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Food Fete New York 2014: Gaffes & Snoozes
Posted by nancy on June 19th, 2014 at 6:18 pm
Know your product, love your product, but please don't force your product (or bag) on me! We were so impressed by the level of enthusiasm most exhibitors showed -- gushing about their tasty treats like cute newborn babies. Most of the exhibitors made you want to gobble up their wares with gusto, telling fabulous stories about content, origin, back-story, and more. But one simply forced a sample into our hands, while another insisted we try the product, even though it contained something...

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Freak Show: Gaffes and Snoozes: NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo
Posted by nancy on May 22nd, 2014 at 8:56 pm
We never like to trash anyone at a show People work hard and they do their best. But here are some of our peeves. We won't name names. But if you're reading this and you think we may be writing about you, re-consider your booth training! PLEASE do not eat your lunch in the booth. Customers and press don't want to talk to people with their mouths full. And if you have booth breath, sneak a piece of gum, but spit it out before you give an interview. DON'T speak ill of your management or l...

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ACA Tri-State Camp Conference 2014: Freak Show
Posted by nancy on March 21st, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Shooting Blanks At trade shows like ACA Tri-State you will meet countless people: potential business contacts, friends, some of the best people (and some not so fabulous). To stay in contact business cards are doled out like crazy...you will need to bring an extra suitcase with you just to take them home with you! After meeting all of these people sometimes they can blur and it can be difficult to remember everyone. What is the one sure fire way to not be remembered? Having a business c...

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BizBash 2013 – Freak Show: Gaffes and Snoozes
Posted by nancy on November 1st, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Hello…Is Anybody Home? There’s nothing more disappointing then coming across an empty booth. Whether you are a no show, or no one is manning your booth, it is in poor form. Exhibitors who have to cancel at the last minute should either donate their booths to charity or a start-up company, or at least take down their company sign. Try to make sure you have an extra person on hand if you must step away from your booth, there is strength in numbers! ...

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Fancy Food Show 2013 – Freak Show: Gaffes & Snoozes
Posted by nancy on July 3rd, 2013 at 6:49 pm
The empty booth...exhibitors on the phone. It's always the same from show to show. You spend all this money and then you don't show up or you spend your time chatting with each other. C'mon people! Where are your table manners? ...

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International Restaurant and Foodservice Show 2013
Posted by nancy on March 7th, 2013 at 3:31 am
Overview The unsung heroes of New York are (along with police and firefighters) the restaurant owners! They, along with food service, summer camp, nursing home, and other “institutional” buyers swarm to this show every year, hungry for new ideas. “Top Chef” on Bravo has taught us all about the difference between the front of the house, the back of the house, and in-the-kitchen drama. So, every year we look forward to grazing the aisles with fellow foodies and related businesses. This ye...

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Who Wants to Talk to an Empty Chair?
Posted by nancy on October 25th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Empty booths make us sad. Exhibitors who have to cancel at the last minute should either donate their booths to charity or a start-up company, or at least take down their company sign. Sometimes manned booths can appear empty too. Talking on your cell phone or to your booth-mate is a major trade show no-no. We see a lot of chairs, but nobody to talk to!...

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What Are You Hiding Under There?
Posted by nancy on June 22nd, 2012 at 5:15 pm
At every trade show we go to, there are always those efforts that become tiresome, boring or simply fall flat. The Fancy Food Show didn't have many of these, but we still noticed some things that left our stomachs grumbling (and not in a good way!). It seemed as if everywhere we looked, we were being cornered by some furry mascot which may, or may not have had anything to do with the product they were trying to sell. Some of them were cute, some were disturbing, but all become repetitive and...

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Camps Gone Awry!
Posted by nancy on March 22nd, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Once again, we’re perplexed by exhibitors who refuse to show up to their own booths. Why rent the space if you’re not able to staff it? The booth from Ripley’s Believe It Or Not? was a natural for this section. Yes, their wobbling safari explorer on stilts caught our attention, but he also made us worry for the safety of everybody around him. ...

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The Lights are On…But No One’s Home
Posted by nancy on March 13th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Empty booths are one of our biggest pet peeves. If you have to run off somewhere, get a "neighbor" from the booth next door to stand guard. (Or, bring enough people to staff your space!) The unpacked boxes are another trade show no-no. And we really love cute little animals and creatures as booth displays, but this "mascot" was sort of creepy. ...

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