9 Ways to Get the Most Out of the AAMP Convention

The AAMP Convention is less than two weeks away — which means as an attendee, it’s time to start making plans so you get the most out of your time at the show.

Attending a trade show like the AAMP Convention can seem daunting. With over 80 exhibitors, there is no way you’ll be able to visit every booth, talk to every business, and get all the information you want in the time you have.

Not to mention, it will be easy to be distracted by all the amazing products, equipment, and exhibits you’ll see.

Make the Most of Your Time

Don’t get overwhelmed! We’ve put together nine ways (plus a bonus!) to help you make the most of your time at the AAMP Convention.

Pick up a show directory and revise your plans

One of the first things you should do after checking in at the AAMP Convention and picking up your attendee badge is to pick up a show directory. This catalog will help you navigate through the show, give you more information on all the exhibitors, and help you make the most of your time at the expo.

Many exhibitors went as far as to put information in the directory about the products, equipment, and services they provide to help you decide whether or not to stop at their booth.

Take a few minutes, flip through the show directory, and see if there are any other exhibitors you want to visit. Then look over the show map and make your plan of attack!

Pick up the trade show bag

Seriously. Pick it up. Trade show bags definitely aren’t the most fashionable, but there’s a reason the AAMP Convention offers bags — you’re going to need it.

Every booth you stop at will likely have some kind of catalog, brochure, business card, free gift, or some other handout that you’ll pick up. The trade show bag gives you a place to stick all the free stuff you’re going to pick up while keeping your hands free.

Pick up a bag. You can thank us later.

Collect the most valuable information to you

You are going to get a lot of information and handouts thrown at you during your time at the AAMP Convention. Everything from free gifts to catalogs, brochures, business cards, handouts, sales sheets and more.

It will be tempting to take all the literature and free gifts exhibitors want to give you — even if the information doesn’t benefit you. When we see FREE, we want it!

When an exhibitor offers you information or a free gift, take a step back and ask yourself: is this information or free gift valuable to me? It will be easy to accumulate catalogs and brochures on information you don’t even need, and have to throw away later.

Politely decline information that doesn’t apply to you, and take the information that will add value to your business.

Let exhibitors know you are on a tight schedule

Most exhibitors will want to keep you at their booth for hours — sharing with you everything they can do, trying to get a sale out of you, and keeping you from seeing their competitors.

The AAMP Convention is good sized, and there are likely a good number of exhibitors you want to visit. Don’t be afraid to tell an exhibitor that you are on a tight schedule and ask them to give you the quick run down on their business, equipment, products, and services.

Be willing to linger at a booth that adds value to your business

On the flip side, if you find an exhibitor that offers the products, equipment, and services that will add immense value to your business, don’t miss the opportunity to linger at their booth and learn more about what they offer.

The purpose of the AAMP Convention is to help connect you with businesses who can add value to your company. Don’t let your pre-show plan rob you of the chance to really connect with a potential supplier simply because there are other booths to visit.

Pass by booths that do not interest you

In a show that spans over 80 exhibitors, there will likely be at least a handful of booths that don’t interest you, or don’t apply to your business at all.

It’s not offensive to simply pass those booths by.

The exhibitors have invested a lot of money to be at the AAMP Convention to connect with potential clients who would benefit from their products and services. They don’t want to waste their time talking to attendees who don’t need their products or services.

Keep eyes open for networking opportunities

The AAMP Convention offers a lot of opportunities for you to network with exhibitors and other attendees, including:

• Pre-Convention Bus Tour — Wednesday, July 20, 7:30am-4pm, C&C Processing, Diller Locker Company, and Wahoo Locker
• Welcoming Session — Thursday, July 21, 8-9:30am, Meeting Rooms 210-212 (2nd Level CenturyLink Center)
• Cocktail Reception & Closing Social — Saturday, July 23, 5-9pm, Grand Ballroom (2nd Floor, Hilton Omaha)
• AAMP Convention Classes — View the schedule here

Take advantage of these awesome networking events and locations, but keep your eyes open for other opportunities. Meal times, hanging out in the hotel lobby, riding the shuttle bus to and from the show, setting up after-hour meetings — all are great times to meet and network with others.

Take regular breaks to hydrate and make notes

It’s easy to lose track of time during a trade show, especially a show like the AAMP Convention. Visiting booths, talking to exhibitors, networking with other attendees — you can easily go throughout the day and realize you didn’t take a single break.

While seeing every booth on your pre-show plan is great, you’ll want to make sure you are taking some breaks to hydrate and make notes on the booths you’ve already visited.

Your body will thank you, and you’ll thank yourself after the show for any notes you jotted down.

Ask for electronic versions of exhibitor literature

Want to avoid the plethora of brochures, catalogs, and handouts you’ll receive at the AAMP Convention? Ask exhibitors to send you the electronic version! It will save you the clutter of piles of literature and keep you from accidentally throwing away the wrong literature.

Bonus Tip! Like Fusion Tech in the show app!

We provide custom designed and manufactured processing equipment for the beef, pork, poultry, bakery, dairy, and pet food industries. All of our solutions are specifically designed to meet your needs — meaning that we will meet with your various departments, learn your goals and needs, devise a solution that will meet those needs while decreasing operating costs and increasing product yield, and provide you with 3D models of the entire process layout. We’ll then get to work manufacturing every piece of equipment needed.

We guarantee you’ll want to make time to visit our booth.

Here’s how to Like our booth #146/247 in the Show App:

• Download the Expo app at m.confplusapp.com or search ‘confplus’ in your App Store
• Launch the app
• Set up an account if you don’t have one already, or sign in
• Choose the 77th American Convention of Meat Processors in the Events Area
• Click Join
• Click the Exhibitors button
• Scroll down to Fusion Tech
• Click the Like button
• And you’re done!

It’s that easy, and you’ll be able to see all we can provide for you.