Recap: IMTS Exhibitor Workshop offers tips for new and experienced exhibitors

On Jan. 20-21, the IMTS Exhibitor Workshop was held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, Ill. The workshop proved a success with 409 registrants representing, ...
Mar 04, 2020

On Jan. 20-21, the IMTS Exhibitor Workshop was held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, Ill. The workshop proved a success with 409 registrants representing, perhaps for the first time, four generations: baby boomers, Generation X, millennials, and Generation Z.

A complimentary event, the IMTS Exhibitor Workshop is designed for both novice and experienced IMTS exhibitors to gain the information they need for a successful show experience. With more than 40 speakers, the workshop featured 10 30-minute theater presentations ranging from stats on IMTS to an industry economic outlook, and 22 20-minute Solution Spot sessions divided among four topics: market, execute, communicate, and learn.

Peter Eelman, AMT vice president and CXO, opened the Exhibitor Workshop with a warm welcome, recognizing the strong exhibitor attendance and their ingenuity in creating and bringing the newest technologies to IMTS to make it the No. 1 event for manufacturers to experience industry innovations.

Peter introduced a short video address from AMT President Doug Woods, who said it’s undoubtedly an exciting time for our industry as manufacturers are embracing the transformative technologies that are rapidly changing what was once impossible into incredible realities. He also encouraged exhibitors to connect with the official IMTS vendor partners, many of whom have been involved with IMTS for at least a decade, to execute their best IMTS.

“Exhibiting in a Digital World,” the theme of the workshop, permeated throughout the presentations and sessions. Two theater presentations specifically emphasized using multiple marketing methodologies to reach potential customers spanning a wide range in age and across preferred social media channels. They were:

  • “The State of IMTS: The Importance of Optics,” by Peter Eelman, AMT vice president and CXO

  • “Changing Audience Dynamics,” by Arjun Chakravarti, GES senior vice president of analytic solutions and insights

Other theater sessions included:

  • “Digital Manufacturing. Implemented.” by Tim Shinbara, AMT vice president and chief technology officer

  • “IMTS Introduces Electrical Packages,” by Michelle Edmonson, AMT senior director, exhibitions operations & marketing, and Sam Hornbeck, vice president, Freeman Electrical Services

  • “Economic Update: Panel Discussion,” moderated by Pat McGibbon, AMT vice president and chief knowledge officer, with panelists: Scott Hazelton, IHS Markit managing director, Mark Killion, Oxford Economics director of U.S. industries, and Eli Lustgarten, ESL Consultants president

  • “IMTS Network Panel,” moderated by Peter Eelman, with panelists from the AMT exhibitions content team, Jules McGuire and Adam Gambrel

  • “Project MFG: Next Generation Manufacturing Challenge,” by Greg Jones, AMT vice president, Smartforce Development

  • “E-Kit Tips & Tricks,” by Michelle Edmonson and Julie Baker, Map Your Show vice president of technology and customer relations

  • “What is an Influencer?” by Peter Eelman and Monica Haley, IMTS marketing consultant

The well-attended Solution Spot sessions offered deep dives into the four education tracks: market, execute, communicate, and learn, which were held simultaneously during most of the theater presentations. This way, visitors could choose to participate in the topics most relevant to their needs.

MISSED THE WORKSHOP?

Theater presentations and slides from the Solution Spot sessions are posted on the IMTS.com Exhibitor Portal at IMTS.com/WorkshopPresentations

Word on the street

“There was at least one new improvement, strategy, or insight from every session I attended that will help me with my planning this year,” said Lynn R. Bissell, who came to the workshop for the first time. Lynn is the sales and marketing coordinator at HEULE Tool Corporation in Cincinnati. “The networking at the workshop was invaluable for both strengthening current connections and finding new ones that may serve as important contacts for maximizing our success in the future. Seeing the faces of the vendors and meeting them really personalizes a huge event, which can be daunting, especially for those of us who serve as the marketing ‘team of one.’”

Long-time exhibitor Gisbert Ledvon, TNC business development manager at HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION in Schaumburg, Ill., said, “I was impressed that the breakout sessions were well attended. I noticed many new attendees who were eager to learn how to take full advantage of all the free marketing tools that IMTS offers. I was pleased to learn about the IMTS Exhibitor Passport improvements and the new electrical package that will help us budget better as well as save money and headaches during the setup of the show.”

“The energy and excitement felt at the workshop wasn’t just from the breakfast bacon bar and donut wall. Everyone was eager to get the right information to prepare for their best IMTS yet!” said Jessica Aybar, AMT senior manager of exhibitions operations, one of the primary organizers of the IMTS Exhibitor Workshop.

Attendee Douglas Bruss, vice president of sales of Georgii Kobold in Carpentersville, Ill., won the drawing for the Choose Chicago gift basket, which included Chicago goodies such as a gift card to Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Fannie Mae chocolate bars, tickets to the Field Museum, and passes to the Windy City’s most thrilling new experience, 360 TILT.

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Author
Kathy Keyes Webster
Managing Editor – Content
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