If you're a photography professional or enthusiast in or around the New York City area, keep October 24 -27, 2012 open! In just 85 days, the PhotoPlus Expo comes to the Javits Center.

According to its website, attendees will get a taste of all the latest advances in photography. Imaging and photography products and services will be on display from the industry's leading manufacturers, like Nikon and Panasonic. They'll show off the hottest new products including sleek digital cameras and editing software. Furthermore, those attending have access to more than 90 seminars and other events throughout the trade show.

So to get a first-hand look at hundreds of exhibits and walk away with dozens of photography promotional products, register for the PhotoPlus International Expo + Conference today!

Processing and packaging are necessary in almost every industry, from automotive to tobacco. That's why PACK EXPO 2012 will be the largest edition of the trade show since 2002.

According to the trade show's website, "For four full days, PACK EXPO International 2012 brings together more than 46,000 buyers from all over the globe and 1,800-plus leading suppliers, showcasing state-of-the art materials, machinery and methods for packaging and processing in every market." More than 1.1 million square feet of space will be dedicated to a record 1,800+ exhibitors displaying the freshest packaging and processing innovations.

The October 28 - 31, 2012 event will take place in Chicago, Illinois. To make it easier for attendees to find solutions for their particular needs, PACK EXPO will feature five industry pavilions: The Processing Zone, The Brand Zone, The Pharmaceutical Pavilion, The Confectionery Pavilion, and The Reusable Packaging Pavilion.

Furthermore, this year's event will highlight suppliers who offer sustainable solutions. Eco-friendly trade show packages will feature the green PACK EXPO logo.

Transit isn't the name of a mass-transportation telecommunication meeting of the minds or an aviation industry tradeshow. Instead, fans of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway will be the ones flocking to Transit.

Transit is a mid-week celebration of the trendy shoe. Deemed "...LA's only dedicated footwear trade event..." it is Transit that is the West Coast equivalent to heavily influential east coast shows like Accessories Circuit and the women's equivalent of MRKET - both taking place this year at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Shoes are a women's best friend and seeing as Los Angeles is a major fashion-forward city in the USA, this tradeshow is bound to be visited by locals and international travelers alike, looking for the hottest fashions to come out during the holiday season and even for a sneak-peek into what may be expected for early 2013. 

Although the show takes place in just over two weeks, registration is still open and an opportunity to build up your tradeshow booth is still within reach. Simply visit the Motivators website and purchase a custom imprinted Tradeshow Package. 

So be sure to be in the LA area between August 6 and August 8. More information can be found on the Transit official website. 

Exhibiting isn't an exact science. Every industry and every trade show is unique. But even with all of the variations, there are a few key must-haves any exhibitor should never be without:

1. Pre-Show Buzz... Before the event, take some time to get the word out about your expected presence. Use your own marketing outlets as well as the trade show's site to promote your attendance.

2. Killer Booth... Your set-up has to be eye-catching, welcoming and visually appealing. Don't overcrowd your display, but don't be stingy either. Find the balance and build a booth that will stand out from the rest.

3. Perfect Staff... Choose a staff that can read the crowd. Some people are more receptive to a hard sell and some just want to have a conversation. Your staff needs to be able to instantly tell the difference and give them what they want. More on the importance of staffing... 

4. Enticing Incentives... Sure your staff is out there drawing people in and your booth is absolutely beautiful, but for that little extra push give attendees more of an incentive to stop by your booth. Offer things like games and raffles with the opportunity to win prizes. Make it fun and spread the word.

5. Up-to-Date Technology... Don't fall behind the times. With all of the technology available today, there is no reason your company or organization shouldn't be up and running on social media posting updates throughout the event or engaging people with QR codes and mobile apps.

6. Fabulous Featured Products... People love going to trade shows for the hands-on experience and face-to-face interaction. Feature a good mix of products including the latest and greatest as well as historical best sellers.

7. Cameras... Keep a video camera at your booth for customer testimonials (or even just feedback). A still camera is also great for keeping followers updated on social media throughout the show. You can even show booth visitors product or service demos on your camera for things that were not practical to physically bring with you to the event.

8. Contact Capture... With so much traffic to your booth, having a plan in place for capturing leads is essential. Keep your contact list organized, but don't put it on display. You want the focus to be on your booth, not the list of names. And be sure to keep notes of conversations you've had with individuals to make your follow-up more memorable with references to those unique conversations.

9. Memorable Giveaways... Every exhibitor should be equipped with unique promotional products to send trade show attendees home with. Put your name, logo and even contact information on your giveaways so that people always remember you fondly.

10. Consistency... Across all of the above, make sure you are consistent in your branding and your message!

"Accessories are important and becoming more and more important every day. They can completely change the look of an outfit, and women like the idea of having a wardrobe that's versatile. For instance, a strong piece of jewelry can make a simple outfit look elegant."

- Giorgio Armani

As we approach the August 5, 2012 launch date of Accessories Circuit / Intermezzo Collections, a promotional personal accessories show at New York's Javits Center, Armani's quote rings true. Retailers from New York and the surrounding cities will be attending the convention in hopes of finding everything from clutches to belts to add to their stores.

