Several
tile distributors are inviting their customers to join them next year for a
trip to Chicago
for the 2009 Coverings show. The international exposition and conference
dedicated exclusively to the newest in ceramic tile and natural stone takes
over the McCormick
Place Convention
Center, April 21-24, with 1,200 exhibitors from
more than 50 countries attracting nearly 37,000 attendees.
Genesee Ceramic Tile
Distributors, Inc., is among those extending the invitation. With four
locations based throughout Michigan, and none
much more than a four-hour drive from the Windy
City, Genesee
is preparing to host about 50 clients including architects, designers,
residential builders and remodelers for a two-day visit. There is no admission
charge for the show and all seminar sessions also are gratis, so it becomes a
tempting proposition for Genesee’s guests to
sign on.
“We’ve been going to
Coverings since the show started 20 years ago,” said Jim C. Cokley, founder and
president of Genesee. “It’s always been worth
the travel investment, regardless where it’s held, because there are so many
new products to see and resources to discover. We’ve also found it a valuable
venue for networking. Professionally, it’s a tremendous experience.”
According to Cokley,
the CTDA, a Coverings sponsor, first suggested Genesee
host a client trip. In fact CTDA has teamed with the show’s management to help
line up some of the logistics and details for those distributors interested in
the program.
“We’re trying to put
the word out about this offer to our members who are within easy traveling
vicinity to Chicago,”
said Rick Church, CTDA executive director. “It’s a modest investment in
time-just the matter of a day or two-to visit the show; but, the payoffs are
manifold. You’ll be building goodwill with your best customers and at the same
time helping introduce them to new products, new resources and contacts from
all around the world.”
For Cokley, who has
been joined in the business he founded 35 years ago by two sons and a daughter,
the conference sessions also are worthwhile, and he and his staff will be
encouraging guests not only to travel the show floor but also to take advantage
of some of the seminar programs, especially since so many offer CEU credits.
“The two-days will be
jam-packed, but with Chicago so close by, we’d be remiss not to offer this and
I’m confident those who take the time out to join us will find it hugely
beneficial to their own businesses,” Cokley added.
Also sending a
contingent to the 2009 show is Keen Tile. With four locations in central Illinois, Keen is
planning a one-day excursion with about a dozen client guests. It has been
issuing the invitations informally, via word-of-mouth.
“We’ve been attending
Coverings for 13 years straight,” said Rick Jackson, Keen’s owner. “It’s an
important show for seeing the latest trends and a rich resource for finding new
manufacturers, plus renewing relationships with many of our existing suppliers.
To be able to share this experience with our clients, which is a mix of
retailers, builders and installers, is fantastic, because it opens their eyes
to how vast the industry actually is and the depth and breadth of tile and
stone out there from all over the world.”
The concept for
distributor-sponsored trips to Coverings emerged two years ago when the trade
show made a return appearance in Chicago
after a 15-year absence. At that time Miles Distributors, one of the mid-west’s
largest, hosted about 1000 clients from its five locations. This past year for
the Orlando show, Palm Beach-based D&B Tile
Distributors and Master Tile, which has two Florida locations, participated in the program,
bringing a total of 220 guests.
According to Glenn
Feder, president of client events for National Trade Productions, which manages
and produces Coverings, “This program has evolved to become an ongoing
initiative with CTDA and one that makes sense for its members. This coming
year, especially, given the economic climate and challenges to business, the
opportunity for a distributor to offer something of added value to his or her
client is a great demonstration of support that helps build relationships.”
Feder suggested that
any other distributors who want to host a customer trip should contact National
Trade Productions, (703) 683-8500.
Tile distributors offer to bring customers to Coverings 2009
November 14, 2008
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