In this issue...

Trade Show Fast Fact(s)

NFDA Expo and Attendee Profile

Trade Show Fast Fact(s)

84% of trade-show attendees said they had the power to recommend or make purchase decisions after the show.

          - 2004 Exhibit Surveys, Inc.

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McCormick Place Reforms Union Rules

Following a year of hard negotiations, participants hammered out a deal May 5 to relax complicated workplace rules and bring down labor costs at Chicago's McCormick Place, the country's largest convention center.

The agreement between union representatives, major service contractors and officials form Chicago's Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, came only after several major events had departed McCormick due to costly labor.

The following agreed-upon changes were to be implemented at McCormick Place immediately:

• A Labor Management Council is being formed; composed of MPEA officials, labor representatives, service contractors and customers, with authority to make future changes to workplace rates and rules as needed.
  
  
• Work begun from 6 to 8 a.m. will be billed as straight time NOT time and a half or double time as in years past.
  
  
• Exhibitors of all sizes will be allowed to plug in equipment without hiring union labor.
  
  
• Union crew sizes will be determined on a job-by-job basis, eliminating the required minimum of three union workers.
  
  
• Audiovisual technicians will be paid a rate equal to 60% of a journeyman's wage (A journeyman is a skilled laborer, e.g., an electrician or carpenter).
  
  
• A formal auditing process will ensure that savings from union concessions are passed along to exhibitors rather than pocketed by service contractors. In the past, union officials expressed frustration that lower wages resulted in higher profits for contractors rather than cheaper rates for the exhibitors at McCormick. Auditing guarantees that changes will exits in practice not just on paper.

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NFDA Expo and Attendee Profile

The NFDA Expo is the largest trade-show for funeral service in the world and is more than 250% the size of the second largest funeral service trade show in Europe. The NFDA Expo has international recognition and is known world wide as the biggest and the best.

The attendees who walk the floor of the expo are the influencers in funeral service that come to the expo to see the newest products in funeral service. They represent funeral homes with an above average number of services preformed annually and therefore, have a need for a greater number of products and services offered by exhibitors. Their buying power is, on average, larger than those who do not attend convention.

Many long lasting business relationships begin at the NFDA Expo largely due to the value of the face-to-face interaction between buyers and sellers. Also, those who attend the NFDA Convention and Expo are very active and loyal NFDA members. They represent that segment of membership who, due to their allegiance to NFDA, is strongly supportive of those suppliers in the industry who exhibit at the NFDA Expo. These members strongly believe in the concept of economic loyalty and keeping the dollars in the “NFDA Family”-in other words, buying from suppliers whose commitment to funeral service is reflected in their involvement in NFDA-the leader in funeral service.

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Taking That Second Step Toward Success

You already have your booth. Now what? Having a booth at the 2005 NFDA Convention and Expo is the first step toward success, but how are you going to make your booth stand out among the 400 other exhibitors? The answer: Advertise in the ONLY official NFDA publication whose readers ALSO attend the largest gathering of funeral home owners in the world. Also, 98% of NFDA members regularly read the Director for ALL of their industry specific information above all other funeral service publications. Make that investment and increase your chances of success by calling 800-228-6332 TODAY to place an ad.

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NFDA Marketing Partnership Program: Meet the VIPs

By now, you have heard of the NFDA Marketing Partnership Program (MPP). Maybe you have seen the participation in this program by such prestigious exhibitors as Wilbert Funeral Service Inc., Discover and BA Merchant Services (formally NPC). Not only does the MPP allow you access to a whole bundle of advertising opportunities at significantly reduced costs, companies have access to a special logo and an opportunity to meet some of the VIPs during the 2005 NFDA Convention and Expo such as Sarah Ferguson. Call 262-814-1561 now to begin setting your company a part from the rest.

Check out the exhibitors who are also supporters of the NFDA Marketing Partnership Program: http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=736

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NFDA Expo Set-Up and Tear Down

Move In:
Friday, September 30, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 1, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 2, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tear Down:
Wednesday, October 5, 1:00 p.m. to midnight

Thursday, October 6, 8:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Please note that there is NO earlier move-in than Friday, September 30.

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Electronic Lead Retrieval Makes Sense

You've invested thousands of dollars on your trade show marketing so why not spend a few more dollars to ensure that your sales leads are followed-up on when you return to the office. The Electronic Lead Retrieval system (available in the exhibitor service kit) allows your sales reps to scan the bar codes of the badges of potential buyers who stop by your booth. In addition to the attendee's name and contact information, this year, badges will also contain information on when the attendee plans to make a purchase, and what part in the decision making does that attendee play. This system identifies your really hot prospects for immediate follow-up. To download the form from our web site, click on this link: http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=729

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Exhibitor Reception

This year, NFDA will once again hold an exhibitor reception for all exhibitors in appreciation of their support for funeral service and of NFDA. Join us for food and cocktails Monday night, October 3, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in room E450B at McCormick Place, Lakeside Center.

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Hyatt McCormick is Booked

Due to heavy demand, the rooms in the Hyatt McCormick, the official exhibitor hotel, are all booked. Exhibitors are encouraged to contact one of the other NFDA hotels:

The Sheraton:
You can call 800-233-4100 and ask for National Funeral Directors room block or ask for NFI 28.

The Hyatt Regency:
There is a special phone number for NFDA guests to make reservations.

The phone number is: Toll Free (888) 421-1442 or call the Non-Toll Free Number at (402) 592-6464.

There will be continuous shuttle service from the hotels to McCormick Place and vise versa.

See You in Chicago!

2005 NFDA Convention and Expo-Chicago Style

October 3-5 (Expo Dates)
McCormick Place, Chicago, IL

For information on exhibiting at this year's NFDA Convention & Expo,
visit http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=729

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