Am I the only one who goes to a show, all excited about the contacts I’m about to make, jazzed to learn new things, excited for 20 future takeaways and then within weeks of getting home real life sets in and those takeaways get lost in the shuffle? With a little help from my friends, The Route Pros, we are sharing our top 20 takeaways from the most recent SDA Cleaners Showcase show…in no particular order.
- Wearable technology… awesome. Look into it.
- Kyle Nesbit, the current SDA President has a lot of knowledge to share
- Networking beyond the show floor in key
- The importance of regional shows and the Clean Show. Attend what you can!
- Educational session is not just for fillers… go listen and learn
- If we wait for the Clean Show to upgrade our equipment, provide additional education for ourselves and our team, etc., then we will already be a step behind and will be missing out on opportunities to make your team and your company better during those three years between Clean Shows
- Bring some team members to a show – entry level, manager and anyone in between. Create the foundation and get buy in for a raving team member
- Seeing non-SDA members show up! Great for the industry who longs to get together
- Comfortable shoes…no matter what.
- SDA does it right
- Don’t over commit your schedule
- Go to bed at a decent hour
- Ask questions and take notes. There is a lot to remember and always a lot to learn no matter how many years you have been in the industry.
- Come say hello to The Route Pros (but, really, we would love to meet you)
- When possible, have a travel buddy. Communicating with another local industry colleague before the show and coordinate travel
- Shows are a rising tide…most individuals want to see other industry colleagues succeed…go meet them
- Get your steps in…it’s easy to stay active working and walking the show floor
- Follow up when you get home from the show. Reach out to your new contacts to continue the budding relationship
- Send pictures you have taken with others to them- great keepsakes
- Plan ahead. Check out the show floor map, communicate with others who may be going, schedule a dinner, or write out your to do list. Your future self will thank you, and you’ll be less stressed.
Look at the other industry associations and see what shows are coming up. Try to commit to one or two a year. Your future self will not regret it.
Jennifer Whitmarsh has over 18 years experience in the dry cleaning industry. From working the front counter and developing delivery routes, to Chief Experience Officer and co-owning a dry cleaner in the Buffalo, New York area. Her expertise spans throughout all departments. She specializes in developing team members that create a culture full of dedicated employees. She has brought her skills of developing people to the industry known Route Pro team.
