Exhibiting at Expo?

As the Houston Apartment Association Education Conference and Expo returns this year, HAA Past Product Service Council Presidents, Cesar Lima with AAA Plumbers and Beth Rohani with Ameritex Movers, are here to tell you how to make the most of your expo experience.

HAA readers who aren’t familiar should know that there is a healthy amount of competition between Cesar and Beth. Why? These two fiercely creative and passionate expo exhibitors strive to win the award for the best booth every year. Any HAA expo exhibitor has the chance to win this award, that is, of course, if you can compete with these two.

Here is what Cesar and Beth have to say about preparing for the expo, day of show dos and don’ts and following up after the expo:

How can supplier partners best prepare for the 2021 HAA Education Conference and Expo?

Cesar Lima: History always proves what is in your heart will show all over yourself and your experiences around you. Anyone with the desire to love a customer will create the attraction to give. Giving is receiving. Whatever your company does, show that. With signs, use visual words. Make sure to bring the perfect salespeople, meaning those who love your company like you do (assuming you love your company). Dressing alike is preferable. Remember, you’re never overdressed to welcome a customer or a very important person, but you can be underdressed. With that perspective in mind, you will start generating all you need.

Beth Rohani: A couple of things come to mind. One, prepare to meet tons of people! There will be many different faces, but if you stick around long enough, those faces will soon become long-term friendships. The one other thing to prepare for (and my favorite one) is to be unique, stand out, think outside the box, push yourself over the limit and don't make it a chore but the highlight of your year.

List your top three day-of-show dos and don’ts.

Cesar’s Dos:

1. Be thankful for the opportunity to be at the show the week before and the whole time you are at the show. It is the best opportunity of the year to be seen. Show your best self.

2. Read all details about the purpose and history of the association from the founders and the show seminars. Learn how and why they are doing it.

3. Read the news of the day before to know what’s happening in the city you are in at the moment. (It could be that the one working your booth came from another city.)

Beth’s Dos:

1. Set up the night before. That way, you're not rushing the morning of the show, and you can instead take that time to start building relationships and having fun.

2. Wear comfortable shoes. (By the way, branded flip flops are always great giveaways!)

3. Embrace the opportunity and ask lots of questions. The HAA Expo Committee is there to help get you set up for success.

Cesar’s Don’ts:

1. No phones, unless to take pictures or to set a service with the person you are speaking with

2. Don’t abuse alcohol. It’s best if no one in the booth drinks alcohol at all.

3. Don’t interrupt anyone speaking.

Beth’s Don’ts (aka my three HAA expo pet peeves):

1. Don’t leave your booth unattended. Try to always have a person at your booth at all times because you never know what opportunity is around the corner. Literally.

2. Unless you have your phone out taking selfies to post on social media with customers, friends and your team, don't have your phone out to text or email while you ignore the crowds of opportunities walking by. Instead, step aside, quickly take care of your business and come back to join the fun.

3. Lastly, do not tear down your booth before the expo is over. Tip: You get some of the best one-on-one conversations with the last-minute passerby's.

What is the best thing supplier partners can do AFTER the show and why?

Cesar: Take your team to a dinner or a quick meal to thank them for their work.

Beth: Following up is a given. The more you can be in front of your audience the better. Use every opportunity in a creative way to be remembered (even if it's just for a follow up). In my case, however, as soon as the show is over, I start to dig to find out what the following year's theme is so I can start planning my booth to beat Cesar Lima, AAA Plumbers, again, for the “Best in Show” booth contest. How many times have I beat him? I don’t know, I've lost count!

What are your suggestions for handling COVID-19 safety measures at the expo?

Cesar: Wear a mask, have hand sanitizer and use plastic gloves to give handouts. Ask before you give or get close to anyone.

Beth: For my team, we plan to wash hands and clean our expo areas regularly, set a booth maximum capacity and limit physical contact.

What is the number one thing to keep in mind?

Cesar: How privileged we are to be at the expo. Use only clean words. Remember how great it is to listen instead of talk at the show. Answer questions in 10 seconds and listen again.

Beth: Learn your audience. Know your audience. Learn to speak their language (as foreign as it may sound). Eventually, you'll become fluent.

For information on NRG’s COVID-19 protocols, please visit www.haaexpo.org.