Everything You Never Wanted to Know About a Knitting Trade Show

In this episode, Sarah and Marie dig into their experiences with knitting trade shows. You'll hear how they first met, learn a little more about the expectations and vibes of a trade show, learn about the "water cooler" conversations that happen when industry folks get together, and MORE!

Learn more about Sarah here: www.knotanotherhat.com

Learn more about Marie here. www.oliveknits.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to We Tried to Tell You, a podcast full of unsolicited opinions about life, fiber, and everything in between. I'm Marie Green. And I am Sarah Keller. And today I want to talk about trade shows. Trade shows. Trade shows. We brought this up talking about our travel knitting. It came up in one of our last episodes. And um we thought, oh, there's like that's a whole episode in and of itself. And I thought, okay, well, let's do that since I just got back from a trade show. Yeah, that's perfect. So do you want to talk about, like, for people who have no idea what we're talking about, like what a trade show is, or would you like me to keep going? I think you should. You were just at one.

SPEAKER_00 0:49

So go for it.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

So if trade show is lingo that is unfamiliar to you, it's basically a large show where the people we buy from for retail stores go to shop. Um, but it also could be like if your niche is environmental science and you go to a trade show, it might be a whole bunch of people who do research and people who do consulting and people who sell equipment uh to do research and things like that. So in our case, um, a trade show is uh a giant show full of vendors, and those vendors might sell anything related to yarn and needlework and all the other things that might be might go into having um a retail store. And then they might also contain components of networking or even education. So there might be classes, things you can take. As a retailer, you can take classes, or maybe even as a wholesaler, they might have some classes for wholesalers too. So um, yeah, they tend to be pretty large depending on the time of year and where they're at.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

And for the average person who hasn't been to one, it's gonna be similar to like a Vogue or a switches, but it's not open to the public, it's only open to people in the industry. Yes, that's an important point. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

So it has the feel kind of of like those big shows where you're going from booth to booth and some large vendors might have a whole aisle or a whole, you know, big chunk of booths. Um, so that feels very similar, but it is limited to industry people only.

SPEAKER_00 2:24

Yeah, which is, I mean, it's fun for us in the industry because we get to sort of see new things before they're available. Decide, you know, shops like yours, you're deciding what you're gonna carry, maybe new colors, new product lines, and discovering new brands and vendors that you haven't ever seen before. So it's a really good place for those of us who are trying to, you know, figure out what the trends are gonna be and figure out what new products are coming and just kind of stay on the cutting edge of what's happening in the industry. And like you said, a lot of networking, which speaking of networking, that's how we met. That's what I was just gonna ask you.

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Okay, so Marie and I actually first met at a TNNA trade show. TNA stands for the National Needle Arts Association. Association, thank you. I was trying to put another N in there. Um, and do you remember what year that was? I know we've tried to figure this out before. Was it like 2013? I think it was 2013. So I was gonna ask you, that was the first knitting trade show you'd attended. What were what were your impressions as a first-timer?

SPEAKER_00 3:35

That's such a great question. It was mind-blowing. Prior to that, I had been, I mean, I'd spent most of my life knitting by myself in my house. I'd never really seen yarn stores because I'd never lived in areas that had them. I, as you know, I think we've talked about this before. My first yarn store experience was driving 90 miles to brownsheep wool in Mitchell, Nebraska. And like that's a whole other story. But like I, that was the first place I'd ever been that had just like a room full of wool that you could buy. Right. And so I, you know, in 2013, I had started working at a yarn store and uh just it on the weekends. Like I had my job that I had brought with me when we moved. And so I was working remotely, but you don't meet people that way. And the yarn store down the street from me had an ad out saying they were hiring, and I wasn't really thinking about it, but a friend of mine sort of talked me into it. I think she wanted to live vicariously through me. She was like, you work there, and then you get all the insight for us. So I applied, and that was sort of honestly, that was like the kickstart to me being a netware designer because it was I've started wearing things I made to the shop, and then you know, that was a whole other thing. But the shop owner was kind enough to bring me with her to TNA. I think that she thought it would be fun to have another perspective. And as you know, it's nice to go with someone so you're not doing it by yourself. It really is. I've done by myself trade shows and it's not as fun. Um, and so I but going to that, the difference in what I thought the knitting world was before I went to that show, and then my realization after, it was like night and day because prior to that, I just thought of our shop as this little knitting microcosm, this little shop, you know, this lone little store and we ordered yarn online and from a catalog. And that was really the extent of it. I didn't think much about the industry, like that term didn't even really like exist in my mind because I didn't think of knitting as an industry at that point. Right. And so going to the event and all of a sudden seeing the interconnectedness of everything and everybody knew everybody and we're meeting the people behind the brands, which blew my mind, you know. And so it was really God, it really changed my it really changed my perspective. And it it was a little bit overwhelming because there was so much to it. Or a lot of it. Okay. A lot of it. And so I think it was exciting because I thought, oh, this is so much bigger than what I realized. And I would say anybody who buys a yarn store or opens a yarn store who hasn't been to a trade show, I think that is really game-changing when you have that experience because you just do not realize the scope and scale until you do that. So that was my big takeaway.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

