maria Zampini \u2014 March 1, 2013<\/p>\n

Winter trade shows and educational events \u2013 it\u2019s hard not to talk about them. If I didn\u2019t have at least one column a year that addresses them it would be sort of sacrilegious, now wouldn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

Show and tell<\/h3>\n

This year, the closing of Mid-Am in Chicago marked the end of an era. I used to attend Mid-Am religiously every year because it was \u201cthe\u201d show, and the industry\u2019s movers and shakers were sure to be there. I have a bank box full of fond memories of past Mid-Am shows.<\/p>\n

But, I haven\u2019t attended Mid-Am for several years. While I love the Windy City, it was just too expensive and my target audience was no longer attending, either, so the return on my investment was not paying off. While it is definitely sad to see this icon fade away, I think it needs to serve as a wake-up call to other trade shows: \u201cThings must change to stay the same.\u201d And no, a new show floor layout doesn\u2019t count as change.<\/p>\n

Change doesn\u2019t always bring about the anticipated result. For instance, after a few years of trading places between St. Louis and Kansas City, The National Green Centre will return and stay for the foreseeable future in KC. The show name will return to \u201cThe Western,\u201d but the educational events will remain the National Green Centre.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t help but admire those who aren\u2019t afraid to go out on a limb. After all, without risk they wouldn\u2019t have created the Plant Fashion Show, which showcases new plant introductions to the industry. This year they also had a fashion show version that was presented directly to the consumer. I feel their new plant awareness efforts that reach the industry and the buying public have set the bar high.<\/p>\n

MANTS did not disappoint. For the most part, the aisles were hopping. Two years ago people attended, but no one was buying a thing. Last year attendees were hopeful, but the needle only moved slightly. This year people remain cautiously optimistic, but their wallets are opening more freely and shortages are happening (thank goodness!).<\/p>\n

And you can\u2019t discount smaller shows; sometimes bigger isn\u2019t always better. The Green & Growin\u2019 show held in North Carolina draws a good crowd with a reasonable price tag to exhibit. It is well-worth the long and winding drive through West Virginia to be there.<\/p>\n

Overall the trade show vibe was truly positive, and I walked away feeling as though things are on the upswing.<\/p>\n

\nEducational events<\/h3>\n

There is, of course, the Short Course in conjunction with the CENTS Show. Affordable education for your entire staff in conjunction with a trade show is what differentiates this event from its competition. It is a good example of how together these two entities can do so much more than if each tried to pull the load individually. Let\u2019s hope these two groups see the value this long-standing partnership has, and that it continues for a long time.<\/p>\n

I was a first-time speaker at the GardenScape Professionals Association (a chapter of the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association) Education Conference & Trade Show in Rochester, N.Y., and the Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course in Newport News, Va. Great lineup of speakers from across the country, great attendance and good weather made for a winning combination at each event.<\/p>\n

I was also lucky enough to go to The Next Level event on behalf of the Agricola Management Group to represent the HGTV HOME Plant Collection. Just like trade shows, educational events are what you make of them. Even though I was only able to attend a portion of the event, working our Connection Club hospitality suite and attending the last day of talks, it was so worthwhile. The networking with new and old acquaintances, plus what I learned from the speakers \u2013 which can benefit me both personally and professionally \u2013 was invaluable.<\/p>\n

The Next Level is a new beginning. It was the first joint collaboration by the ANLA and OFA teams. I suspect it was a team-building exercise at its finest with a steep learning curve for all. They\u2019ll evaluate what worked well or what they need to change for next year and provide one of the best conferences for you, your team and your business.<\/p>\n

At The Next Level, John Kennedy spoke on \u201cThe Great Game of Business.\u201d One of his best lines was, \u201cBe in a groove, not a rut.\u201d Where are you?<\/p>\n

John spoke about dealing with a problem employee who is just not toting the load. He said you can\u2019t afford not to get rid of someone who is not performing. Either they get on board or they need to leave. You need to tell them, \u201cYour sucking at your job is getting in the way of my succeeding.\u201d<\/p>\n

The energizing closing speaker was Chip Eichelberger, who focused on balancing life and business. His parting words of wisdom were:<\/p>\n

\n
• Change from working in to working on my business. The system is the solution.<\/li>\n
• Change from my limitations to my possibilities. The risk of doing nothing.<\/li>\n
• Change from my problems to my blessings. Adversity will only make me stronger.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Wow, if that last sentence is true, then no doubt we\u2019re an industry full of the strongest people in the world!<\/p>\n

  When it comes to education, too often we say, \u201cI\u2019m too busy.\u201d And we say it not only for ourselves, but for our employees. Instead, we need to step back and realize that we can\u2019t afford not to invest in education for ourselves, our staff and\/or our business. If you don\u2019t, you\u2019re bound to be standing still while the world and your competitors pass you by.<\/p>\n

  Maria Zampini is the president of UpShoot LLC. Her company\u2019s focus is \u201cliving, sharing and supporting horticulture\u201d through new plant introduction representation including LCN Selections. She can be reached at [email protected], and her website is www.upshoothort.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  maria Zampini \u2014 March 1, 2013 Winter trade shows and educational events \u2013 it\u2019s hard not to talk about them. If I didn\u2019t have at least one column a year that addresses them it would be sort of sacrilegious, now wouldn\u2019t it? Show and tell This year, the closing of Mid-Am in Chicago marked the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nursery"],"yoast_head":"\n