Earlier this year I had the opportunity to attend the International Builder’s Show (IBS) in Orlando. Typically, the show is held in Las Vegas, so when I saw they were headed to my home state of Florida it felt like the stars were aligning for me to finally check it out.

There were several reasons why it made sense for me to go,aside from the proximity. The first was to strengthen existing relationships with colleagues and clients and second, was topotentially find some new ones.

I was fortunate to get the chance to see a few clients face-to-face. Almost all the content I do for my clients is digital and completed remotely, so it was fun to have a change of pace and record video content with them at their booths. Work aside, meeting new clients in person is the best way to have more casual conversations. As important as the work is, building a stronger personal connection leads to healthier and longer-lasting partnerships.

Another one of my favorite parts about being there at the boothwas seeing my client’s commercial and residential products up close. While I make digital ads using product images every day, seeing them in person helped give me some new ideas on how to promote them.

My other goal in being there was to walk around and explore other booths, learn more about different products and ideas in the building industry and to look for any other companies that might be a good partner for Mercury. To be honest, this was slightly nerve-wracking for me because I was so new to the scouting process. But, towards the end of the day, I felt like I had improved more with each booth I visited, which was encouraging. 

I’ve always seen trade shows through photos, so seeing it all in person was fascinating to me. First, every booth truly felt unique. There were booths that were the size of an entire kitchen and dining room. Sure, those booths stood out the most, it’s hard for them not to with their sheer size, but the smaller booths deserve love too. Not every booth has to be extravagant to drive traffic, it just has to be inviting enough to draw people in. The best way to sum it up – the booth design is what draws attendees in, but the people working the booth will usually determine how long someone stays.

When there’s hundreds of different companies exhibiting at a trade show, that’s typically a recipe for walking – and a lot of it. That was certainly the case at IBS this year, but my colleagues who’ve attended prior shows in Las Vegas said Orlando was a bit easier in comparison. It’s safe to say that if I attend a future IBS in Las Vegas, I will go through extensive cardio training to prepare. There were thousands of attendees and exhibitors in the dedicated hall I explored, but there were less than 30 chairs in the surrounding area right outside the exhibits. By the end of the day, finding a place to sit down felt just as competitive as the trade show itself.

My first trade show experience was both rewarding and eye-opening. I left IBS with new ideas, stronger relationships and a greater appreciation for the value of face-to-face interaction. But one thing is for sure – next time, I’m bringing more comfortable shoes.