# 12: The Conference Racket

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2016-04-21
- Length: 39m
- Episode: 12
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-21-12-the-conference-racket
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/12

## Summary

Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss their strategy for attending industry conferences, noting that while they previously exhibited at MacWorld and the New York Gift Fair, they now prioritize networking at events like XOXO and WWDC over direct sales. They reflect on the high costs and time commitments of trade shows, explaining why they stopped exhibiting when the return on investment was merely breaking even. The hosts also explore the value of smaller, skill-based conferences for independent creators, contrasting them with large, generic business events.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-21-12-the-conference-racket#t=4) Introduction: The Conference Racket
- [1:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-21-12-the-conference-racket#t=75) Studio Neat's Conference History: MacWorld and XOXO
- [9:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-21-12-the-conference-racket#t=570) The New York Gift Fair Experience and Retail Lessons
- [15:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-21-12-the-conference-racket#t=929) Why Trade Shows Feel Like a Racket for Small Brands
- [20:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-21-12-the-conference-racket#t=1220) Evaluating XOXO, WWDC, and Ul as Networking Hubs
- [29:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-21-12-the-conference-racket#t=1769) The Time Cost and Opportunity Cost of Attending Conferences
- [33:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-21-12-the-conference-racket#t=1985) The Search for Skill-Based and Indie-Focused Conferences

## Topics

- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Relay FM (company)
- XOXO (other)
- WWDC (other)
- MacWorld (other)
- New York Gift Fair (other)
- Ul (other)
- Gimlet (company)
- Alex Bloomberg (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Your Guide to Trade Show Booth Success w/ Jon Franko & Matthew Sciannella](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-02-your-guide-to-trade-show-booth-success-w-jon-franko-matthew-sciannella) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Trade Show or Conference?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-11-trade-show-or-conference) (The Amp Hour)
- [265 - Live from Drupa and...are design awards overrated?!?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-06-07-265-live-from-drupa-and-are-design-awards-overrated) (People of Packaging)
- [BONUS: 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Trade Show](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-09-14-bonus-5-tips-for-getting-the-most-out-of-a-trade-show) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [#187- Expo West 2025 Debrief with S’NOODS and Whims](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-17-187-expo-west-2025-debrief-with-snoods-and-whims) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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