Last month, we geared up for Clean 2025 with a playbook on how to plan, prioritize and pack the right shoes (seriously, don’t skip that part). This time around, let’s discuss what to do during and after the show—how to navigate the room without overexerting yourself, how to find value beyond the shiny brochures, and how to bring the momentum back home effectively.
Because let’s be honest: it’s one thing to attend our industry’s biggest event. It’s another thing entirely to extract real, lasting value from it.
Here’s how you do both.
Walk the Floor Like a Pro
Step one: Wear comfortable shoes. Step two: Don’t just walk the floor—work it. The Clean Show 2025 isn’t your local chamber of commerce mixer or a 30-minute webinar; it is a 100,000-square-foot buffet of ideas, technology, equipment, software and solutions, and you’ve got limited time and energy to take it all in.
Start early. Get there when the doors open. The morning crowd is lighter, and your mind is still fresh. Hit your top targets first—the booths or vendors you identified in your prep (you did read last month’s column, right?). Then, use the rest of the day to roam and discover.
Ask better questions. Don’t settle for “What does this machine do?” Try “What makes this better than what I’m using now?” or “Can you walk me through a case study of someone who implemented this and got results?” Those questions spark honest conversations—and that’s where the good stuff lives.
Bring your camera, not your memory. Take photos of booths, business cards, setup ideas, and even signage. By day three, everything blends in a hazy steam cloud of swag pens and espresso samples. Visual cues help jog your memory later when you’re back home and wondering what exactly impressed you about that fifth finishing station you saw.
Don’t Just Check the Boxes—Chase the Spark
You’ve got a checklist, sure. You came for a POS upgrade, or you’re comparing eco-friendly packaging vendors. Great! But don’t get so locked in on your agenda that you miss the unexpected opportunities floating all around you.
Some of the best breakthroughs attendees experienced at past Clean Shows didn’t come from flashy booths—they came from low-key conversations, such as chatting with another operator at a seminar who casually mentioned how they had doubled their route volume by changing their pricing structure. Or the vendor that was almost bypassed until the attendee noticed the free bucket of candy—then got drawn into a demo that completely changed how she handles shirt folding.
The Clean Show 2025 is where possibility lives in plain sight—if you’re paying attention.
So be interruptible. Let a new idea pull you off your path. Sit down at that seminar you hadn’t planned on attending. Introduce yourself to the guy standing next to you in the food court line. Don’t just collect ideas—collect connections. The show is as much about people as it is about products.
And if you’re introverted like me, set mini-goals. “I’m going to talk to 3 new people today.” Small steps. Big return.
The Show After the Show
Let’s fast forward. You’re back in your shop. Your suitcase smells like convention center carpet and wrinkle-release spray. You’ve got a stack of flyers, a grip of new pens, and a phone full of photos. Now what?
Don’t let it all sit. Within 48 hours of getting home, schedule a debrief meeting with your team—even if it’s just you and your most trusted manager. Share what you saw. Get input. Start a discussion.
Then prioritize. You can’t implement everything. Pick the one thing you’re most excited about and take the first step. It could be calling a vendor for a quote. It could be pricing out delivery software. Whatever it is, please add it to the calendar. Momentum dies in the vague.
Organize your contacts. Send a quick email to the representative you met who made a good impression. “Great meeting you—would love to continue the conversation.” Not every lead needs to turn into a sale, but relationships built at Clean 2025 can blossom later.
And give yourself grace. You’re not behind if you don’t change your whole business overnight. The real value of Clean 2025 isn’t instant transformation—it’s informed evolution. You leave with sharper vision, better tools, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Bonus Survival Tips (Because I Like You, I Really Like You)
• “Cleaner & Launderer” booth at West Building — 2993. You must visit. This is not optional. It is a must! As the old Nike ad goes… “Just do it!”
• Bring a refillable water bottle. Hydration is underrated, and bottled water at the convention center costs more than a pressed Dolce & Gabbana blazer.
• Pack business cards or download a digital card app. Yes, QR codes are still cool.
• Take breaks. No one wins a prize for walking the most square footage in a single day.
• Plan your post-show follow-up before you leave Orlando. A 15-minute block on your calendar is all it takes to keep the energy alive.
Final Word
Clean 2025 is more than just a trade show. It’s an investment in your business and yourself. Show up curious. Be intentional. Follow through.
Because you’re not just attending an event—you’re gathering fuel for innovation, connection, and growth.
Make it count.
