Connecting Physical and Digital Worlds Through Trade Shows

The Manufacturing Executive · 31 May 2022 · 32m · Episode 104

What this episode covers

Jake Hall, known as The Manufacturing Millennial, explains how to maximize the ROI of trade shows by integrating physical presence with digital content strategies. He argues that companies must create value before, during, and after events through live streaming, interviews, and leveraging personal brands to extend the lifespan of the investment. Hall also discusses the shift in manufacturing perception among Gen Z, advocating for framing the industry as a STEM field to attract future talent.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Universal Robots, ABB, Kuka, Flex Machine Tools, FedEx
Also
The Manufacturing Millennial, Automate, Guerrilla76

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 51m

    Attracting the Next Generation of Manufacturing Talent with "The Manufacturing Millennial" Jake Hall

    Jake Hall, Business Development Manager at Feyen Zylstra and creator of the personal brand 'The Manufacturing Millennial,' explains how he uses LinkedIn to highlight modern manufacturing processes and attract younger talent to the industry. He discusses the critical need to replace an aging workforce with millennials and skilled tradespeople, emphasizing that companies must shift from selling data sheets to solving problems through engaging content. Hall shares his strategy for building a personal brand by condensing long technical videos into 60-second clips and networking aggressively on LinkedIn to create long-term professional relationships.

  • Product Startup · 29m

    148: Grow Your Hardware Product Sales Via Trade Shows

    Jim Cermak, founder of Trade Show University, explains how hardware startups and small manufacturers can maximize ROI at trade shows by focusing on strategic planning, clear messaging, and active booth engagement. He emphasizes the importance of selecting the right show for your target audience, preparing specific sales materials like one-page sell sheets, and using pre-show marketing to book appointments in advance. Cermak advises teams to use qualifying questions to quickly identify serious buyers, capture contact information efficiently, and leverage real-time video testimonials to build social proof. The discussion covers practical tactics for booth design, team staffing, and post-show follow-up to convert trade show interactions into long-term sales.

  • People of Packaging · 29m

    274 - How can you maximize packaging trade shows? Packaging Today Show LIVE

    Adam Peek, Senior Vice President at Meyers Printing, and Cory Connors, host of the Sustainable Packaging podcast, discuss strategies for maximizing presence at packaging trade shows like PacExpo and London Packaging Week. They emphasize the critical synergy between physical booth engagement and digital amplification via social media, citing Boxlatch’s viral success as a key example of driving orders through live content. The hosts advise exhibitors to plan side events, leverage influencer partnerships, and maintain a strong, authentic online presence to attract attendees and generate business leads.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 8m

    BONUS: 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Trade Show

    Host Chris Luecke outlines five tactical strategies for maximizing the value of trade shows as they return post-pandemic, advising attendees and exhibitors to set specific goals, prioritize quality leads and relationships over quantity, and focus on hallway networking rather than passive session attendance. He emphasizes the importance of delivering memorable, high-energy presentations by drawing inspiration from bands like Green Day, and stresses the necessity of timely, contextual follow-ups to convert connections into business. The episode references industry figures such as Keith Ferrazzi and Brian Fonzo to illustrate concepts like 'conference commando' tactics and building deep professional relationships.

  • Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast · 1h 07m

    Ep. 31 - Going to Events

    Stephen Oz and Lucian Chaper of Opulo discuss the strategic value of attending trade shows for their LumenPnP pick-and-place machine, emphasizing that events are crucial for gathering customer data and shaping product direction rather than just direct sales. They recount how attending Electronica revealed that tier-one automotive companies viewed the LumenPnP as a prototyping tool for batches of 500 boards, a use case they had not initially considered, which significantly altered their marketing and product positioning. The hosts also share practical advice on booth management, including the importance of interactive demos, having backup plans for hardware failures, and refining the team's pitch to accurately represent the product's capabilities and limitations.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Manufacturing Executive. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.