Yeah. Okay, well, this is that's great because I mean that's very similar to how I felt going for the first time as a shop owner. And I'm trying to remember what year I finally went to TNNA. I think it took me about four years uh after opening the store. So it might have been around 2009. But yeah, it's absolutely worldview shifting if you're if you're a store owner. I mean, it actually it's probably less so today because of the internet and how much we all are more connected even than in 2005 or even in 2013. But it still is to see the scale of a trade show in a convention center and realize that these are the engines running basically what your little store is selling, you know, it's eye-opening for sure. And I do think it's invaluable for any shop owner to go. Um, I would say you make it a priority budget-wise to go every year, but at least get there the first time if you can. But yes, well, we can come back to that. But um, yeah, I find them hugely overwhelming as an introvert. I hate walking into someone's booth and being the sole point of attention. Like I'm much more likely to walk into a booth if they've already got like a few customers and they're helping somebody, and I can just kind of like get the lay of the land by myself for a minute. But having a trade show friend or two makes a world of difference. So anyway, I remember when we met that year and um I already knew the shop owner that you came with. Um acquaintances from a previous um yarn shop owner event. And uh, but we seemed to click really well.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

Like better than I clicked with her. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And we I remember, was that the same one? I'm trying to remember now. They all kind of start to run together where there was also a horror convention happening at the same time.

SPEAKER_01 8:32

Yes, yes, it was uh in the same convention center. It was in Columbus, Ohio. Yeah. Columbus. And they always had the um horror and haunted house trade show at the same week. I mean, it was like multi-years like that, which was It was wild.

SPEAKER_00 8:46

A lot. We were walking. I kind of my one of my memories of us is walking along kind of where that uh bar and b stroke kind of area was, and then sort of looking out and just seeing all these really outrageous, scary costumes. But some of the people from the horror convention were coming over and learning to knit. Right. So this was like in the off time after the day at the show when we were back at the the hotel portion. And um, but I think that's when you said something to the effect of, oh, I'll, you know, let me get that pattern or something, and we'll I'll knit a sample. You were wearing a sweater, and I was like, oh, what does what is this?

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Oh, it's actually I designed sweaters. And I was like, oh.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

That was the beginning. And then I think from there, uh you were really the first store other than the store I worked in that was like, I'm gonna put up samples and um Jill's gonna knit every single thing you design in four minutes. In four minutes, yeah, it was great.

SPEAKER_01 9:46

But um, yeah, and then that and we had you come out to teach not soon after that. Um, I mean, not long after that. Who says not soon? I don't know what I'm saying. Um, which was super fun.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

