The Nassau Coliseum will play host to The Greater New York Pet Expo this year on Saturday, May 4th. The event is free, indoors and air-conditioned. And best of all, it is pet-friendly! That's right - your pets are welcome to attend.

In addition to being fun-filled and educational, a major highlight of the expo is the adoption portion of the event. Hosted by Banfield Pet Hospital, there will be over 200 pets up for adoption. It's the perfect opportunity to add a furry member to your family. And with over 100 local exhibitors, there will be plenty to see and learn.

This is one event pet lovers don't want to miss!

There is a lot of information out there on what trade show exhibitors should do to prepare for an event, but what about the attendees? If you're planning on going to a trade show, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your experience:

Know Before You Go

 You can often find cost-saving deals if you plan early and pre-register. This is also a good time to check out the vendor list and decide which ones you want to visit while you're at the trade show. Take a look at the seminars, lectures and workshops as well so you can prioritize and budget your time accordingly. Also book your hotel and travel arrangements (including airport transfers) in advance.

Dress for Success

Trade shows involve a lot of walking, so be sure to pack comfortable shoes. Check the weather for the location ahead of time so you can pack appropriate attire for the forecast. Pack extra options or layers just in case. Dress professionally or wear corporate apparel with your company's name and logo to make an impression on the people you meet and network with. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself and hand out plenty of business cards.

Bring a pen and notebook so you can take notes about the vendors you meet and the seminars you attend. Keep all of the educational materials you receive neat and organized so that you can easily reference them later. With all of the workshops and lectures, it's tough to remember everything everyone said. Writing a recap of the day will help you make the most of everything you learned and apply it long after the event is over.

Don't forget to budget time for snacks, meals and breaks. You want to get the most of your limited time to soak it all in, but if you're hungry or uncomfortable you'll be distracted. Make sure to drink plenty of water and pack snacks like bars or fruit that you can eat on the go. Reusable filtered water bottles are a really good choice because you can fill them up at water fountains around the trade show floor and still have clean, filtered water to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Leave Room for Goodies

If the exhibitors do their job right, you'll walk away with tons of trade show giveaways by the end of the event. Make sure you leave room in your suitcase or travel bag for the educational materials and giveaways you'll receive.

The International Production & Processing (IPPE) show has already set a record of 1,150 exhibitors in over 430,000 net square feet. IPPE is scheduled for January 29-31 at the World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

It's a global event that involves the poultry, feed and meat industries. Showcasing the latest technology, serves and equipment, this is one not to be missed by any business in these three industries. With the record already set, the numbers still continue to climb. 

Learn more at the International Poultry Expo, and find out how you can be a part of history.

Meet the Breeds is the ultimate dog-lover's convention and being a huge dog-lover, I (of course) attended this year. Hosted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and The International Cat Association (TICA), Meet the Breeds gives people the opportunity to ask questions to breeders, learn about various breeds and interact with the animals themselves.

With rows and rows of canines, New York City's Jacob Javits Center went to the dogs this weekend. Everyone was well-behaved and wagging to see the thousands of people who gathered. The show featured over 200 breeds of cats and dogs as well as various vendors selling all kinds of pet products. In the middle of the trade show floor there was also a ring set up for agility, obedience and feline demonstrations.

Here are just a few of the great dogs I met: 

(Click image to enlarge)

The AKC's Meet the Breeds is the perfect place to help you decide what kind of cat or dog you want to purchase or adopt. Of course every animal is unique, but certain traits are more common in certain breeds. Here you get the opportunity to find out what traits best suit your lifestyle and therefore which is the best pet for you.

For anyone in the pet industry, Meet the Breeds is a must. There were a great variety of products to buy from glitzy collars and leashes to lavish cat carriers and accessories. This convention was also the scene for several lesser-known products like collapsible BPA-free water bottles for dogs on the go and moose antler chews for avid chewers. In addition there was no shortage of pet sitters, groomers, trainers and more.

