The World of Tradeshows with John Lindgren

January 14, 2019

The World of Tradeshows with John Lindgren

Welcome to SanMar Radio, where Tara Wingo and Lisa Terry talk to the experts and dig into the promotional products industry to find the answers and inspiration you need to grow your business. Their first guest is John Lindgren, SanMar’s tradeshow expert. He knows what it takes to have a successful presence at a tradeshow - he's been doing it for decades.

In this episode, John discusses his time working at SanMar’s tradeshows, explains why no amount of technology can replace people, shares his stories of fire and floods, and gives helpful tips and tricks for a successful tradeshow experience.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• John lists the various “hats” he’s worn throughout his time at SanMar and what tradeshows were like 20 years ago.
• What being and working at a tradeshow is like, and how these shows can truly benefit businesses.
• How SanMar’s tradeshow presence has changed over time.
• Why John is hesitant to factor technology into SanMar’s tradeshow exhibits.
• What “road shows” are and why they may be beneficial for some exhibitors.
• John’s tips and tricks for those planning on visiting a tradeshow.
• Why even just attending a show can require as much planning as exhibiting at one.
• The Dallas Convention Center Incident.
• How John measures success at tradeshows.
• Next episode: We speak with Emily Gigot, SanMar’s Social Responsibility Specialist.

• “It’s those little journeys I laugh at because I’m still doing them but in a totally different way.”
• “When folks come to our SanMar booth, they want to see people - they want to talk to us.”
• “Be smart about how you walk the floor.”
• “You never know what could happen, including fire, rain or earthquakes.”
• “We can’t just show up and expect these shows to come to us or the people to come to us. We have to make sure we’re doing our due diligence of making it worth their time.”

• SanMar U homepage - www.education.sanmar.com