So that was fun. That so we just kind of hit it off, and then you know, the rest is history. Look at us now. I know, and not and all if we hadn't met at this trade show, right? I don't think I don't know if we'd have met.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Yeah. Um, so the in our industry, TNA was like the be all end all. This was our trade association, and you could belong as a retailer, a wholesaler, um, a designer, a sales rep, am I an author? What that's like designer. What am I missing? Is there anything else? And it included needlework. So when you would go to the trade show, you would see, I don't know if it was a 50-50 split, but there would be a whole section basically where it kind of transitions into booth that is just strictly needlework, which um a lot of shops carry both. I didn't, so I just you know would pretty well skim past those. But um, you would see everything from uh obviously all the yarn vendors, right? And then maybe accessory vendors, people that specialized in bags, people uh needle vendors, that was a big one. Sorry to say pottery, pottery. There was even yeah, pottery. There was um like loosely associated gifts, you know, like knitting themed gifts, lotions, lotions, and then like the publishers would be there. So it was a really big place to learn about new titles that were going to be released, and they would hold book signings with authors, and those were really huge because you could sign up for a book signing, get a copy of this book, get it signed by the author, and then bring it back to the store and be all excited about it and show it to your customers. And look, this is coming down the pike in a few months and check it out. Isn't it cool? I think that was one of the really cool components that no longer exists in our current form of trade show. But anyway, those were different times. There was also all the magazine publishers, and those don't even they're not even around anymore, really.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

So much, so much has changed since those early days. Yes. But for a while we didn't have a US uh trade show kind of closed.

SPEAKER_01 12:05

Yeah, TNNA kind of imploded around the time that COVID happened. I mean, I think it was already starting, but COVID was the nail in the coffin because they had already taken registrations and uh for this trade show that was going to be happening in June of 2020. And when at COVID shut everything down, they were out all of their money that they had already put down in deposits and payments for this convention, couldn't issue refunds to people who had bought booths. I mean, it was just everything was compounded. It was just a F up for everybody related to it. I mean, it was nobody's fault, just world circumstances. And so TNNA kind of imploded, and it does still exist as a trade association. We're trying to build it back. Um little plug, I'm the vice president.

SPEAKER_00 12:52

But I was gonna say it's ironic, vice president, that you couldn't remember what the A stood for, but that's fine. No judgment. It wasn't the A so much as I was trying to put an extra N in it. Perry Menopause affects all of us.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Don't tell, don't tell the board. I won't tell them. So we we are working about, but we do not put on a trade show anymore. We are a much smaller, um, more education and networking focused um entity. But so we went for like what two years, I think, maybe 20. It's a couple of years, two before we got H H came on the scene. So I don't actually know what H H stands for. H H is a trade show that's been happening in Germany for years and or decades. And so it is both a trade show like we used to have, and a trade show geared to manufacturers where they talk to their mills and they plan their yarn lines, you know, etc. So it's a multi-level type of show, and they saw that that opening in the US market, and thank God they I know brought a trade show here to Chicago. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:07

And I went to the first one that we had, which was right. I mean, COVID was still Yeah, I think was it 2022, maybe?

SPEAKER_01 14:14

Because there was a whole discussion about masks and if you had to wear them and all of that. And a bunch of people came and got COVID, like it was yeah, it was a little bit of a super spreader.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

Right. It was still it wasn't and it wasn't quite back up to the speed of full-blown trade shows, but it, you know, they got it going again, which was great. And I went to that one. And then, and I think there was also some confusion among vendors about the cash and carry aspect and wholesale and all that. There, so I felt like there was a little bit of you know, some growing pains, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

Yeah, we'll explain cash and carry really quick. So at the TNA trade show, and I'm sure at many other trade shows, there was no purchasing of stuff that you took home with you that day. It was all purchasing in advance of stuff that would be shipped to you at a later date. Um, and it was actually very strict about that. Maybe on the last day of the show when vendors were getting ready to take their booths down, you could get a sample or two of things, but it wasn't like you could buy stuff.

unknown 15:13

Right.

SPEAKER_01 15:14

And H had a whole different take on it where they allow cash and carry so that you can buy stuff and vendors come now, they even be more prepared, but the first year was a little weird. Prepared to actually sell you stuff out of the booth so that you can bring home some stuff straight from the show, which is really fun and generates a ton of buzz and excitement in your store. Um, so just that was just a quick explanation of cash and carry. But yeah, do you remember what the confusion like that first H H I do remember?

SPEAKER_00 15:44

There were a few people that were a little bit out of shape about it. And yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

Yeah, so there was people there who who were tr selling at full retail price, but all of us um attendees were not used to that, any model like that where we would be charged retail, we would be charged wholesale.