The August 5 - 7, 2012 show will focus on fashion apparel and accessories from more than 500 exhibitors. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to network, discover new trends, and discuss innovations. Accessories Circuit / Intermezzo Collections promises three full days of quality traffic and great exposure.

Get your accessories and apparel noticed by signing up today!

As some of my earlier posts may have hinted to, I have had some experience when it comes to standing on both sides of the tradeshow booth. This gives me the slight advantage of knowing what it is like to be asking questions and answering the same questions. 

But where do I get up-and-coming information on tradeshows? My primary source is the Tradeshow News Network.

The TSNN is a highly cited website by the Motivators Tradeshow Blog and has the largest database of tradeshows in dozens of categories. Whether it is a sport fishing tradeshow in Alabama, a medical technology tradeshow in Hawaii or looking for an industry tradeshow on the other side of the world, the database allows you to search by name, locale or even the month.

No one understands the inner workings of a trade show like the contributing writers of Tradeshow News Network. Once in a while, a very informative article on the DOs and DON'Ts of the tradeshow lifestyle.

Two such articles, entitled "10 Tips to Check Off for Your Next Trade Show" and "6 Post-show Practices You Should Be Using" are written by Lisa Apolinski and Christina Hernandez respectively. The first discusses what features you may want to use during your next tradeshow and what can be passed on. It gives many new ideas and shuns things that employees/employers still use to this day. Christina Hernadez's article focuses on what to do with the newfound information and contacts after the tradeshow is done and over with.

So grab your promotional products and read both articles linked above. The two articles are must-reads. As always, be sure to check this site for more hints and promotional product ideas. 

It's that time of year again! Comic-Con 2012 launched today in San Diego, California, and will run through Sunday, July 15, 2012. As the world's most popular comic book trade show, it's sure to be an epic event.

And what's the most important item at a convention of this size? Promotional bags, of course!

This year, Warner Bros. Entertainment supplied official bags that attendees can use to carry the freebies they pick up during the show.  According to CBS News, "The totes will have the Comic-Con official design on one side, and the other will spotlight different TV shows and movies."

"The bags are just so important for getting through Comic-Con," convention attendee Sony Chabolla told the San Diego Union-Tribute. "I use it to put free stuff in, but I also buy comics and figurines and I put them in there."

Chabolla may not realize it, but she explained why trade show giveaways are so important -- not only are they used at the event itself, but they live well beyond it. Did you snag one of these highly sought after Comic-Con 2012 bags?

There's one thing about technology that we can all agree on:  You can never keep up with it.  Still, it's important to be aware of trends, especially within the trade show industry.  Let's take a look at some of the industry's latest technology crazes.

1. Mobile
   
   These days, everybody's got a smartphone on them at all times.  How can you incorporate this technology into your trade show?  One way is to encourage exhibitors to print QR codes onto their trade show giveaways.  Attendees can then scan the code for instant access to a company's website, Facebook page, etc.
   
   
2. Social
   
   Some argue that social media will soon completely replace traditional forms of marketing.  Therefore, if you're presenting at a trade show, it's wise to promote your booth, product, and/or services via social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  Include your usernames and URLs on business cards to make a big impact on visitors.
   
   
3. Virtual
   
   Sometimes, for various different reasons, it doesn't make sense to host a live trade show.  If your potential participants are spread across the country -- or even the world -- you might want to look into organizing a virtual trade show.  These gatherings take place on the web, rather than at a specific venue, allowing more flexibility for exhibitors and attendees.
   
   

What other technologies would you add to the list?

You no longer have to travel to India to be enlightened by the spiritual people who come from there. In fact, you don’t need to look further than the Javits Center in New York City. From July 9-11, 2012 the Amma Tour comes to town featuring the well-known spiritual guide Amma (Mother) who has become known by this name as a result of her affectionate care and compassion.

Over the course of her three days at the Javits Center, Amma will hold morning and evening programs as well as a program called Devi Bhava on July 11th. The morning and evening programs feature meditation and the chance to be embraced by Amma. Amma is world renowned for her embrace which has been described as “powerful”, “comforting” and “profound”.

The Devi Bhava program features a ritual called Atma Puja which is a ceremony for World Peace, after which people once again have a chance to embrace this amazing woman and also receive a mantra (Sanskrit words used in prayer and meditation) from Amma herself.

An extensive assortment of promotional books and music are available for purchase during the program at the Amma Shop. Selections include collections of talks given by Amma, writings by her senior disciples and music performed by Amma. Other items range from handmade goods from Indian villages to specially blended essential oils.

All proceeds support Amma’s international charitable organization Embracing the World, which focuses on education, disaster relief, fighting hunger, empowering women and many other great humanitarian causes.  Embracing the World has been a major contributor to disaster relief work in India, Japan, Haiti and the United States.
Don’t miss your chance to take part in this rare spiritual ceremony and help those who are less fortunate at the same time.