Participating in a plumbing trade show is an excellent opportunity to showcase your services, connect with potential clients, and build relationships with industry peers. However, simply showing up is not enough—you need a well-planned booth setup that not only draws attention but also leaves a lasting impression on attendees. From branding and presentation to offering something unique, there are several key elements that can ensure your booth runs smoothly and stands out from the competition. This article will guide you through the essentials of setting up a successful booth at a plumbing trade show.

Branding Your Booth with Fitted Tablecloths

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to make your booth stand out is by using fitted tablecloths that prominently display your branding. A custom tablecloth not only adds a professional touch to your booth but also serves as a powerful branding tool, ensuring that your company’s name, logo, and message are clearly visible to everyone who passes by.

The Benefits of Fitted Tablecloths

1. Professional Appearance: A fitted tablecloth creates a clean, polished look that immediately sets your booth apart from others. It shows that you’ve put thought into your presentation, which can help build trust and credibility with potential clients.
2. Brand Visibility: With your logo and company colors displayed prominently, a custom tablecloth ensures that your brand is easily recognizable. This visibility is crucial in a crowded trade show environment, where attendees are bombarded with information and visuals.
3. Consistent Messaging: A well-designed tablecloth can incorporate your company’s slogan, website, or key messages, reinforcing your brand identity and making it easier for attendees to remember what you offer.
4. Versatility: Fitted tablecloths are not only eye-catching but also versatile. They can be used at multiple events, ensuring that your branding remains consistent across all your marketing efforts.

Advantages of Using Fitted Tablecloths at Trade Shows

Event Marketer reports that 75% of trade show attendees base their opinion of a company on the booth’s appearance, underscoring the importance of using tools like fitted tablecloths to create a professional and memorable presence.

Offering Something Different

In a sea of booths, offering something unique can make all the difference in attracting visitors to your stall. While many exhibitors stick to the basics, adding an element that differentiates your booth can draw more attention and make your brand more memorable.

Ideas to Stand Out

1. Interactive Demonstrations: Consider offering live demonstrations of your plumbing products or services. This could include showing how a particular tool works or offering a hands-on experience where attendees can try out a product themselves. Interactive demos not only engage visitors but also give them a better understanding of what you offer.
2. Giveaways and Contests: Offering giveaways or running a contest can attract more visitors to your booth. Branded items like plumbing tools, T-shirts, or even small gadgets can serve as lasting reminders of your company. Contests or raffles can also generate excitement and encourage more people to visit your booth.
3. Unique Booth Design: Consider going beyond the standard booth setup by incorporating unique elements such as creative lighting, themed decor, or a photo booth where visitors can take pictures with your branding. A visually interesting booth can stop attendees in their tracks and entice them to learn more about your company.
4. Educational Workshops: Hosting mini-workshops or talks at your booth on relevant plumbing topics can position your company as an industry expert. These sessions can draw in attendees who are interested in learning something new, providing you with an opportunity to showcase your knowledge and expertise.

CEIR (Center for Exhibition Industry Research) found that 67% of trade show attendees are drawn to booths that offer interactive experiences, highlighting the value of offering something different to stand out in a competitive environment.

Showcasing Your Work with High-Quality Custom Photo Books

One of the best ways to demonstrate the quality of your plumbing work is through high-quality custom photo books. These books can serve as a visual portfolio, allowing attendees to see your past projects in all their glory and providing tangible proof of your expertise.

Why Custom Photo Books Are Effective

1. Visual Impact: A well-designed photo book filled with high-resolution images of your completed projects can leave a strong visual impression. Attendees can see the quality of your work, the types of projects you’ve handled, and the attention to detail that sets you apart from competitors.
2. Credibility: Showing real examples of your work helps establish credibility. Potential clients are more likely to trust your capabilities when they can see the results for themselves. A photo book allows you to showcase everything from residential plumbing installations to complex commercial projects.
3. Conversation Starter: A photo book can serve as a great conversation starter, allowing you to discuss the specifics of each project with potential clients. This not only engages attendees but also provides you with an opportunity to highlight your expertise and the benefits of working with your company.
4. Takeaway Value: Consider offering smaller, printed versions of your photo book that attendees can take with them. This keeps your work in their hands long after the trade show, serving as a reminder of the quality services you offer.

