Hi everyone, generally I really enjoy attending trade shows. I like the feeling of being there in person, and I appreciate having things shown or explained to me. I have attended all kinds of trade shows, not necessarily related to construction, gardening, or interior design. I have also been to a book fair, a career fair, and a bike expo. I think it’s a great way to gather ideas and get an overview of what’s available in a certain field.
Nowadays, some trade shows also take place virtually. It seems like this has become more common since the pandemic, and I think it’s a good alternative when attending in person is not possible. Hybrid trade shows combine both aspects. I haven’t tried this format myself yet, but I could imagine it working well.
Here’s the situation: a close friend and her husband plan to start building a house within the next few years. They would like to attend a home building trade show to get ideas and gather information in advance. It might make sense for them to look for a hybrid trade show. Would that be worthwhile, or should they just get their information on-site in person? Regardless, I’m interested in hearing experiences from others. Maybe someone here already has some insight and can share their thoughts. Thanks!
Nowadays, some trade shows also take place virtually. It seems like this has become more common since the pandemic, and I think it’s a good alternative when attending in person is not possible. Hybrid trade shows combine both aspects. I haven’t tried this format myself yet, but I could imagine it working well.
Here’s the situation: a close friend and her husband plan to start building a house within the next few years. They would like to attend a home building trade show to get ideas and gather information in advance. It might make sense for them to look for a hybrid trade show. Would that be worthwhile, or should they just get their information on-site in person? Regardless, I’m interested in hearing experiences from others. Maybe someone here already has some insight and can share their thoughts. Thanks!
I would prefer to clarify everything on site. For my example, I’ll stick with building fairs. The big advantage I see there is that everything is in one place, so you don’t have to spend a week traveling to different trades.
I believe virtual events are more suitable for the B2B sector. Whether regular customers actually use these offers, I doubt it. For many, it’s also about the experience (especially when I think of specialized fairs: travel, cars, food, sports, etc.). Many people just go to fairs without intending to buy anything specific.
It’s completely different in the business sector. There, you know what you want or need and negotiate directly with suppliers at the fairs. This could be done online as well. Nobody really needs the “experience” around it.
However, I can well imagine hybrid fairs. That way, you don’t have to fly to other countries and can do everything easily online.
I don’t think you need a fair to build a house. It just makes the information search easier. Whether you want or can wait for the next fair or take matters into your own hands is up to you.
I believe virtual events are more suitable for the B2B sector. Whether regular customers actually use these offers, I doubt it. For many, it’s also about the experience (especially when I think of specialized fairs: travel, cars, food, sports, etc.). Many people just go to fairs without intending to buy anything specific.
It’s completely different in the business sector. There, you know what you want or need and negotiate directly with suppliers at the fairs. This could be done online as well. Nobody really needs the “experience” around it.
However, I can well imagine hybrid fairs. That way, you don’t have to fly to other countries and can do everything easily online.
I don’t think you need a fair to build a house. It just makes the information search easier. Whether you want or can wait for the next fair or take matters into your own hands is up to you.
Pakon schrieb:
I don’t think a trade fair is necessary to be able to build a house.Agreed.Pakon schrieb:
It just makes it easier to find information.However, keep in mind that trade fairs can also plant all kinds of ideas in your head, and you will see many things that the builder doesn’t actually offer. Especially considering the high popularity of building with a general contractor (GC), attending trade fairs is therefore of questionable benefit.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Pakon schrieb:
I would prefer to clarify everything on site. I’ll stick with trade fairs for my example. The great advantage I see there is that everything is in one place, so you don’t have to spend a week traveling between different trades.
I think virtual formats are more for the B2B sector. Whether regular customers really accept this offer, I doubt. Many people also want the experience itself (especially when I think of special fairs: travel, cars, food, sports, etc.). Many visitors attend fairs just for the experience without actually intending to buy anything.
This is completely different in the business sector. There, you know what you want/need and negotiate with suppliers at the fairs. That can be done online now. Nobody needs the "experience" around it.
But I can well imagine hybrid fairs. That way, you don’t have to fly to other countries and can handle everything online.
Yes, with hybrid fairs you can have the best of both worlds. It’s about being able to visit a trade fair live and virtually. First, you get the feeling on site, gather initial information, get inspired, and then you can review everything calmly and undisturbed at home online. I can imagine that this combination works well for forming solid impressions. As an average customer, I would definitely take advantage of this offer, I personally can imagine it well and believe many others feel the same. But yes, in the business sector, it might be even more important to focus intensively on specific topics.
I also don’t think it is strictly necessary to visit a trade fair to build a house. However, I also believe it makes searching for information easier. I am very interested in fairs, enjoy going there, and think it’s a good way to gather ideas and inspiration. That’s why I’m glad this option exists at all.
When we first had the idea of building a house, we went to a small regional fair (about 100 exhibitors) where we talked to people, looked around, and collected floor plans. After that, we took the project seriously and have now been living in our house for 2 years. None of the floor plans from the fair were used, but we gained ideas and inspiration, and an architect made our plan livable and logically structured. So go for it, don’t let yourself be talked out of it, and don’t sign anything prematurely.
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hampshire19 Sep 2021 11:40The format of the trade fair ultimately comes down to personal preference. I prefer in-person events. A hybrid trade fair offers the best of both worlds. The content is more important than the format. It is great for gathering ideas and for making initial contact with local companies. Not so much if you want to avoid feeling uncertain.