My first trade show

Posted By hiromi on October 15, 2011 in Kinomi | 2 Comments

This week I participated in a trade show.  I’ve done markets and I’ve run my own fairs but this was my first time at a trade only show.  My lovely distributor invited me to come along and help sell my products at their stand.  It was three days of being on my feet all day and meeting and talking to  many many people.  I enjoyed the experience tremendously, it was great getting direct feedback as people tried the products.  I guess if I had to do many of them, the novelty would wear off, but since it was my first, it was much fun.

From spending three days with them, I know much more about what my distributors do and the kinds of products they carry.  They are such hard working fun people and the lines they carry are so delicious that our stand was constantly mobbed with people.  The first day I didn’t have time for lunch.  Thank goodness I was standing behind bowls of nuts all day so I didn’t perish.  There were five of us on the stand;  me, my two distributors, another producer who makes cheese and a helper.  We all got on well and managed not to bump into each other too much.

The people were definitely the highlight and it was fascinating to see the attitudes and the personalities that stopped and sampled my products.  It was really gratifying that most people were very complimentary.  I had some nice chats with pub owners, hotel food and beverage people and even met a man who is opening a gluten free, dairy free restaurant.  How great is that?

Now that the show is over, the follow up begins and only then can the success of the show be gauged.  I hope that I managed to inspire  people enough so that they place an order and Kinomi can make its way out into the world.  It’s fun to think of people I have never seen enjoying my products.

I leave you with a photo of my stand.  The photo with me in it, wasn’t great so I’m not using it.