Quit Whining. Expand Your Market Now!
One thing we’ve noticed about shortline manufacturers over the years — they’re excellent at complaining. Either sales are too slow, or steel prices are too high, the Chinese are buying too much scrap, or there’s not enough rain, or there’s too much of it, or government regulations are holding them back. Maybe it’s just an extension of their farming backgrounds that many managers in this industry have.
Whatever! Now though, you are being offered the perfect opportunity to expand your market. The world’s largest farmers and ranchers will be at Ag Connect Expo, Jan. 13-15, 2010 in Orlando, FL. Most specialized manufacturers will agree, with dealers carrying less and less inventory, farm shows, of all stripes, are the one venue left to show your new equipment to farmers and ranchers. If your market won’t go to you, GO TO YOUR MARKET.
And, the specially-designed FEMA Pavilion at Ag Connect Expo offers our members an economical opportunity to present your products to those really large farmers and ranchers (the top 20%) located worldwide.
One thousand five hundred specially invited dealers to the preview day on Jan. 12, 2010, which is endorsed by NAEDA, should raise the eyebrows of any specialized farm equipment manufacturer. Combined with 4,000 invited special guests, the preview day, alone, will make this a worthwhile event for any farm equipment manufacturer looking to expand their market.
To many specialized manufacturers — the first criticism we hear — “Why Orlando?” It’s hardly the agricultural center of America.
That’s true. But what venues in the U.S. do Europeans, Latin Americans, Asians and Canadians come to visit? Take your pick — it’s either Las Vegas or Orlando. Orlando provides farm/ranch families the chance to see world-class sites and view exciting theme parks, while the head of the farming operation gets his or her chance to see the latest agriculture has to offer.
Ag Connect Expo has formed a strategic partnership with DLG, a network of the business farmers in Europe headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. DLG manages Agritechnica, one of the world’s leading trade fairs for agricultural machinery. Agritechnica brings, not only a wealth of expert advice in managing an international farm show, it also provides an excellent promotional outlet to European customers. Agritechnica is just one of the many worldwide organizations with which Ag Connect Expo has formed a link.
(Incidentally, Agritechnica is planning a trip for FEMA members immediately following the FEMA-FEWA/AIMRA Fall Convention in Atlanta. Email Annette Reichhold, with the DLG at a.reichhold@dlg.org for complete details. Most members will know Annette. She’s a regular at both Fall and Spring conventions.)
Recent studies note that trade shows are a key activity for customers in making buying decisions. Ag Connect Expo will provide a new experience and opportunity for manufacturers who wish to expand their dealer base and worldwide marketing opportunities while, at the same time, complementing traditional activities of current U.S. national and regional shows.
“Innovation Squared” (i²) will be the theme of FEMA’s iconic Pavilion. Time is running out to get your preferred booth. Go to FarmEquip.org and click on the “Ag Connect Expo” link to register at discounted rates available only to our members, or call (414) 298-4144 or (800) 867-6060. Hotel rooms at special discounted rates can also be reserved at the Ag Connect Expo website.
With AEM’s backing and endorsements by a number of agricultural related organizations (including FEMA), Ag Connect Expo promises to become THE International trade show every-other-year for farm equipment in the decades ahead. You’ll want to be in on the ground floor.