My first trade show experience

Even though the International Wireless Communications Expo isn’t until April, the editors of MRT start getting ready for the show in January. I had no idea so much effort goes into pre-show and show issues. And that’s not counting the IWCE Live! Web site coverage the editors provide during the show.

I attended IWCE last year, but I had only been with the MRT staff two weeks. I remember sitting on the plane on the way to Las Vegas thinking, “I’m going to a trade show in Las Vegas after only two weeks on the staff. I love this job!” My first trade show proved to be more than I ever expected.

First of all, the showroom floor is enormous. I now know that it is not humanly possible to visit each booth by yourself by the end of the show. I know because I tried.

Besides realizing you need to wear comfortable shoes to IWCE, I also learned that IWCE is the major trade show for the mobile radio industry. Exhibitors and attendees come because they want to meet and greet, to introduce new products and services and to learn more about events in the industry. IWCE is the best place to do these things.

Because a lot of people attend IWCE, many companies choose to make major announcements during the show. Last year the talk on the show floor was about the possible sale of all or part of Com-Net Ericsson’s business to Pembroke, Bermuda-based Tyco International, a diversified manufacturing and service company with annual sales of $28.9 billion. Also, ElectroCom Systems announced at the show that it had changed its name to IPMobileNet.

I also had no idea you could win prizes or get free food at a trade show. Last year one lucky person won a brand new, red Volkswagon Beetle. That’s not just a prize, that’s like winning the lottery. OK, not exactly — but close. For everyone else at the show who wasn’t lucky enough to win the car, we found food and other giveaways. The MRT booth gave away ice cream sandwiches and drumsticks (and magazines). I’m thinking this year we should upgrade to sundaes with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Well, maybe that’s not as easy to carry around the show floor.

Another memorable event at IWCE was a live tiger at the Anchor Graphics Marketing booth. With the launch of its new marketing campaign, a “rare breed” in the label industry, the company decided to bring along the rare-breed tiger. I wonder what they’ll bring this year?

I know many of the readers have been going to IWCE since its inception, but if you can think back to your first trade show, you can probably understand my awe. My first experience with IWCE was definitely an interesting one. On the plane ride home I remember thinking, “Wow, what a busy week. How am I going to remember everything I learned and the names of everyone I met? I need a vacation!”