National Funeral Directors Association 13625 Bishop's Drive Brookfield, WI 53005 262-789-1880 nfda@nfda.org www.nfda.org

NFDA Supplier Dispatch - March 1, 2005

Why NFDA is Where Your Marketing Dollars Pay Off

The National Funeral Directors Association commissioned MemberScope, a division of Research USA, Inc., to conduct a survey of its members in order to find out more about them, their businesses, and their use of NFDA membership benefits, services and programs. The following question was part of the survey:

Which of the following funeral service publications do you read regularly, that is, at least 3 out of 4 issues?

The same people who read The Director also attend the NFDA Convention and Expo. Maximize your marketing dollars with NFDA, a one-stop shop for all your marketing opportunities.

Trade Show Fast Facts

When evaluating the Return on Investment for your trade show participation, you must count not only the period of time that the expo took place, but you should also measure six to twelve months after the show.
-Allen Konopacki, Successful Exhibiting

Qualified buyers who mean business conduct business at trade shows.
-2003 Trade Show Marketing Guide

Advertising Fast Facts

Eight out of ten buyers claim that when they gain knowledge of the company or its products through a print campaign, the purchasing and sales process is shortened.
-Advertising in the 21st Century

Trade Shows Save Time and Money (reprint of the article that ran in the October 2004 issue of The Director).

As business owners and members of NFDA, it is important that you fully capitalize on the benefits that the expo can bring to your business. Trade Shows offer a unique benefit to business owners in that they are able to see first-hand, the latest and greatest products in that particular industry. In addition, discounted prices are common with exhibitors at trade shows. For example, NFDA exhibitors from 2004, on average, offered convention ONLY discounts of 20-30% on their products.

Another benefit of trade shows is the opportunity to talk face-to-face with suppliers and to see and touch their product first hand. Nothing compares to the personal interaction with potential suppliers where questions can be asked followed by immediate responses. In addition, the NFDA Expo allows you to view multiple new products, conduct price comparisons, visit with new and familiar exhibitors, all under one roof resulting in tremendous time and cost savings. If you had to travel to the headquarters of each of the 400 exhibitors, you certainly would be looking at a much longer time frame than just 14 hours in three days. How else can you view so much all in one place over a short period of time?

Trade Shows Give You a Competitive Advantage

It's a fact that the latest and greatest products are rolled out at trade shows. Therefore, attendees are able to see the most cutting edge products and services before competitors in the industry who do not attend trade shows. Funeral service is going through significant changes that are being driven by consumers. With personalization a key buzz word today, exhibitors are offering the most unique and creative products and services that allow funeral directors to serve the needs and desires of every family throughout the year.

The NFDA Expo is Not All Business

The NFDA Expo has become not only a critical component of your business operations, but also a fun place to be. With the various activities, games, food, and drawings throughout the hall, there is something for everyone. Last year's NFDA's Expo reached a new level of creativity and excitement on the floor with the booth displays. A number of exhibitors competed in the Booth Design contest that awards the best booth displays as voted by attendees. The look of the displays all tied into the Rhythm of the Future theme and the creativity that resulted proved there was no limit to exhibitors' imagination.

Express your own company's style at this year's Expo, and incorporate the Chicago Style theme. Capture the sights, sounds or tastes of Chicago in your booth with a unique way of attracting attendees. Start planning now for an unforgettable event.

Tips on Making the Most of Your 14 Hours in the Exhibit Hall

There are a number of pre-planning tools at your disposal to help you maximize your time spent on the exhibit floor allowing you to get the most of your expo experience.

• NFDA Expo Online is a virtual replication of the physical NFDA Trade Show. It provides a list of the exhibitors and corresponding booth number and booth location. One of the key features of the online expo is the ability to search for companies by product category. This tool can help you productively and efficiently explore the exhibit hall, ensuring that you take full advantage of the many benefits the Expo offers.
• Ads in The Director magazine. Exhibitors typically print their booth numbers in their ads months before the actual show dates. Important information can be gleaned from these ads such as type of product, company information, and contact information. This is yet another pre-planning tool that helps you in searching for the exhibitors who sell what you are looking to buy.
• Along with advertising, pay attention to the direct mail you may receive from various exhibitors. You may find a company or product of interest to you saving you significant time in the exhibit hall.
• Study and make notes on the NFDA Expo floor plan and exhibitor listing in the 2005 Convention Souvenir Program and Buyer's Guide. Circle the booths you want to see, make notes by the company listing, and even call ahead of time to schedule an appointment with that exhibitor at convention.
• Bring staff with some say in the decision-making or that influence you in your decision-making. They may come across an exhibitor that you have missed that offers a product or service that would enhance your business and service to families.
• Pay attention to sponsors of the convention. Typically, sponsors have an exciting new product or service that is the latest and greatest in funeral service. Also, sponsors generally are looking to establish their brand in the eyes of funeral directors because they have long-term plans of marketing to funeral service.

With these tools at your fingertips, your NFDA Expo experience will be more beneficial and rewarding, helping you to run your business and serve your families to the highest degree possible. This year, in Chicago, we are asking you to take part in the 2005 NFDA Convention and Expo – Chicago Style. The 2005 NFDA Expo dates and times are as follows:

Monday, October 3, 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Tuesday, October 4, 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Wednesday, October 5, 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

You can't afford NOT to attend.

2005 NFDA Convention and Expo-Chicago Style

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

Look for future issues of NFDA Supplier Dispatch – your electronic connection to funeral service!

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Copyright (c) 2004 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)