Bizzabo reports that 89% of businesses say that events like trade shows are critical to their marketing strategy, and having a strong visual portfolio can significantly enhance your booth’s effectiveness in these settings.

Ensuring Smooth Operations at the Trade Show

Beyond the visual appeal and unique offerings, the operational aspects of your booth are critical to its success. Ensuring that your booth runs smoothly requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a focus on engaging with attendees effectively.

Tips for Smooth Booth Operations

1. Staffing: Ensure that your booth is adequately staffed with knowledgeable and personable representatives who can engage with visitors, answer questions, and provide information about your products or services. Having a friendly, approachable team is key to making visitors feel welcome and interested in your offerings.
2. Clear Signage: Make sure that your signage is clear and easy to read from a distance. This includes your company name, logo, and a brief description of what you offer. Clear signage helps attendees quickly understand what your booth is about, increasing the likelihood that they will stop by.
3. Organized Layout: Keep your booth layout organized and clutter-free. This makes it easier for visitors to navigate and find the information or products they’re interested in. An organized booth also projects a sense of professionalism and attention to detail.
4. Preparation and Supplies: Make sure you have all the necessary supplies, including business cards, brochures, and promotional materials. It’s also a good idea to have backup supplies on hand in case something runs out. Being well-prepared ensures that you can focus on engaging with attendees rather than dealing with last-minute issues.

Trade Show News Network highlights that 81% of trade show attendees have buying authority, making it crucial for your booth to operate smoothly and efficiently to capitalize on these opportunities.

Conclusion

Setting up a booth at a plumbing trade show offers a valuable opportunity to showcase your brand, connect with potential clients, and stand out in a competitive environment. By focusing on key elements such as using fitted tablecloths for branding, offering something unique to attract visitors, and showcasing your work through high-quality custom photo books, you can create a booth that not only draws attention but also leaves a lasting impression. With careful planning, creativity, and a focus on smooth operations, your booth can become a powerful tool for building relationships, generating leads, and growing your business in the plumbing industry.

In today’s ever-changing business landscape, strengthening the contractor/wholesaler channel is critical to survival. A recent general session at PHCC CONNECT drilled deep into the conversation.

 “How does my supplier make me look like a rock star?” asked Dan Callies, President, Oak Creek Plumbing, Inc., Oak Creek, Wis., during the “Collaborative Connections: Strengthening Supplier-Contractor Relationships for Success” general session at the PHCC Connect show last month in Cleveland. Joining Dan on stage was an all-star cast featuring emcee Robert Grim, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, InSinkErator, Mount Pleasant, Wis.; Scott Robertson, President, Robertson Heating Supply Co., Alliance, Ohio; Kathryn Poehling-Seymour, President and CEO, First Supply LLC, Madison, Wis.; and Jason Pritchard, Co-Founder, PriCor Technologies, Seattle.

From l to r: Robert Grim, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, InSinkErator, Mount Pleasant, Wis.; Scott Robertson, President, Robertson Heating Supply Co., Alliance, Ohio; Kathryn Poehling-Seymour, President and CEO, First Supply LLC, Madison, Wis.; and Jason Pritchard, Co-Founder, PriCor Technologies, Seattle.

That’s the million-dollar question, right? How does the supplier/contractor relationship make each other better at his/her jobs, and contribute to the overall company mission? Throw in the manufacturer here too, for that matter. Some of the fundamental tenets for strengthening that relationship—that were discussed at the general session—included collaboration, value distribution services, availability, technology and training, and expectations.

Can’t We Just Get Along?

InSinkErator’s Grim asked about the value of working together, and Poehling-Seymour stressed that collaboration is critical in this relationship. “We must understand the pain points and what is working and what isn’t.”

And with that comes better communication. “We are in a relationship industry where communication is imperative,” said Pritchard. If that means paying a bit more for that stronger relationship, then so be it, intimated Pritchard.

