83 replies to this topic

[royster13]

How does the location affect suppliers that tend to ship to certain parts of the country with more frequency than other areas?.....Like Jim who does most of his business within a 2 day ship....

[FindingPromo]

Royce great insight for those that look at this specifically at this point, whether the primary (sales) office address is in proximity to the shipping location of a Supplier . . .

. . . but I would propose that people in this discussion and others should look at more of the big picture . .

Many of the distributors that are a part of Distributor Talk, many distributors that regularly are becoming strong internet resellers and many strong individual distributor salespeople do not:

A) have Supplier Products always drop shipping customers order back home into the same or near location to their offices

Or

B) having all of their customers even based in their primary region of residence.

I know of a Northern California Distributor salesperson that has one of their primary customers that actually ships most all of their products to either their Texas main office and/or to trade shows around the country.

I know of a Colorado based distributor that services a New Jersey based customer that has products both shipped to their NJ offices or their industry distribution networks all over the countries.

Many of the distributors I know, do not always only sell to customers in their immediate area and/or have their customers using products in locations well outside of their home area.

As more and more Distributors get beyond the "how close is the factory to my office" mentality and if they have that much of a concern for freight, that they look more at the proximity of the Supplier Shipping location is to their customer needs, then where Suppliers exhibit will not be as relevant.

Edited by FindingPromo, 30 June 2010 - 06:56 AM.

[FindingPromo]

korl said:

26% - Pacific
13% - Mountain
35% - Central
24% - Atlantic
3% - Foreign

Even in the Atlantic and Central Time Zones that may have a higher percentage of the National Total numbers . . . . . . I would suggest that those that traveled in, have a higher experience level, higher sales level and have on average, more business than those that did not make the trip.

Edited by FindingPromo, 30 June 2010 - 06:52 AM.

[PromoUltraSource]

Las Vegas is a mega "Convention City."
...though as I recall, when the move was in secret planning, the descision to move the PPAI Expo to Las Vegas was more of an "insider" competitive move to "one-up" their competitor, by locking up that convention destination first, when show size, lodging capacity & timing to be the first-of-year debut industry show, was high on their priority scale (ASI was just as anxious to make it their show location too). Truth be told, supplier/distributor needs were not the priority at the time - shame on both entities.
With current-day economics and technology, I'm not sure that rationale holds true anymore? I believe the association's competitor, made the best of a situation by capitalizing on multiple regional show locations, much to the concern of regional associations.
Regarding the Las Vegas location and cost... as a distributor, each year I travel non-stop air from the east coast and stay at one of the connected show location resort hotels for a total line item cost of <$750.00 for everthing (with advance purchase savings & planning).
Granted for suppliers, it's considerably more costly as an exhibitor. But I tend to think that's universal for any "union" convention location.
I think PPAI and ASI, by their actions, have defined their shows respectively, as a grand conference vs. a multiple destination regional show venue.
Choose what works best for your business needs.