Last Thursday was our Annual Customer Trade Show. If you are a reader of this blog, you know we have been doing this show for over 15 years…and we have been talking about it for months! We love the opportunity to give our customers the chance to see products and suppliers from all over the industry. It’s a fun event and (hopefully) we create a lot of value for our clients.
On the other hand, it’s a lot of work to put the event on! So after each year, we take a look at what worked…and what didn’t! And let’s face it…this year is different. We were not able to do the event at all last year, and we are still in a world where events are not the same. That’s a kind way of saying that, right? So…I felt like it might be interesting and helpful to give you some lessons I learned from doing our in-person customer event this year.
Re-Set Expectations For Attendance
We live in a different world now than in 2019. We know that. But sometimes it doesn’t hit us until we try and recreate something from our past. This year’s event was great. But attendance was down (based on previous years). While my initial reaction is to be a bit disappointed by that, I think it’s important to re-set our expectations. While things are certainly getting better, it’s not 2019. This is a new time…and we need to judge it that way. And for what it’s worth…that’s okay. We were incredibly happy with the customers that were able to come. The conversations and opportunities created were amazing!
Focus On Top Client Attendance
File this one under “what we did right.” While not every client will be able to attend any event you host, getting your top clients there is key. In nearly any business, 80% of your sales results will come from 20% of your clients (I talk about that here), so make sure you focus your efforts on that group. We were successful in doing that…and it helped make the event extremely productive.
Give Safety Options
We are still in a time that is filled with trepidation and doubt…so I feel like it’s important to address that. Our solution to safety concerns was to make masks “recommended but not required.” Then, as a team at Hasseman Marketing, we wore masks during the event. We did not want to anger customers that did not want to wear masks, but we wanted to make sure everyone felt safe and comfortable. As you might expect, we provided mask options (branded of course) for anyone that wanted them. As a result, around 50% of people attending wore masks.
Create An Experience
If you want to have a great event, you need to create an experience. That has always been true, but it’s great to remind yourself now. Let’s face it. When it comes to hosting events, many of us are out of practice. Our theme was “Fall Fiesta” and that helped us to create an atmosphere that was fun. And since we built decorations, food, and music around the theme…it made for a successful experience…in addition to the business that was done.
Stock Is A HUGE Issue But…
We have been talking about this for months too. Inventory is a huge challenge. In addition to that, the labor challenges have created longer lead times. That is why we have created our “In Stock and Ready To Rock” program. Suppliers at our show last week were talking about these challenges too. It’s real and it’s not just in our industry. On the other side, there are items that are in stock.
The advice is simple…order your year-end gifts as soon as possible.
Those that wait until the last minute are going to be frustrated AND they are going to pay more. In addition, my advice is to create an option A and an option B. That way, if you order your favorite item and they are out of stock (and that is happening a lot my friends), you can move quickly to your next option without missing a beat.
So those are a few lessons I learned from our in-person customer event. If you are interested in hosting an event, we would love to help. And a special thanks to everyone that was able to attend this year’s Fall Fiesta! We had a blast hosting you!
It is almost time for the Hasseman Marketing Fall Fiesta…and we are fired up to bring back this event! For those that don’t know, we host an annual (except of course last year) in-person event to showcase the best and brightest ideas in marketing…just for you! Essentially, it’s a fun trade show that we put on just for you. There are plenty of reasons to attend (in fact here are 6 reasons), and we want to let you know that we are still on.
3 Updates For The Fall Fiesta
Safety Protocols
As you can imagine, there have been plenty of questions about safety protocols for the event, so here is where we have landed. We will be recommending that guests wear masks. We will not be requiring them. There will be masks and hand sanitizer for those that want them. Since we are recommending masks, the HMC team will most likely be wearing them. I have no intention of being the mask police, but we will be asking everyone to respect one another’s choice. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Reminder Of Hours
Just a reminder, this year’s show hours are 11 am to 3 pm. We have made that adjustment based on supplier and attendee requests. The goal is to make this an action-packed event with lots of ability to interact and learn.