Callies echoed this but stressed right communication over more communication. The common thought is “wide equals pricing and deep equals relationships,” said Callies.

So, let’s go deep as an industry. When asked what the landscape is going to look like in five-to-10 years for the contractor/wholesaler/manufacturer, people, processes and services matter. Through trust and preferences, “Relationships are going to matter more,” said Pritchard.

What about expectations? “We want to be around for another 10-20 years,” said Robertson. “We want to see contractor loyalty in the channel,” continued Robertson. “And that means a loyalty to the wholesaler in your particular market.”

Stock Market

Let’s not avoid the 800-lb. gorilla in the room. With contractor loyalty, comes availability and pricing. For Robertson, inventory presence is critical so much so that Robertson Supply holds inventory for approximately 100-125 days. “Listen, we don’t make or install anything so we better be damn good at inventory management,” said Robertson.

Value distribution services ties right in here, “It’s about right product, right time, right price,” said Poehling-Seymour. “Be that added value family.”

Tech Relevant

It’s imperative for these brick-and-mortar supply houses to stay on top of the latest trends and technology. “The key to survival is to stay progressive and current,” said Robertson. Upon further self-reflection, “how do we make it easier to find product?” asked Robertson. “This includes being totally integrated with our contractor partners and researching and developing a technology that contractors will use.”

Poehling-Seymour added that First Supply LLC institutes “customer councils” to continuously get a pulse of the customer. “We try to make sense of the noise,” said Poehling- Seymour. “Where is critical mass in that noise so we can make the right decisions?”

Unless you’ve been riding under a technology rock, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated the talk in most every corner of the tech universe, and it has crept into the PHVAC industry as well. While artificial intelligence, in and of itself, can sound scary and intimidating, according to Poehling-Seymour, “AI has real application in the industry purchasing and predictability.”

For suppliers, it’s imperative to keep all “moving-forward” options available, as Robertson suggests. This includes, and nothing new and earth shattering in our industry, maximizing e-commerce when necessary. “E-commerce presents the right tools at your fingertips,” said Poehling-Seymour. Robertson adds that for his company, online ordering represents 20% volume. Other tech advancements, which included the use of QR codes to streamline processes and online training, were mentioned.

Training Room

InSinkErator’s Grim offered that in today’s business landscape, there is more need for training.

In fact, says Grim, PHCC members ask for training and education now more than ever. “With evolution and advancement comes training and education,” said Callies. Doubling down on this, Poehling-Seymour stated that First Supply opened a training center and offers a variety of training through streaming content.

Callies suggests that people still are the cogs in the wheel that makes this industry run, “Digital when you can, verbal when you must.” Pritchard and Poehler-Seymour agree, saying that people and the process are key through direct communication, and that includes all members of the channel—contractors, manufacturers, all the way down to the inside and outside sales, drivers, dispatchers, etc. within each organization.

So, let’s go back to the original question: How do we all make each other look like rock stars? Consuming all of the above, and, quite simply, “look for successes and build on them,” said Callies.

This article originally ran in PHCC’s Solutions magazine. You can learn more about the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors (PHCC) Association at www.phccweb.org.

The kitchen sink being attendees, that is. PHCC CONNECT, this past October 25-27, was set up for one of those “best-ever” shows. Beautiful downtown Cleveland was the backdrop to very a good week of meetings, connections, site visits and much more. Oh, and the weather didn’t hurt either, with temps lingering in the mid-70s.

Mechanical Hub’s John Mesenbrink and The Family Plumber owner, Mike Prencavage, Jr. take the RIDGID tour.

RIDGID, Oatey, Moen and Merit Brass all call the “City that Rocks” home, or close to it anyway, and they each offered a bus trip to visit their respective HQs. Contractors visited their location of choice and all benefitted from their site visits.

The opening keynote, “Growth Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone,” was presented by a compelling Ken Carter whose story blew up on the big screen as “Coach Carter,” played by none other than Samuel L. Jackson. The story of his 1999 season as coach at Richmond High School is the basis for the film. Throughout his life and tenure as a coach, he has inspired and guided numerous lives of young men to reach their highest potential. His “no non-sense” approach to getting things done is the force that has sustained him to have the tremendous positive influence that he currently possesses.