SPEAKER_00 16:01

Um because we're I think it was, you know, if you think about it, for people who had not been to TNA, yeah, they would have no idea who had only been to a regular knitting convention, retail show. Like a bow knitting wouldn't have necessarily known the dynamic of like how that works. And so I think that was the confusion. And H just that people know that, but because there was that little gap, and I think some people came into business maybe toward the end of TNA, hadn't worked up to the point of going to that yet before it was gone. So I think it just was this blind spot, honestly.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

Yeah, I think it was a huge blind spot because yeah, like you said, there was that was right in the boom of indie hand dyers. So those were several of the new vendors attending HH for the first time, breaking into the wholesale market, but they had never experienced anything like that. And there was no handbook, it wasn't like it came with any guidance about how you conduct a business at a wholesale trade show. So, no, I definitely don't think it was anyone there, you know, by all means, it was not their fault. There it was just like, okay, maybe there was also consumers at that show. Yes, they hadn't done a good job. They just thought if you like self-reported that you were a yarn shop owner, you'd be honest. And there was tons of people who were just like off the street, basically, right shopping for yarn.

SPEAKER_00 17:20

I think is also why it was confusing because they were there to pay retail. So it was there were some growing pains for sure. But it sounds like I mean, you just got back from the most recent one in Chicago. I got that to go to H in Cologne, Germany last week. Which I wanted to hear about. So we can talk about those, but uh, how is how's the vibe now? Because I haven't gone in a couple of years.

SPEAKER_01 17:42

Yeah, so much smoother. Like they've really dialed in stuff. Um, I think they do a much better job at giving out information in general. And I know now they work with TNNA before the show and and the co-sponsor um an education day of live Zoom web shop uh webinars and workshops to help people in advance of going, especially if you're a first-time attendee. So that's very helpful as well. Um, there's also the Indie Entangled, it's the it's a center section. What do they call that? Pavilion, where they work with the owner of Indie Entangled, the collective, to she, I think she purchases like a block of booths and then she can split them up into like half booths and smaller sizes, so it's more affordable for those people who are trying to break in to the market. That's nice. Yeah, it's really cool. And so you get to interduced to some smaller vendors who otherwise would not have been able to afford a full 10 by 10 booth because it's really, really cost prohibitive. So yeah, definitely smoother now. Definitely smoother. There's a lot more discussion about that. This is just for industry people, um, and you know, giving that information up front when you register and things like that. So yeah, that's great.

SPEAKER_00 18:53

They worked at a ton of kinks. Good. Well, they're you know, they're pretty efficient, I think. And they have such a track record of what they've put on in Germany that yeah, I think they they know what they're doing. They just had to figure out our quirks.

SPEAKER_01 19:07

So at H H Cologne, how would you say that differs from the shows in the US that you've seen?

SPEAKER_00 19:13

The the scale, it's bigger.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

It's massive for me to understand because it's yeah, it's massive.

SPEAKER_00 19:20

And it's l weirdly, like it's massive and it's less crowded. It feels like it's more spacious, the ceilings are higher, the, you know, I just felt like there was and I don't know, it might have just been my perception, but it just had this a little bit more open feel to it. And I went in part, well, I went for a couple of reasons, but also a couple of my books have been published in German. And so two of the publishers that I've worked with, one of them in particular, Stiebner, um, had me sign books in their booth. And so they've just done German editions of Knit in One and Knitting Light. And then another German publisher who I cannot think of their name off the top of my head did a German edition of Seamless Knit Sweaters in two weeks. So I was there to get to meet them and to do book signings, which was really fun. And but I will say, you know, you don't go as an English speaker and expect anything to be in English because it is not, you know, I did my Duolingo and I was okay getting around a little bit. But, you know, everything is in German. The conversations are in German. You know, some of the the booth people are bilingual, multilingual, you know, so there's, you know, it's not like you're out of luck, but you you really go to absorb the I think the color, the style, the trends. I did notice how different the trends are there versus here, especially color wise. Purple and orange were really, really big uh when I was there, which I thought was interesting because I haven't seen that hit here. Right. But it was it was a blast. It was a lot of the brands that we know and love, a lot of the same brands, and just but also a lot of brands I'd never heard of. And so I think just in general, I felt like it was a little bit more trying to think of the word here. It was a little more upscale, maybe. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. And it felt a little less casual. It just not just clothing wise, but just sort of vibe-wise. It was just, you feel a little bit more like it felt more professional.

