Everyone's posts are interesting and I'm picking up good tidbits of info to put to use for the future! As far as reps no-showing to demo at networking events, I can only speak for the Smoky Mtn. Event when I say that we've been extremely fortunate not to have that sort of thing. Honestly, if the educator didn't have a valid reason or I got the impression I was being blown off......then I wouldn't invite that educator back a 2nd time regardless of what company they represented. Since spaces are limited, educators need to be serious about their 'jobs', otherwise they are taking up valuable space that another more dedicated educator could be using. Nail companies cannot afford for their educators to be slackers. That's dead weight and it benefits no one.
Last year out of 12 educators, one couldn't make it due to a last minute personal family crisis (understandable), one got pneumonia (but had a reliable stand-in perform for her) and 1 got stuck at the airport due to a passport issue. That left us with 10 nail educators and 2 guest speakers, which were more choices for nail demo's than you have at most of the large trade shows! We shouldn't judge all networking events by comparing it to another event. No 2 are alike. You just have to find the right one for you! Same goes for the large shows. Katherine said she loves the Vegas show, whereas I did not think it was worth my time and money. I can see the allure for all the other things you can do in Vegas or if you want to party hard all night. But for me, I base my travel on where I can get the most bang for my buck when it comes to education, new nail products, and deals. If I don't get all 3 of those, then I might as well stay at home surfing the web for new nail companies, ordering supplies from companies that are offering deals, and watching nail videos on U-tube. Much cheaper and more relaxing. I've found it's too expensive to fly to large shows, so I prefer to drive the 4 hours down to the Premiere Show in Birmingham. Some years are better than others, but despite CND not being at this show last year (shocking, since they've always been there), instead there was Dashing Diva (their 1st year at this show). I got to meet celebrity tech Maisie Dunbar, who's class was very different and refreshing, and now this year she's going to be our guest speaker at the Smoky Mtn. Event! I got to take a different class by Jaime Schrabeck, who's always interesting and entertaining. Now I can't wait to see who I get to meet at the next B-ham show this Oct! Back to the networking events.......I don't know about any other event, but the Smoky Mtn. one is just like a large trade show when it comes to nail booths set up for demoing. It's all about nails, and you can wander from booth to booth or you can spend all day at 1 booth. The choice is yours. There aren't any classes during this Event, unless you want to attend the private hands on nail and business classes the next day (which are a seperate price, so you aren't paying for something you have no interest in using). It's your option to take extra classes or not. At the closure of the Smoky Mtn. Event, every guest fills out an anonymous evaluation form where they can give me feedback on eveything they like or dislike. I encourage everyone to be brutally honest with their comments because this is the only way I can know what techs are looking for. As the Event Coordinator, I do not think this Event is all about me. It's about the techs that support it by attending and it's about the nail companies that support it by donating products and by sending educators. These evaluation forms are vital and I research the data carefully, which helps me guide the next Event. My goal is to provide the techs with what they want, which makes the Event change a little from year to year. From these evaluations I can see what is working, what is not working, and what changes could be made based on the techs suggestions. So essentially, it's the techs that control the Event and my part is to see that everyone's needs are met. I see no reason why everyone from the techs, to the educators, to the nail companies can't all get what they want and if everyone gives 110%, then everyone leaves happy! Hopefully this will encourage more techs to start networking events in their area of the country (nothing wrong with Philly Lynnette, so why couldn't one be started there?). Just keep in mind the #1 rule of real estate....location, location, location. It's got to be somewhere easily accessible and someplace where people want to go. As for the great door prizes and freebies that some companies give to some events and not to others.......I'd venture to guess that it's due to several things: 1) the early bird gets the worm 2) ask nicely and ask everyone 3) don't take rejection personally 4) show how it will benefit the company to donate products 5) be professional in word and deed 6) don't put bad language, scantily clad photos, or 'partying" photos of yourself on FB if you want to be taken seriously 7) persevere at all costs 8) follow through on your word 9) follow up with a "thank you" 10) remember that this is all about business and the "bottom line" Jill Wright Spa for Nails 728 Chestnut St. suite 200 Bowling Green, KY. 42101 (270) 799-3637 www.jillsnails.com [email protected] http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1073352006 www.linkedin.com/in/jillwrightntnesmokymtns