AND VISIT US AT STAND Q3

But seriously….a few months back when we were considering our options for this year, I was chatting to the lovely people at the FIT Show. I was especially concerned that they were going to do the show annually again (to be honest it has been all over the place in the past) and they assured me that last year was just the Covid postponed 2021 show. They promised me that the odd-numbered year and alternating with the German show Fensterbau, is back on track. Anyway, we had a blinding FIT Show last year when we launched Gerda doors in the UK, and this year we still have a few localities that we need to bolster up with installers and distributors, so we are back again. Which means PK, that you should go to the FIT Show again just so we can have a chat. But even I would concede that you probably need a bit more to drag you away from the coalface.

I am not the FIT Show PK so I am not going to give you the big sell, but rather to look at the bigger picture of why people should, or should not, go to trade shows or for that matter, any sort of exhibition.

I have a very small, local retail operation which keeps me on my toes and helps me to track what the Smiths and Jones’s are being turned on by at any one time. Homeowners are the most switched on to trends and this keeps me ahead of the game. But it also tells me how competitive it is out there in retailland. And the best way to find suppliers of the new trending products as well as to get in ahead of consumer trends, is to go to the FIT Show.

I know that you like to get on the tools PK but you tell me that you and your lad deal with most of the retail enquiries and sales and just the day to day or running the business keep you occupied these days. You’re busy, understood. But a day, or ideally two spent at FIT is an investment, not a jolly; and as the next show won’t be for two years – I have their assurance of that – it means it will be three years from the last time you ventured up to the NEC if you don’t go this time.

I looked at last year’s attendance figures and, at something over 4,000 installers attending, that is around a third of the number claimed to be fitting windows and doors in the UK, at least doing it seriously and with their heads above the parapet. I reckon that’s a pretty good number too, because in my experience, most installers are quite happy to keep slogging away fitting the

“You’re busy, understood. But a day, or ideally two spent at FIT is an investment, not a jolly; and as the next show won’t be for two years.” same old stuff, and usually only responding with anything new when they’ve been asked for it by their customers.

Stay ahead of the game, offer the latest products, and you will have the upper hand over at least two thirds of your competitors, if this number is anything to go by.

Anybody that can’t take a day or two out of what will be three years now until the next chance, really doesn’t deserve to do well PK. And as for you, I am told that at least a quarter of the exhibitors are brand new to the FIT Show, and 40% from overseas so there will be something new even though you went just a year ago.

And as you didn’t make yourself known to me last time around, you will have a further chance to come and examine our magnificent Gerda doors with their steel or aluminium facings…Come and see us (stand P31) on the Wednesday and when we have signed you up as a retail partner you can stay and enjoy the rock band and a beer or two on our stand to party the night away.

See you at the FIT Show!

“Anybody that can’t take a day or two out of what will be three years now until the next chance, really doesn’t deserve to do well PK. And as for you, I am told that at least a quarter of the exhibitors are brand new to the FIT Show, and 40% from overseas so there will be something new even though you went just a year ago.”

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