SPEAKER_01 21:33

I I that that jives. I mean, just Europe in general compared to like any casual day walking around in Europe versus walking around here, it seems like might give that same uh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:44

Like I didn't ever get the sense that I could just go to a booth and really browse. It was like you're gonna be talking to someone and placing an order and discussing the product. And since I my German is lackluster, I I didn't really go into any booths. was a little bit of an intimidation factor. Yeah. Other than the publisher and their booth was cozy and that was lovely because I had a purpose, a reason to be there, which was great. And I got to meet some of the other authors that you know they were releasing books for in their catalog, which was really fun. But the other thing that was interesting is there wasn't a lot available food and drink wise. Which I feel like in US markets we're really into like having beverages and having food access. And I was so surprised that there wasn't very much available. I don't know why that stuck out to me, but it did.

SPEAKER_01 22:39

Yeah, that's interesting. Um they're doing better at that in H and H Chicago than they were the first year. But yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:47

I don't think it's considered very important. There's and there's also not much seating. Oh there's no seating currently is there none there either? Yeah there was no real seating and so it drives me nuts.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

It's been my feedback every year. Like why is there nowhere to sit down?

SPEAKER_00 23:03

There's nowhere to sit in cologne either. And I think again it's a more formal atmosphere I think and so it's you get there and you do business which is very German and I'm half German so I can say this you know they're you know like let's get down to business let's do what we're here to do and and then leave. Right. And I was there with my knitting bag thinking I'm gonna sit and knit and take in the scene I'll have a coffee and I'll take in the scene I'll people watch I'll just see and no there was none of that there was none of that it was like the place that you could get a coffee there were like seven seats maybe ten but they're very uncomfortable and it's designed to get you in and out and not there's no sitting and knitting and looking around unfortunately funny that that act is the no shade. It was just like they're very efficient. Yeah I appreciate efficiency but as a knitter there was definitely a sense for me like I want to sit and knit and I think also it's the introvert thing. Like I need a little spot to like go retreat but I still want to sort of be there and there just isn't that the Chicago one doesn't either I yeah and I mean it's clearly a uh issue related to the convention center at Rosemont um which is where it's held every year.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

But I've just like please just bring in some extra chairs or something. So one of the things that I'm glad that H H is doing um with their new US enterprise over here uh is education. I've I've been hearing and I wish too that they would do a little bit more like what TNN A used to do.

SPEAKER_00 24:42

Do you know if Cologne also had any education component or is that something that's very much more US uh I'm trying to remember I I wasn't really paying attention because I knew everything would be in German and I was like I really want to be fluent in like 11 languages but also my commitment level is not high enough to get there. So I just like I know I'm not gonna be able to keep up you know in I could probably do better in French honestly than I could in German at this point. So I didn't even really pay much attention I don't feel like it was a big thing but I might be wrong. It just might have been that I tuned it out.

SPEAKER_01 25:19

They do they here they offer um business classes which is great and um that was something that TNN also had. But one of the things TNNA did that that H is not yet doing and I know people are putting this down for feedback but um is offering technique classes.

SPEAKER_02 25:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:38

And so it was a great way if you were at TNN A and you could see it you saw a class maybe for an embroidery kit or something like that and you don't already have that skill set it would be a great way as a shop owner to take a class in that and get some expert you know advice from from these teachers that you could take back to your store then to help your customers if you wanted to bring in the components of for embroidery it's you know things like that. Or even just different knitting techniques.