Super SWAG
Every year we are blessed to have some wonderful branded merchandise to share with our events. This year is no different. We have been getting boxes of “marketing joy” for the past month and we are excited to share these with you. We will be packing bags this coming week in order to get ready. If you registered early, there will even be an extra goodie in the bag as well.
Didn’t register early? It’s okay! We will have plenty of good swag for you. You are still welcome to join us!
Once again, the event is Thursday, October 14th from 11 am to 3 pm at Lake Park Pavilion in Coshocton County. We hope to see you there!
It’s a tradition like no other. For over 15 years, Hasseman Marketing has hosted an “End User” trade show and has invited our customers. It’s evolved and grown over the years and we are quite proud of it. This year’s event will be Thursday, October 14th from 11 am to 3 pm at Coshocton County’s Lake Park! And since we missed hosting the event last year, we are ready to get back after it!
But why should you come? We want this event to be fun AND add a ton of value. Here are 6 reasons to attend The Hasseman Marketing Trade Show.
Incredible Product Access
We invite some of our top (and favorite) supplier reps to showcase their lines at the show. I like to say “There is no way I could fit all of this in my trunk.” You get to see and touch and feel the product and see what it’s really like. We all know that many products look the same online or in a catalog. But when you get them up close you can really see a difference. This is the perfect place to make sure your brand materials are on point.
Idea Generation
As you walk around and see the latest and greatest in Promo, you will come up with some great ideas for upcoming projects. The reality is, the show is at a great time of year for year-end gifts for your team or customers. But some of our best customers come every year and start to plan their marketing for the next year and beyond.
Great SWAG
Nobody leaves empty-handed! We put on a fun event where (with the help of our suppliers) we invest in putting some really cool SWAG in your hands. In addition, we build the event around a theme so you can see how we use a bunch of different items around a theme!
Additional Services
You may think you know all that we do at Hasseman Marketing, but we find that most people discover some new ways to promote their organization! Having all of the ideas in one place can be very illuminating! For example, did you know we do website development or in-house print services? We do. And you can find more about them at the event.
Tasty Food
You have to eat right? We have food and drinks as well. Each year we get compliments about the tasty treats and we know this year will be no different. The event this year is on Thursday, October 14th from 11 am to 3 pm at the Lake Park Pavilion (in Coshocton). Our goal is to create an event that provides value and fun…and you never want to miss.
Things Have Changed
I am not sure if you heard about it, but a lot has changed since we were able to do this event last! And while we are excited to get back together to get back to normal, there are some real business reasons you should attend. Your organization might have changed logos, brand messaging, go-to-market strategies, where people work, and so much more. Or, like some of our clients, you might just need to update your materials because it’s been 18 months since you’ve needed them!
If you have been paying attention to our communication lately, you might have seen the conversation around a new program called Better Business University. We are extremely excited about the new platform. And while you might have heard about it, many people still have questions! We get that. So in this blog, we wanted to address the top 5 questions we are getting about Better Business University.
What is Better Business University?
Better Business University is an online platform of business education that is real-world-based and very affordable. We will have a yearly subscription and give people complete access to all classes. The classes are video-based, so you can watch at your pace and on your schedule. As we add more classes…no more cost. Our goal is to reach 10,000 entrepreneurs, leaders, and sales pros to help them elevate their game.
Why Is Hasseman Marketing Involved?
At Hasseman Marketing, we have always been about helping other organizations grow. That might mean assisting you with a marketing campaign, or helping guide our prospects and clients to grow personally. That is why we spend so much time and energy creating content! We feel that Better Business University is the perfect next step to help our prospects and customers level up!
What Courses are Available?
As of this writing, there are 5 robust video courses. The courses available now include:
The Give First Economy
How To Get More Done
Create a Website That Works
How to Market like a Rock Star (on social media and through content)
Build Your Brand with Branded Merchandise
We will be adding more courses soon, and there will be no additional fee for subscribers on the platform.
Who Is Better Business University For?
We are calling Better Business University the “Entrepreneur’s MBA.” We have created the program for entrepreneurs, leaders, freelancers, sales pros, and anyone else interested in leveling up their skills and their career.
What is the Cost?