All-in-all, Meet the Breeds is the place to be for pet owners, enthusiasts and potential new owners alike! If you're in the pet industry, be sure to check it out next year.

Impressive trade show booths do not have to be big, clunky and expensive pieces that require a crew to transport. In fact, you can give the illusion of a large, fancy booth display with something as simple as signage. That's right! For your next trade show try setting up a series of retractors that appear as one cohesive sign like this:

Retractors are highly portable, lightweight and (best of all) inexpensive! So what do you think? Would you give them a try?

Mark your calendars! The AKC Meet the Breeds convention returns to the Jacob Javits Center in NYC on October 20th and 21st this year. The show is hosted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and The International Cat Association (TICA). It's the perfect place to meet with consumers, breeders, clubs, trainers and more.

With vendor booths offering an extensive line of products for pets and their owners as well as over 200 breeds of cats and dogs, this is one show animal-lovers should not miss. You'll even have the opportunity to interact with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Learn about breed history and unique characteristics directly from the experts so that you can make the best choice in your pet.

You'll also find canine demonstrations such as agility, obedience, rally and service dogs as well as feline demonstrations that have not yet been announced. Here are some clips from last year:

This is the perfect place for any business or organization involved in the pet industry to sponsor or exhibit. Read more about choosing the right promotional pet products or start shopping for your pet industry giveaways now!

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!

According to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), the trade show industry is showing seven straight quarters of positive growth. The first quarter of 2012 shows a 2.7 percent increase from the first quarter of 2011.

CEIR tracks four key metrics:

• Attendance
• Net Square Footage
• Number of Exhibitors
• Real Revenues

All four areas are showing positive trends, but attendance led the way with a 4.6 percent growth. Net square footage was not far behind with a 3.4 percent increase, and both number of exhibitors and real revenues saw a 1.5 percent increase.

It is good to see the trade show industry back on the rise and truly speaks to how effective trade show giveaways and face-to-face interactions really are to businesses.

I had the pleasure of attending my first industry trade show - ASI New York - and was very impressed. There were so many vendors and products with amazing and unique features, it was a little overwhelming at times. I just didn't know where to look first!

With rows and rows of booths set up in Manhattan's Javits Convention Center, we made sure to visit everyone. And we got to see some pretty cool things. Here just a few of the highlights:

This pillow separates passengers on a plane for comfort and privacy. I don't know about you, but I could definitely use one of these! 

A new kind of printing for apparel. They won't tell us exactly how they do it, but it looks very cool - definitely one that would stand out in a crowd.

Beverage cooler meets slap bracelet. What I love about this one is that it's adjustable for a one-size-fits-all fit. Plus, it's really fun.

What a great experience. I have to say it was definitely one of the more interesting trade shows I've been to. I think I can speak for the Motivators gang in saying we all enjoyed the ASI Show in New York!

It's a car. It's a plane... It's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?? Nope. It's just your everyday flying car... Wait. What?

That's right! The New York International Auto Show unveiled the first practical, functional flying car. Though many attempts have been made, most of them have resulted in glorified small airplanes. But Terrafugia Inc. is changing the future, delivering the Transition to customers as early as this year.

The Transition is a four-wheeled vehicle with folding wings and a rear-facing propeller. This "roadable aircraft" runs on unleaded fuel and gets 35 mpg on the ground, which is better than some boring, old, non-flying cars. It's a fully functioning car as well as plane, up to regulations by standards of both land and air. And though you won't need a hanger for this airplane, it may not be the easiest to find parking for at the mall...

It does require an actual runway (and pilot's license), so sadly the Transition won't get the average consumer around rush-hour traffic. The goal, according to Terrafugia, is to make travel more convenient for pilots. No more worrying about ground transportation at the end of the flight. Private and sport pilots can order their very own "flying car" with an estimated price point of $279,000.

Just goes to show that there is no such thing as a "boring" trade show. Sure it's no Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but you never know when or where something will come along and change life as we know it...