What a crazy trip! Well, not "crazy" like a week in Vegas may have been 15 years ago, but crazy meaning super productive, long, tiring, and exciting (work wise). Traveling to Vegas for seven days as a member of the BabyLegs team and for Rain or Shine Kids was a fantastic experience. The show was completely overwhelming with over 800 exhibitors, but my number one regret is not having the time to visit more booths (so sorry Stella) and talk with more vendors.
What is the show like for me as BL's business dev manager? I meet with companies interested in partnering with BL and since bumGenius launched its custom co-branded bG BabyLegs there was many interested in our program. I go to evening meetings and press events. I also meet with companies we are currently working on projects with and companies BL have befriended over the last 3 years. Since I am the only person at BL that has been to all the ABC style shows (JPMA & 2 ABC's now) I remember many of the people who have been consistently ordering with us. It is always wonderful to have a buyer walk into the busy BL booth and be able to say you remember them from the past years.
What is the show like for me as Rain or Shine Kids owner? Much different (I need to preface this by saying that I am extremely grateful that Nicole offers me a spot in the BL booth and feel very lucky to be given this trade show opportunity). Sharing a booth with BabyLegs is great for many reasons but also has its challenges for Rain or Shine Kids products. When people come into the BabyLegs booth they are there to buy BabyLegs...totally focused on that product and the over 100 styles to choose from. To get them to be interested in looking at anything else is very challenging. Having a booth of my own would allow me to showcase my images and product in a way that brings people in to see what Rain or Shine Kids is all about, and not as a side note to another popular brand. Next year BabyLegs will have its own booth since it is a growing company and really needs all the room. Will Rain or Shine Kids make it to the show? I'm not sure yet. We'll have to see how this fall goes. We are getting so busy with big projects spending our money in another direction to support the company may make more sense. We'll just have to wait and see.
The coolest thing that happened to me at the show? I met Peggy O'Mara, the editor from Mothering Magazine who is even more lovely in person than I had imagined.
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