Here’s how to make the most out of your experience while attending the largest annual event for the glass, window and door industries in North America.

Photo credit: GlassBuild America

GlassBuild America 2021 is less than a month away, and we at Matodi would like to share some tips for planning your tradeshow experience. Tradeshows can be overwhelming, especially when you’re attending one for the first time. As you prepare for the event, maintain the mindset that you are attending in order to improve your business. Therefore, every discussion you have on the floor should have a purpose. For example, learning about new industry trends, meeting new customers and suppliers, or simply making connections.

Here are more tips on how you can make the most of your days at GlassBuild:

1. Make a plan.

Determine which exhibitors are a priority by utilizing GlassBuild’s exhibitor list. Planning your route and making note of where exhibitors are located can save time and allow you to feel more relaxed throughout your day. Organization is key, but don’t be so inflexible that you neglect to visit exhibitors not on your list. You may learn something new and make valuable connections.

2. Ask the right questions.

Be ready to ask questions, but also be prepared to listen. This tip is crucial whether you’re attending or exhibiting. You’re there to find new solutions — this means you should know what issues you have to solve in your business and how much you’re willing to spend. When talking with exhibitors, explain what you need but be open to listening to what solutions they can offer. An exhibitor may have a unique solution that addresses more than one “pain point,” tackling things like productivity, safety and more. Also, be prepared that you may decide to make a deal during GlassBuild. Show pricing can be extremely advantageous to your business’s bottom line, and the promotional pricing may be too good to pass up.

3. Follow-up.

Be ready for an influx of follow-up emails. Exhibitors will likely contact you within a few days of speaking to you for further discussions. It would help to have a solid understanding of what the priorities are for your business and communicate these to your sales rep. That way, they can respond appropriately, whether it be visiting your company and formalizing a proposal — or agreeing to follow-up once you are ready to move forward.

4. Bonus Tip: Get social.

Tradeshows are always buzzing with social media activity, and GlassBuild is no exception. Make the most of your networking experience by connecting with exhibitors, industry influencers and new acquaintances on platforms such as Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. If you haven’t already, follow GlassBuild’s accounts here: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. It’s a great way to keep up-to-date with events, news, machinery highlights, and videos.

Connect with Matodi social accounts, as well: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also stay in-touch at the event by following the hashtag #GlassBuild.

Overall, we hope you will make the most of your time at GlassBuild America. You can accomplish this through planning, preparing your questions ahead of time, and being ready for follow-up. Visit our show machine highlights blog to decide which machines you may need this year. We hope you find these tips valuable and be sure to add Matodi to your “must-see” list! Visit us at Booth #2441

We look forward to seeing you in Atlanta!