Season of Shows

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By the time you read this, I and the rest of the Pet Age staff will be freshly back from SuperZoo. This year’s SuperZoo was expected to be one of the largest to date, with more booths than ever before. The 2015 show is on track to be even larger, and as of this writing will have more than 200 additional booths based on the demand generated this year.
It’s important for retailers to attend trade shows like SuperZoo, Global and Backer, which is happening next month in Chicago. It’s a fantastic way to see new products firsthand and do some networking.

That said, the size of these shows can be overwhelming if you don’t do some prep ahead of time. Even show veterans like me can get overwhelmed at the biggest shows and only realize later that they missed a booth they really wanted to check out.

For any show, you’ll need a plan of attack so you make sure you see the vendors, exhibits, educational seminars and events that most interest you and will most benefit your business. Go to the show website. Download any apps. Pour over the vendor list and make a list of ones most important to you – and find out where their booths are. Looking at the floor map in advance will help you maximize your time.

And, as a final piece of advice, schedule yourself a massage for after the show.

-Craig Rexford