over it. But these “Big Box” stores did not succeed in driving us from the business. We were here before they existed and we are still here today. We are the ones attending the seminars and visiting the booths these past few days in Atlanta. Majors, where are you?
Margi Kyle, The Designing Doctor told me when I asked her about the missing in action from the show: “If you don’t appear, you disappear”.
People traveled from great distances to attend the show. My friend Cindy Laws from Bermuda is here taking seminars and scouring the floor for exciting new products.
I asked Sarah Youngblood with Exciting Windows! located right here in Atlanta why she comes to the show and she explained that it’s a chance to reconnect with friends and suppliers and would travel if the show was not local.
I did attend Deb Barrett’s seminar called “Transform Custom to Couture”. What a great seminar! I have been in the Drapery Workroom business for over 25 years and I thought I knew it all. Cut me a piece a humble pie, I must have learned a dozen new things from Deb that I will use in my workroom. Thanks Deb!
I did see some new products on the floor. There is Masterpiece Shutters a new company from upstate New York that creates shutters with either beautiful carvings or printed with exciting graphics.
From Los Angeles, California comes HueArt, a window shade company with oversized graphics chosen from a huge catologue.
There were many more great product introductions from such companies as Comfortex, Mechoshade, Phifer, Forest and many more.
Next year will be in Tampa. I hope to see you there!