I was impressed with the overall layout of their site, I initially went to it to find out more, like how much does it cost to get in, parking etc… I emailed them too but the person who is the contact had an out of office auto reply that he was going to be at the show…still haven’t found out the price of the show…but was thrilled with the info I did find.

You can also try this page http://www.mapyourshow.com/shows/index.cfm?boot... that shows the layout of the show and if you click on any of the booths it gives you their name and contact info. I agree. I do not know if they will keep their website up and available after the show. I have emailed them to find out.

http://www.rogerbrown.net

okay…seems to work…at the end of the alphabet there is a show all button….beware…there are about 1000 vendors at this show…also I don’t know how long the links will be up as the show ends at the end of this weekend…

While I was researching the upcoming PGA tradeshow in orlando this weekend I came across this page. It shows every vendor attending and when you click on their name you get a wealth of info (I’m thinking potential contacts here for a lot of diverse products) Name, address, web site, promo ads of their products and a list of what they specialize in…all with one click. Amazing!
here’s the link to the page

http://pgamerch11.mapyourshow.com/3_0/search.cf...@

I’ll test it in a minute to see if the link works…

Gentlemen Thank you! These are great suggestions so far.
Does anybody want to add any good/bad experiences they’ve had on fact finding missions at trade shows.

Also would it be a good idea to have a little box to tick where you could rate their approachability on a scale of 1-5 (1-being- grumpy/overworked/sneering/can’t be bothered/just broke up with his girlfriend ….and 5 being-glad to see you/happy you asked/ so excited he wants to wine you and dine you at the after show parties)?

Great suggestions Eric. I will add these to the list.

1. Always ask for a business card. It will normally have their direct number so you can bypass the secretary or the automated system. It should also have their email address. Give them yours if you have one.

2. Ask when is the best time call once they get back to the office after the trade show, mornings or after lunch?

3. Do they only look at patented ideas or are they open to all ideas in various stages of development?

4. Ask if they are going to another trade show after this one or will they be back in the office?

5. Do they prefer snail mail or email submissions? If you snail mail include an envelope and postage to cover sending your material back.

6. Does there company have any Subsidiaries you might be able to submit products too?

7. What is their normal turnaround time for submissions? I ask this because some companies like Progressive International only review submissions the first week of every month. So depending when you submit your idea you cold be waiting 3 weeks before they even look at it.

8. Is there a particular format they prefer submissons in? Some prefer jpegs, Word, PowerPoint, PDF, etc. You can’t assume every company has the same programs on their computer that you do. Also, it can be an issue if you are using Word 2010 and they are using, 2003 or 2007. Some things in your proposal will not show up correctly.
You can have issues sending attachments larger than 5 megs because their server may not let anything larger than 5megs through.

9. If you have any, Don’t leave samples with them. Ask if you can mail it to them at their office so they don’t have to pack it for their trip back. They will appreciate your courtesy. Plus, they are already going to be loaded with all the stuff they gathered at the show. Yours might be one they leave behind.

http://www.rogerbrown.net

Of course it will depend on the market, but what I want to find out is the company’s new product philosophy…you’d be surprised how many companies are not too keen on introducing new products to their customers. I also ask if they are open to products submitted from outside individuals. Ask if they have a process in place to accept and evaluate those ideas. Always remember they are there to meet and sell to their customers. Respect their time. Never approach them while customers are nearby. Ask who at the company would be the best initial contact. I usually ask if they sign NDA. I also find it best not to call yourself an inventor. I usually say I am an independent product developer. I could go on and on…I find trade shows a great opportunity.