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!
11ant schrieb:
However, keep in mind that at trade fairs you often get all sorts of ideas planted in your mind, and you see many things that the contractor doesn’t actually offer. Especially considering the high popularity of building with general contractors (GC), attending trade fairs is therefore somewhat questionably useful.Yes, but you get to see what is possible and where the trend might head in the next few years. Then you just have to decide which of the new ideas you want to implement and which ones you like or suit you. So, as a source of inspiration, I actually don’t think it’s bad to see many new things. It also broadens your horizons and shows that there are still many options.trx_type schrieb:
Yes, with hybrid trade fairs you can get the best of both worlds. The idea is to be able to attend a fair both live and virtually. First, you get the onsite experience, initial information gathering, and inspiration, and then you can calmly revisit everything virtually at home. I can imagine that the combination works well for forming a solid impression. As a regular customer, I would definitely take advantage of such an offer—I can personally see it working well and think many others feel the same. But yes, in the business sector, it’s probably even more important to focus intensively on specific topics.This combination is already offered by trade fair organizers. For example, Syma has its own meet-hybrid Cube. There, at the exhibition stand, you have an area for online meetings or can even livestream from the fair. Such solutions already exist. I haven’t seen any of these setups onsite yet, but that’s because I haven’t attended a fair in a long time. In the business sector, this opens up entirely new opportunities. For example, you no longer have to fly halfway around the world for a trade fair. Whether private customers will adopt this depends on the respective area. From a virtual food fair, a regular customer probably won’t gain much since you want to try the products in person 🙂hampshire schrieb:
Content is more important than form.I think that always depends on the fair or industry and who you want to address. For the end customer, it is certainly very important to see and actually touch/try everything in reality.
Pakon schrieb:
For the end customer, it is definitely very important to have seen everything in person and to have touched or tried it out as well. At a home building fair, there are only pictures and small and large general contractors (GCs).
The large, well-established companies that build 100/200/500 houses a year only manage that by relying on standard floor plans.
The small family business building 10-20 houses can build your unique home; for them, you are a major project and therefore very important.
You simply get to know different companies and can then decide which one to continue working with.
We only got to know our GC indirectly at the fair, since they attend only every 2nd to 4th event.
Get an overview for yourself.
Nida35a schrieb:
When we started thinking about building a house, we went to a regional small trade fair (about 100 exhibitors) to talk, look around, and collect floor plans. After that, we took the project seriously and have now been living in our house for two years. None of the floor plans from the fair became our final plan, but we got ideas and concepts, and an architect made our plan livable and logically structured. So just go for it, don’t let yourself be talked out of it, and don’t sign anything right away.Yes, that’s roughly how I imagined it as well. Even if the fair mainly serves to find out what you might not want to do, seeing different things and getting an idea of the topic can definitely help. And yes, I agree that I wouldn’t sign or commit to anything binding at a fair.
hampshire schrieb:
The format of the trade fair is mostly a matter of personal preference. I prefer in-person. A hybrid fair offers a bit of both. The content is more important than the format. It’s great for gathering ideas and making contact with local companies. But not for getting confused.I see advantages in both formats. I enjoy being on-site at a fair because it’s fun and the many impressions create a good atmosphere. Also, I like being around people. Virtual fairs are practical too because you can take your time to look at everything calmly and don’t have to be around others if you don’t feel like it. Hybrid fairs are practical because you can first soak up the atmosphere on-site and then go through everything calmly online later.
Pakon schrieb:
The combination is already offered by exhibition organizers. For example, Syma has its own meet-hybrid cube. At the booth, you have an area for online meetings or can even live stream from the fair. Such solutions already exist. I haven’t seen any of these setups on-site yet, but that’s mainly because I haven’t been to a fair for a very long time. In the business sector, this opens up completely new possibilities. For instance, you don’t have to fly halfway around the world just to attend a fair. Whether private customers will accept it depends on the sector. You won’t get much from a virtual food fair as a normal customer because you want to try the items there 🙂The cube sounds practical. So you can add that, and the company designs a virtual booth for you, or how does that work? It’s definitely quite useful in the business sector and many other usual sectors as well. Food is more difficult, but if it’s hybrid, it might be accepted. So if a private person really uses both formats at a hybrid fair — first trying on-site and then reviewing the visuals later online — it might work. You’d probably have to try it out to see if it catches on...
trx_type schrieb:
The cube sounds practical. So, you could use that, and then the company creates a virtual display or how does it work? In the business sector, that’s quite useful. Also in many everyday areas. With food, it’s tricky, but if it’s a hybrid event, it might be accepted. Like, if a private person really uses both types of exhibitions at a hybrid fair. First trying on-site and later seeing the look again? You’d probably have to test whether that appeals…Yes, that’s how I understood it at least. Maybe you should read it yourself on Syma’s homepage or call the company directly to have it explained first-hand.
There are definitely areas where it offers an advantage. You see something at the exhibition and can later review online how to install it, for example. Because a tutorial is posted online explaining how to handle it.
There are certainly use cases, but you have to consider what you want to do, what the goal is, and also whether you have the time at the exhibition itself.
Thanks, I actually already checked it out on the homepage, and this meet-hybrid-cube definitely looks interesting. It’s great when you can later take a closer look at how certain things work exactly. Often, it’s better to review it calmly again afterwards. That way, you notice the details more easily, I think.
Yes, if the individual exhibitor knows how to use it, it is certainly an advantage and a benefit for the visitor or customer. This will definitely continue despite the current situation. Hopefully, there will still be on-site trade shows, along with live broadcasts or recordings of the various virtual offerings. This way, they complement each other well.