Sep 21, 2012

NYIGF Offers Exclusive Exhibitor “Market Readiness” Webinars

Beginning in October, a monthly series of “Market Readiness” webinars – addressing marketing and selling strategies, tradeshow operations and lead follow-up – will be offered to companies exhibiting in the winter 2013 edition of the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). Produced jointly by NYIGF and Right Angle Strategies, the series includes three pre-show webinars, one post-show webinar and free, one-on-one business consultations during NYIGF.

“We want to do everything we can to help NYIGF exhibitors maximize the return on their tradeshow investment” said Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president. “Our partnership with Right Angle Strategies provides valuable ‘before, during and after’ training from industry veterans and experts.”

The webinars will be produced jointly by NYIGF and Right Angle Strategies, a business strategy and coaching consultancy lead by gift and home industry veterans Stu Teller and Laura Blunt. As an added benefit, Right Angle Strategies will offer all webinar participants a free, in-booth, 15-minute business consultation at the winter 2013 NYIGF.

Three pre-show webinars will focus on marketing, sales techniques and tradeshow operations. The fourth and final webinar, which will be held one week after NYIGF, will address market follow-up. The webinars are free for NYIGF exhibitors, and registration is available online at: http://www.nyigf.com/Exhibitors/ExhibitorEducation.aspx#registration.

The first session, “Marketing Tools to Make Your Show a Success,” will be led by Right Angle Strategies and tradeshow public relations and marketing expert Cathy Steel of Steel Associates. Topics will include pre-show direct marketing, advertising and public relations, advertising, telemarketing and onsite promotions. It will take place Thursday, October 11, from 2pm to 3:30pm (ET).

The second pre-show webinar, “How to Attract Buyers and Close the Sale,” will be led by Stu Teller and Laura Blunt of Right Angle Strategies, and Russ Jones of HomeStyle. The session will address how to create captivating booth space and to capture buyer interest, as well as techniques to close the sale and obtain leads. It will take place Thursday, November 8, from 2pm to 3:30pm (ET).

The third session, which addresses tradeshow operations and logistics, will be produced by GLM’s Operations staff. Subjects include a detailed review of the NYIGF set-up manual and time-saving pre-show operations, set-up specifics and break-down instructions. This session is scheduled for Thursday, December 6, from 2pm to 3:30pm (ET).

In the final, post-show webinar, “How to Manage Orders and Leads Generated,” Right Angle Strategies will cover closing sales, following up on leads, processing orders and payments and working with sales agencies. As part of the session, Eric Dean of Whereoware.com will offer tips for maximizing post-show leads through the NYIGF Online Catalog Gallery. It will take place Thursday, February 7, from 2pm – 3:30pm (ET).

Additional information about Right Angle Strategies is available online at www.rightanglestrategies.com. Webinar registrants can schedule free, 15-minute in-booth consultations by emailing Stu Teller at Stu@RightAngleStrategies.com.

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. The winter market takes place Saturday January 26, through Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.