SPEAKER_00 26:03

The very first time I went to to the trade show where we met, I went to this class and oh my gosh, I wish I could remember the name of this woman everyone knows her. Like she's a whiz like she knows all the things but she was teaching a class about staging your yarn store and the the real estate you know basically like the space that you have and not putting a little knitting circle seated area right in front in your main store real estate. And she was so right because as a customer when I walk in what happens in those spaces I know you know who this lady is everybody like I cannot think of what her name is but she's like Is it Gwen Bortman? Gwen Bortman yes her um and it was I was like she's everywhere like she's the the the expert on this but she was talking about you know when people come in and like especially new people to the shop they come in and they see that seating area and it's gonna be regulars who are often kind of not all regulars I'm not saying this is everyone but often they're kind of in their own little zone and they're not necessarily welcoming new people or even paying attention to new people being there. And as a new person you're not gonna feel comfortable going up there or even walking around it sometimes. Yes. You know, we had people at our shop that would come in with like a hamburger and take their shoes off and put their feet up on the coffee table and like you know it was just ridiculous, right? Things that you could like most of us are thinking oh my gosh I would never do that. But at the time it happened a lot and we had that front seating area and the shop owner that I worked for was not going to move it for anything. And I've met a lot of other shop owners who don't but I also as a customer whenever I go into a store that has that kind of seating I feel it as a customer. I feel like I don't want to walk in that area it makes me uncomfortable. So I'm always trying to stay away from that area but think of all the shelves I'm not looking at exactly I'm avoiding that spot and just distracted by it. And just distracted especially yeah so anyway I that's one of the things that I learned at TNNA and that's why those classes are so good because you really do get this industry knowledge that I think is so specific to our type yeah like it's not something that really applies to any other store because how many stores have a a knitting area right by the front door like it's just not a thing that you run into usually no and that's I'm so grateful for that because um I I mean over the years the things that I've learned um at classes that I've attended through TNNA about hosting events or running your website well and just like so many things.

SPEAKER_01 28:52

So great because where else are you going to go and get this knowledge? You can't just go to a regular retailer's conference because our kind of retail is so different. And like when you and I um we both went to an entrepreneurial conference um for digital marketing etc and we learned a ton and there was a lot of things that we could take away but also we were in such different spaces than like 99% of the other people there. So when you can find your super dialed in niche and get that kind of like advice yeah like in you can get that kind of interaction with fellow shop owners and advice from people who are speaking directly to you about just your kind of store that's invaluable.

SPEAKER_00 29:38

I think it is too and I think what I noticed tell me I don't know if this is delicate territory that we maybe should say on our podcast but who are we now I have now I can't wait to hear who are we to avoid an uncomfortable topic. But uh I am just curious if you've seen this I know that I've seen especially at the US trade shows when there is that kind of advice there's always this segment of the attendees who feel like this doesn't apply to me. Like I like I know better this I'm not gonna apply this advice but honestly there's always I think value in just taking a step back and hearing it and actually considering it and not just discounting it immediately, which I think some people do. I feel like some of us tend to think you know well my way's the right way and what I'm already doing is working and or you know but it could be working better. So do you see that though? Do you ever see those not open so much advice because they're like this does not you know that won't work in my shop.

SPEAKER_01 30:38

Oh yeah. I mean it's you hear it constantly especially if like you're in one of these classes where it's you know 30 people or so and so there's a lot more opportunity to get individual um opinions from people or responses. And and I guess it's probably true of almost any segment cross segment of the population that there's kind of people but it just inwardly it just makes me like the biggest eye roll when someone's going like well I don't need to take inventory I know exactly what's in my shop and like right oh come on I don't know if we're more prone to it because we are a craft shop and we end up with a lot of people who fall into this as a business who didn't have any sort of business backgrounds or if it's the same everywhere.

SPEAKER_00 31:22

But oh yeah we got those types we got them yeah yeah I know and and I'm not trying to diss on anybody I just do think that if you're gonna spend the money and go and you're gonna take that opportunity just you signed up for the class right exactly give it an opportunity and see if there's something new you can learn because sometimes you really will find this gem and when you try it out I mean what's what does it hurt to try try following the advice and see if it makes a difference for you try taking inventory try some of these things you know and try having a newsletter try you know whatever and but I think there's a lot of really good insight that can come from that not so the trade show has this dual purpose of a helping you stay ahead of trends and kind of figure out new products and get those orders in but B really keep your finger on the pulse of what's working. Right.

SPEAKER_01 32:16

Absolutely and it's also for me um as a shop owner and this is one of the things I would say if you're on the fence about attending a trade show for the first time um that that should push you towards making the decision to go is I always come home refreshed with my eyes towards the business. I have frequently left for a trade show because they tend to be in our slower times of year, which is like late spring, early summer. It's moved more to late spring in the last few years, but it used to always be in June. And I would always just kind of feel slightly jaded and I'm you know that point where I joke that I'm just ready to you know set a match. Right. Yeah and uh I'm sick of all the yarn on my shelf I don't want to look at any of it anymore. And without fail even when I went by myself I would come home with fresh ideas and just a fresh energy for the store and for how it was going to run for the next three quarters and it that part alone even if you never made a single order you just walked the floor that's worth going.

