This Is The End!

       Earlier this month, I attended what was somewhere north of my 25th Eastern Pennsylvania Turf Conference. I have watched the show change, over the years, from a time when of all the equipment suppliers had large booths, with almost a full compliment of their products down to this past table top trade show. While the explanation of why some trade shows seem to be thriving (NJ Turf Grass Conference in Atlantic City), to the stories of other shows that are struggling to survive, is a mystery question of life. The Easter Pa Show still has strong attendance and a growing Sports Turf Managers section, but we have seemingly hit a wall on the trade show part of the program. Year after year, the vendors have talked amongst each other that this was not working. While no one wants to do anything that would effect the support of the work of the Pennsylvania Turf Grass Council, the reality of today's business climate of tighter margins and importance of spending your dollars wisely have finally won out. Many factors play into the mood of vendors, like trade show times, during classes, to being in the lower level of the facility, all play into the reality that it is time for a change. In the end, vendors want to have customers and prospects stop by their booth, hopefully to uncover some new opportunities. The thought of having multiple salesmen stand around talking to each other, for hours on end, is not something that works for anyone.
      While preliminary talks have begun to change the format of the trade show and possibly to eliminate it completely, in the end, I know that next year will be different. There is energy, on the vendor side, to grow the dollars being brought in from new avenues to support the PTC. That is why this is a great business to work in. While we compete against each other for business, all the vendors I have spoken to all say the same thing " I am in, just let me know what you need me to do!"

WJC