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Last updated: 27 Sep, 2014  

Trade.Fair.9.Thmb.jpg Trade fairs - are you still missing out?

Trade.Fair.9.jpg
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» PLI scheme has attracted Rs 1.46 lakh crore investment, created 9.5 lakh jobs
» Centre pays Rs 4,820 crore to 2.75 lakh farmers for pulses under MSP scheme
» India's private sector growth surges to 4-month high in Dec: Report
» Govt inks Rs 13,500 crore deal for 12 Sukhoi fighter jets with HAL in big boost to self-reliance
» Over 2.2 crore women-owned MSMEs registered under govt scheme in last 4 years: Minister
Bikky Khosla | 08 Mar, 2011
It's an undeniable fact that participating in a trade fair is one of the most effective ways of penetrating potential markets. Personally, I feel that trade fairs are the communication tool of choice as they allow an organisation to interact with customers face-to-face and collect live market feedback.

Since trade fairs are reflections of actual markets, they bring representatives from the supply and demand areas of an industry together on the same platform for a limited period of time, thus giving participants comprehensive market information and also serving as a platform for business contacts.

Trade fairs are indeed excellent instruments to learn about different markets, to find distribution channels for one's products, to test customers' reactions, to know who the competitors of the same products one is offering are and most importantly, to seek joint venture partners.

For companies, trade fairs and exhibitions come across as one of the foremost export trade promotional tools to enter a new market. Besides being the perfect venue for marketing one's products and services directly to the consumer, trade shows offer the rare opportunity to make a great first impression.

Several owners of companies on many occasions asked me whether they should participate in a trade fair or just attend it. This is indeed a very crucial question and every business must understand that participation in a trade fair may be a cost-effective option not only to demonstrate the company's commitment to the market, but also to raise your profile and enjoy other benefits of exhibiting. Above that, one must also understand that visitors who attend trade shows are either consumers or businesses owners who go to trade fairs with the sole purpose to make contact with a consumer looking to do business in the future.

I strongly feel that trade shows are also great venues to network with other companies and business owners. Since most trade fairs or exhibitions feature formal training sessions where one gets the opportunity to speak freely with other business players and compare notes about the industrial sector one is working in, he/ she can come back and make the adjustments in the product line and their respective prices.

Trade fair is a formidable marketing option for any company provided it is used most judiciously and after much deliberation. I strongly believe that failing to participate in trade shows could mean missing out on a valuable opportunity to meet and learn from other forward-thinking professionals in one's industrial sector. No business can afford to rule out the option of participating in a trade fair.

We would also like like to hear from you about your experiences in a trade fair. Did you profit from participating in a fair? If you have never participated in a trade fair, tell us why you opted against it.
 
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Trade Fairs
Ajit Mankoo | Tue Mar 22 09:16:42 2011
I personally appreciate the value of trade fairs.No doubt there is no alternative to them as they benefit all Economically,Socially as well as Academically.


Trade fairs - are you still missing out?
M.N.Vohra, Pakistan | Sun Mar 13 08:45:01 2011
YES, WE MISS OUT FROM PARTICIPATION BECAUSE OF VAGRIES BETWEEN THE CONSULATES OF INIA AND PAKISTAN THEY DO NOT, MOSTLY AT ALL,ISSUE THE NECESSARY VISA AGAINST THE FAIR INVITATIONS! FOR INSTANCE, i APPLIED A VISA ON jAN05 AND STILL HAVE NOT GOT IT. THE FAIR Putech India WAS ON MAR9-11....!


Trade fairs
Vikram | Sun Mar 13 05:03:27 2011
Extremely knowledgeable platforms and one if he misses them also compromises his own market awareness.


Trade fairs
Geeta Curumsey | Thu Mar 10 06:49:28 2011
While I agree with you that trade fairs are very effective for sales & marketing, I have never participated in one held overseas, as I do not know how to select the right one for my products. If there is feed back from Indian participants it would help us to decide better.


Participation in Trade Fair
Sanjay Jain | Thu Mar 10 05:48:29 2011
Earlier such Fairs being focussed & Buyer knows few important shows to attend & set their mind for Business there itself. Now Exhibitions being come up in multiple fold. Same organiser is holding multiple shows in frequesnt interval. Take for example EPCH in New Delhi holds a single show in February. Now they spread Exhibition with 3 shows during February , March. So unltimately Buyer's get manyfold choice to opt while Exporters being compelled to spend minimum 2 times. Now in changed scenerio where India being expensive for Buyers, they can't afford to come 2 times even in a year. Ultimately it's win win situation for Show Organiser while loosing trend for Exhibitor or say Exporters


Attending a Tread Fair
Raghunath | Wed Mar 9 11:12:54 2011
Dear Sir, The majority of Indian small industries and depending up-on large industries, and due to this they do not have their own products, some of the company who have their own products may have attended One or two fair, but every company want the result immediately to recover investment, more over the participation cost are also high (it is depend upon the fair promoter) to get result you should participate many fair for this you have invest a reasonable fund and most of the SME are running short of fund due to policy rule by large industries (giving long term credit, highly competitive cost etc.) hence if government arrange a free camp then hope fully the SME will participate


PARTICIPATING IN TRADE FAIRS
Kanwarjit Singh Saluja | Wed Mar 9 07:34:05 2011
I totally agree with you, as I had the good fortune of participating in trade fairs in many parts of the world. Besides creating a platform to invite potential customers on a single platform, participation in trade fairs are even subsidized by the Government as they offer Market Development Assistance (MDA). However, with so many locations to chose from, it is necessary to be careful where one participates. For example, in 1994, we participated in South Africa and displayed our range of bearings. My first exposure was enough to confirm that this was not the right market for us and I informed my company accordingly. But, as South Africa was an emerging new market, freed from apartheid, companies expected the consumers and industry to have a need for everything. Despite my reservations, I was asked to try again and I visited this market many times thereafter, but without much success. One therefore needs to ascertain the suitability of one's product in a particular market and then persist for a meaningful exploitation of its potential.


Trade Fairs
JBorda | Wed Mar 9 04:36:49 2011
Providing you have the resources and products to back up your participation, I strongly believe any serious business must participate in trade fairs at least once a year, ideally more times. However, in recent times I find many companies participating in trade fairs are not ready to ripe the benefits by either not allocating appropriate resources or not having a product ready to meet an inmediate demand for it. Participating in trade fairs requires advance planning at the highest levels of the marketing brains to make sure the Company will be ready to meet both company and participants objectives. It also requires s dedicated follow up to attend every one of the prospective customers or business contacts gemerated at the event. To sum up:If your company is serious about it's business, it can not afford NOT to participate in trade fairs.


Visa to Bangladesh
Peddiraju Bhupathiraju | Wed Mar 9 04:30:49 2011
We are participating in Solar Exihibition from 3 to 5th April at Bangladesh.When we apply for VISA they are asking us a recommendation letter from Chamber of Commerce.We could not understand why they need such letter.We have invitation letter from Exihibotors and made the full payment.


want some info
kushal | Tue Mar 8 17:07:27 2011
hello editorial, i request you to please provide me information about two things 1) trade about kitchen ware industries like manufacturing gas lighter, knifes etc. and 2) and not the least about instrumentaion and control engineering and related trades as i m in that line


 
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