SPEAKER_00 33:26

And you get ideas for you know different display ideas. There's such interesting displays and and I think too and this is true for my business as well being in the weeds and just your heads down and you're focused on the work and you're doing the day to day it is hard to take time to pull back and look at the big picture. And I think that's what trade shows do for us. It gives us a chance to step out of the daily grind and kind of get the big picture again and be surrounded by fresh new inspiration and then bring that back and take that energy back into your workday. And I think it does help your shop stay fresh. It helps you you know also be ahead of pivots and changes in the industry. And there's also something to be said for the amount of water cooler talk that happens because you will hear things oh yeah that aren't public yet but it's good to know it might affect your buying behavior. And so and it's why I mean I've people in the industry people not in the industry should know this but like we're all connected we all talk to each other.

SPEAKER_01 34:35

So my we are such a small little world.

SPEAKER_00 34:37

It's a small world so you know if somebody does you wrong you tell other people privately about that so that everybody kind of knows to be wary.

SPEAKER_01 34:48

And I can tell you in very vague terms that there was tea that we got at that at the um show just last you know two weeks three weeks ago that pivoted what we were looking at and has sent us down a course that we would not have anticipated. And I can't go into any more specifics than that.

SPEAKER_00 35:10

But you'll tell me after after you stop recording. Deal deal but like that's the thing is you not just the official here's what's happening, here's what's new, but you also get that kind of lower level get the scoop on other things before everybody yeah which is really helpful. And you know I feel like for those who are our customers who can't go to a trade show this probably sounds like a place they'd really like to be but I promise you want us going to these things so that we can provide more fun and interesting stuff for you. You want Sarah there so that her shop is the place you want to be but you don't want to go because I don't I it's almost like seeing the wizard behind the curtain. Right.

SPEAKER_01 35:59

It's like exactly it's that's kind of true isn't it and I would want to walk into uh one of the larger distributorships booth and realize that it is all sold by smarmy men in nasty suits there is one in particular that's just known for that and you're like why on earth yeah is this booth full of men in suits like this this read the room dudes read the room far from your demographic that you're selling to it's just so weird.

SPEAKER_00 36:28

Yeah that and then there are sometimes I mean not everybody is as fun as we are oh or sometimes you meet people like Sarah and I I will say if you meet us in real life and people tell us this we are the same as you hear right now. Doesn't exactly there might be more bad words right there's bad words there's definitely more bad words but yes exactly you're gonna we are we are what you see is what you get we're very much same where you catch us um but not everybody is that way and so you might meet someone who owns a yarn company and you or some other business that's affiliated and the impression you get is like whoa that really changes how I see their products now and it affects my interest in yes maybe working with them. And it's like the public doesn't need that information.

SPEAKER_01 37:16

You know you'd probably rather not know because you want to just enjoy the yarn enjoy the products you don't want to have to like have that yucky experience in your mind but it does kind of think about somebody's lack of personality yeah totally absolutely all right so I guess what everything we've talked about it leads to our advice would be if you have an opportunity to go to an industry trade show in whatever you're working in do it. Like at least do it once and if you hate it okay fine you can you don't have to go again but I really recommend going continuing to go it's important for your own continuing education your own continuing inspiration all of it it's really worth it.

SPEAKER_00 37:58

And that's coming from an introvert. So I think that's right that's saying a lot that means something yeah it really does. Well this has been a really fun chat and for our listeners just looking ahead next week we're gonna be talking about our adventures as children in 4 H our 4 H escapades. So if there's any you know former 4 H'ers in the house or anyone who wants to hear our tales we might need to dig up some pictures I oh my gosh okay yeah well I'll I think I have some of my ribbons still I don't know what I have for pictures but we'll see. Okay. So so that'll be next week's episode um but for now if you are you know ever wondering about whether or not you should attend your industry trade show just remember we tried to tell you we did and we will see you next time bye bye bye