On Mar 1, 1:48 pm, [email protected] wrote: > Well Katherine, I have to agree with you on many points. > I know this is going to be touchy for many people, but this is how I see it: > I paid quite a bit of money to attend an event that was touting quite a few > big name educators. Turned out that there was less than a handful of them and > one tossed in to make it seem like there was something else. > I was excited by some of the people who were supposed to be there and then > never showed/came. > I understand the cost of these things, but if it is being advertised that > "so-and-so" will be there, and I am paying for it, they should be there. If > there are 8 at these other events and only four show up, this is a BUST. > Networking events? It seems that some companies will give to some and not > others. The one Dawn Flaharty ran was by far one of the best I attended. > So when I see that there are good educators heading toward "some" networking > events, I wonder why they feel that coming to say the Philly area is not good > enough. Is it part of who you know? How does one get the great freebies and > door prizes? > Before I go to another paid event, I will wait until I know for SURE how many > educators will be there and that I can get a VARIETY of things to learn and > take back to my salon. Ho hum to the same thing over and over again. > So there it is. I will go to some of the shows because there are other things > there for me and in my area, PHILLY, the only thing here is Schoeneman shows > and they flat out stink. > Oh, and for the companies who are "losing" money by attending a show, that is > not fully true. Their name is out there, they are seen and they can touch > some who have not used their products. Then use the rest as a loss on taxes. > That is a poor excuse. It is like us--get your name out there. > Oh, and give us some lectures of substance!! Please, NO MORE GREEN. Give us > business seminars. > Buenos dias, > Lynnette > Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile-----Original Message----- > From: Katherine <[email protected]> > Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 11:12:14 > To: <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: NailTech:: why support large trade shows when they don't support > > us nail techs? > > I prefer going to trade shows over networking events because my husband will > not travel, so, the Las Vegas Cosmetology Convention has become my combined > vacation and continuing education trip. I usually take an extra day to goof > off in addition to the show. > > I like Vegas because there is so much to do and I do not need a car. I do not > gamble, so I can spend as much as I want. I've done the Vegas trip on $200 > and I've spent $800 some times. Depending on what I want to do. If I can only > afford $200, that's what I do, if I want a longer or more luxurious vacation, > I spend more. I can choose from year to year. > > I can also choose at the trade show what classes on what subject and with > what product I want and it's a one to a one and a half hour class. Then I can > walk on the trade floor and ask questions and get detailed demos on the spot. > > At a networking event, the whole day is long classes with too much > information. I would only want a detailed, hands on seminar with the product > that I use in the salon everyday. I do not want a 4 hour class on a product > that I do not use in the salon. I want a 1 hour class for me to see if I'm > interested in looking into and trying the product out. After I've tried it > for a few months, then I might want a 4 hour class. > > I like the trade shows because of all the variety, I can sit in a class or > walk around on the floor, leave whenever I want, even come back later. > Completely submerging myself in a full day of education flips my A.D.D. > button. I just can't take it. I start to zone out. I have to go watch a > pirate ship sink or some fountains dance or eat at Wolfgang Pucks..... great > food is half the fun of going to Vegas, I just eat my way across town. > > I'm disappointed at the low attendance and poor turn out at the nail classes > in Vegas. I look forward to the Vegas show every year with such eagerness, > it's better than Christmas! I guess that no one else does Vegas the way I > do. It's my education opportunity and my get -a- way all rolled into one. > Katherine > St.Louis, MO > > ________________________________ > From: Dayna - Days of Beauty <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Mon, March 1, 2010 7:48:53 AM > Subject: RE: NailTech:: why support large trade shows when they don't support > us nail techs? > > I agree with Maggie. We need to let these companies know that we will support > them if we see them at shows. However it is frustrating for companies to > spend thousands of dollars, and plenty of time for these trade shows, and NO > ONE attends their classes or visits their booth. Too many times have I seen > empty booths at the trade shows, yet we are upset that they are not at the > next show, how can we blame them? > > > Dayna > > > > From:[email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf > Of Maggie in Visalia > Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 10:15 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: NailTech:: why support large trade shows when they don't support > us nail techs? > > Problem is, I'm willing to bet our frustration