T U R F G R A S S M AT T E R S March 2014
The “Vendor’s” Perspective marks the beginning of a new season for vendors supporting the industry.
facturers eagerly await customers and prospects to stop by their “The real value of the booth so that we can show off GIS is this concentrated what’s new and exciting for the and dedicated face to face Aside from the fact that the upcoming season. While new weather is always nicer at the networking time” product helps attract customers show than it is in the midinto the booth and we hope that Atlantic in February, the real our products become the “talk of value of this time away from the the show”, our goal is to engage Each year as we transition between seasons in the golf indus- normal routine is that we have in conversations with customers. an opportunity to see many cus- However, if a vendor relies solely try, as we move from one tomers and industry associates in on the new product lures, then tradeshow into the next, there are certain activities that remind a concentrated period of time. It the GIS may not provide an acus just how quickly time passes. is valuable time to spend receptable return on investment as The annual Golf Industry Show, connecting with old friends the number of interactions may or GIS, is the most significant of while also developing new relabe too few. tionships. Considering the varithose key ‘off-season’ events for me. Depending on your geogra- ous modes of communication we In order to maximize the value of phy, the timing of this event may have in this ever-changing age of the GIS, anyone can mitigate the electronics, one might conclude risk of having too few interacor may not mark the beginning of the next golfing season; in the that this show has diminished in tions while at the GIS. Value is a value for vendors as technology relative term and I am certain mid-Atlantic it is really up to that some individuals achieve Mother Nature. Weather aside, has altered how we gather and share information. My feeling is greater value from the GIS than the timing of this show is such that the value of the GIS for others. Between the tradeshow, that most people have mentally transitioned into the new calen- vendors has actually risen in this association meetings, lunch meetage of digital communication, ings, and various other events it dar year, and with most other but not because of it. Before we doesn’t take long to fill up one’s tradeshows behind us, it really go back into our routines of schedule with opportunities to emails, texts, e-blasts, Facebook network with customers and Inside this issue: posting and tweeting, we have an 2 PRESIDENT’S REPORT opportunity to kick the season off right with some good old 3 VENDOR’S PERSPECTIVE fashioned face-to-face networking. When I boil it all down, the 4 GOLF CLASSIC real value of the GIS is this con6 SAVE THE DATE centrated and dedicated face-toface networking time. LARSEN RETIERMENT PARTY
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GOVT. RELATIONS UPDATE
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EDUCATION RECAP
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On the tradeshow floor, hundreds of distributors and manu1
industry associates. The formula is simple – the harder one works preparing for, and then executing a plan for the GIS, the greater the overall value of the show. All it takes is setting some appointments ahead of time and then good time management during the show to ensure several quality customer interactions. We want to know what you expect from us before, during, and after the show, so please allow us the opportunity to understand this ahead of time so that we can prepare to meet those expectations. For any vendor, the GIS is just like most things in life, the more we put into it, the more we get out of it. So, scheduled appointment or not, whenever you’re passing through a vendor’s booth at the GIS or any other tradeshow for that matter, please allow us the opportunity to understand how we may be able to help you be more productive and successful in the Continued on pg. 3