The goal of BBU is to help 10,000 entrepreneurs and leaders level up. In order to do that, we have made it very affordable. The yearly subscription will be only $249 for the entire year…and you will have access to all classes. As we add more courses, there will be no additional cost! We think that is an incredible value. But during our launch week (May 3-7) we will have a special offer that is even better.
At Hasseman Marketing, we believe the best way to battle business challenges is through learning and hustle. I know the term “hustle” is sometimes over-used right now, but the reality is, your effort is one of the things you can truly control. It matters. In addition, when times are changing and challenging (as we can all agree they are right now), looking for ways to grow is one of the best ways to make sure you are prepared to adapt. That is why we have been so focused on providing education during this time (like this FREE 5 Day Marketing Course).
That is why we are so excited to host Hasseman Marketing MasterClass.
Yes it will take some time. It will take some effort. But we hope this event will be well worth it! If you are still on the fence, we wanted to give you 5 reasons to attend the first ever Hasseman Marketing MasterClass.
Amazing Keynote Speakers
Bill Petrie and Bobby Lehew are two of the most talented speakers in the marketing world. Both are industry professionals for sure. But each has wonderful perspective on story-telling and a track record for marketing success. I am thrilled they have agreed to share their talents with us. Each of their sessions will be well worth the price of admission as you plan the rest of your year.
Real World Breakout Sessions
As great as the speakers are going to be (and they are going to be awesome), I am really fired up about our Breakout Sessions. We will be tapping into our speakers (in a session about creating content), our team and even our customers. We have asked our team and customers about topics that would help them move the needle and responded. So we have a session on improving your website, how to maintain company culture during this time, changing your marketing during changing times, and more! We are adding more speakers and sessions all the time…so be ready to be inspired!
A Virtual Trade Show
As we discussed doing this event with some of our customers, one thing came up again and again. “We still want to be able to meet with your suppliers!” After over 15 years of hosting a successful trade show for our customers, we have created a demand. Great news. Some of our best supplier partners will be joining us virtually to show you the best and brightest year end gift ideas, apparel options, and branded merchandise to help you move the needle and end 2020 strong.
Innovative Learning
We have all heard it until we are blue in the face, “we are living in unprecedented times.” While it’s true, I am tired of hearing it. That being said, these times call for innovative solutions. We have a fun interactive platform and an energetic way to keep the learning going. It’s not going to be “just another zoom meeting.”
Inspiration For Year End
We are being bombarded with negative news every single day. Whether it’s CNN, FoxNews or your Uncle Joe on Facebook, it can be hard to escape. This event is designed to provide information and inspiration to help you take control of your marketing and your organization. We will be hearing from real people that have implemented real ideas to help them navigate this time. I mean, one idea might be, “How to host a virtual conference so we can continue to do business!” Just a thought!
Bonus Reason (for a limited time)…Great Box of SWAG
You know we love our swag! This is for a limited time, but for the first 100 to register, you will get a box of branded merchandise that will be more than worth the price of admission.
When facing times of retraction, the businesses and organizations that are willing to change are the ones that often grow and thrive. Well we are certainly living in a time of change. We must all be willing to look at what “we have always done” and re-evaluate. We are doing that with Hasseman Marketing MasterClass.
But let’s start with the bad news.
We have made the difficult decision to not have the in-person Hasseman Marketing End User show that we have had for over 15 years in Coshocton. It’s an event we love (and we hope you did too) so it was a tough choice. But when you factor in the safety of our team and our customers, we just felt it was the right thing to do. We are bummed…but have decided to make a shift that we are excited about.
We are using a platform called Hopin that allows us have engaging content that keeps moving fast. This is not just another zoom meeting and we are creating content with you in mind.
But wait there’s more.
There is a very small fee to attend the event (just $10), but we hope the value will far outweigh the cost. In addition, the first 100 registered will received a box with some sweet branded merchandise to get them ready to learn.
For more information and to register, please head here. We will be adding more information on sessions and speakers soon, but wanted to have you “save the date” and get in line for your sweet box of swag!
Thanks for your consideration, we hope to see you on October 15th!