has NOTHING to do with the > show or show organizers. > > Our nail industry companies have every bit the same opportunity to exhibit at > these shows that companies from the hair and skin industries have. > > For reasons that range widely, more and more nail industry companies are > choosing NOT to participate at these shows. > > It's not the SHOWS that we need to take our torches and pitchforks to-- it's > the companies that we want to see at the shows. > > Start writing letters and let these companies know you miss them at the > shows. I've told my TT rep numerous times when he calls just before or just > after a big tradeshow that I am "saving my money for the show" or that I > "have to recover from" the show I just went to. Then I demand to know why > they don't do any westcoast shows? Then I make a disapproving Wookie noise > and tell him "that sucks." > > I admit, TT hasn't shown up at a west coast tradeshow because of this yet, > and I have not-- as yet-- switch products... but I keep seriously considering > doing so. > > I don't get why nail companies are so busy complaining about the cost of > tradeshows when it seems that hair companies still find the expense > worthwhile? > Maggie Franklin: Attitudes Salon; Visalia, CA > "Visionary rebel dreamer; obviously way ahead of my time." > Art of Nailz > Maggie Rants [and rav...@nails Magazine > Facebook > > --- On Sun, 2/28/10, Jill in Ky <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: Jill in Ky <[email protected]> > Subject: NailTech:: why support large trade shows when they don't support us > nail techs? > To: "NailTech" <[email protected]> > Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010, 6:00 PM > That's the burning question.........why give your money, time, and > effort to support a system that mainly caters to hair? Why do techs > continually go out of their way to attend large trade shows, then come > back and complain about the few nail classes and nail booths? > > My philosophy is that anyone can work without hair, but try letting > them work without hands and feet! > > Perhaps we need a "bus boycott" or a "restaurant counter boycott"? > What about our rights as nail techs to be treated equally with > respect? Or perhaps respect begins by respecting oneself first? After > all these years of routinely being referred to as "the nail girl", > are we content to own that title? > > As a small business owners, we routinely support businesses that treat > us right. If we're treated rudely or indifferently by a company, then > we do not give them our repeat business. Why should choosing a > location to receive nail tech education be any different? > > The grassroots efforts by nail techs to create networking events are > gaining momentum, with new ones popping up all over the country, > mainly because nail techs are frustrated by the steady decline in nail > education at the large industry shows (with the exception of the > Orlando show and kudos to Debbie Doerrlamm for organizing the > corresponding nail tech BBQ). So if you're contemplating going to a > large trade show, please consider supporting the networking events, > too! > > What large trade show gives you lunch? None! You feel lucky to find a > spot to sit on the floor to eat your $5 pizza slice with drink your $4 > soda. No floor sitting at the Smoky Mountain Event, with all the comfy > chairs and massive oak tables! Wander out thru the wall of french > doors onto the tree-shaded balconey overlooking the stream, or rest in > an adirondack chair in front of the Event Center while you eat your > lunch and visit with like-minded nail techs (see photos on my Facebook > page showing techs doing just that). > > When was the last time you received a goodie bag of nail products at a > large trade show? Never! You're shocked just to get a sample, and then > it's usually of a hair product. What a let down! > > Ever win a door prize at a large trade show? Nope! With only 100 guest > reservations accepted, your chances of winning one of the many > fabulous door prizes are extremely good. Everyone at the 1st Smoky > Mountain Event went home with a prize, and the majority of the people > at the 2nd Event did, too! > > Getting tired of milling through the crowd at a large trade show, > trying to find the few nail booths? At the networking events, it's ALL > about the nail techs. Nail techs' are the divas, so we celebrate our > uniqueness by only featuring nail products demo'd by the rock stars of > the nail world! > > Why support an industry that doesn't support you as a nail tech? > Curious to see how you can make a difference? > > Support your nearest nail tech networking event now! > > Jill Wright Spa for Nails > 728 Chestnut St. suite 200 > Bowling Green, KY. 42101 > (270) 799-3637www.jillsnails.com > [email protected]http://www.facebook.com/profile.phpid=1073352006www.linkedin.com/in/jillwrightntnesmokymtns > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "NailTech" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "NailTech" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG -www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2714 - Release Date: 02/28/10 > 07:34:00-- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "NailTech" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "NailTech" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. 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