One of the contestants of the Plumbing Apprentice Contest.

One of our favorite annual events at PHCC CONNECT is the Plumbing and HVAC Apprentice Contest. A total of 21 plumbing and 11 HVAC apprentices from across the U.S. competed for top billing. The Plumbing Apprentice Contest winner was Cody McDonald of Van Contracting, Inc. in Columbia City, Ind. He was sponsored by the International Code Council.

The HVAC counterpart apprentice winner was Jacob Lee of P1 Service in Lenexa, Kan. He was sponsored by RIDGID.

The plumbing apprentices were required rough-in a bathroom system. The set-up includes a toilet, sink and shower, complete with supply, waste and vent lines, plus cleanouts and extra features designed to test the contestants’ knowledge and skills. The test set-up includes a variety of pipe materials—cast iron, copper and PVC and corresponding joining methods.

A Bradford White AeroTherm heat pump water heater was on display during the Product & Technology Showcase.

The HVAC competitors were required to complete a written test, demonstrate proper brazing techniques and perform a hands-on diagnostic on an HVAC package unit, with system errors created by the Foundation’s contractor volunteers for the competition. The competitors also had to perform a pressure and leak test, demonstrate proper refrigerant recovery procedures and the ability to accurately take a variety of instrument readings.

Adjacent to these apprentices diligently working on their assignment, a Product & Technology Showcase buzzed with activity surrounding the lates in tool technology, kitchen and bath, and water heating and heat pump tech.

The kitchen sink.

Seminars and breakout sessions included a Government Affairs Update, Private Equity’s Interest in Plumbing Industries, DOE Standards for Water Heating Products and an Open Roundtable with Union Affiliated Contractors.

A strong session on Women in Industry: “Unlocking Potential and Breaking Barriers: Fostering Success for Women in the Trades through Gender-Inclusive Practices in Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement,” featured some of our personal friends, including Linda Hudek, LH Plumbing Services, Fairfield, Ohio; Ashley Martin, Executive Vice President, NIBCO; and Cassie Pound, co-owner of Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Linda Hudek addresses a question from moderator Susan Frew.

In today’s ever-changing business landscape, strengthening the contractor/wholesaler channel is critical to survival. A recent general session at PHCC CONNECT drilled deep into the conversation. This session, “Collaborative Connections: Strengthening Supplier-Contractor Relationships for Success,” featured RobertGrim, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, InSinkErator, Mount Pleasant, Wis.; Scott Robertson, President, Robertson Heating Supply Co., Alliance, Ohio; Dan Callies, President, Oak Creek Plumbing, Inc., Oak Creek, Wis.; Kathryn Poehling-Seymour, President and CEO, First Supply LLC, Madison, Wis.; and JasonPritchard, Co-Founder, PriCor Technologies, Seattle.

From l to r: Robert Grim, Scott Robertson, Dan Callies, Kathryn Poehling-Seymour, and Scott Pritchard.

And many, many more worthwhile seminars were offered. In fact, PHCCCONNECT2023 education sessions had been approved by OCILB (Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board) for 19 CEUs.

A RIDGID afterparty at a brewery on the river in downtown Cleveland with some American Plumber Story stickers? Yes, Please! Here with RIDGID’s Becky Brotherton, the Hub’s John Mesenbrink (l) and Tim Ward (r) from the Appetite for Construction podcast, recorded a series of podcasts from the event.

So, mix in some fun nights out with Oatey, RIDGID and PHCC’s receptions “Ohio Night House of Blues” and its closing event at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, and, of course, connecting with industry peers, and you had the recipe for one kick-ass event.

Next year’s PHCC CONNECT will be held in Birmingham, Ala. Of all places, I sure hope that words gets around about the event. It’s worth the time, but more people need to come experience it, Birmingham or not.

Oatey Co. to sponsor PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, offering tours of its local manufacturing and training facility and sponsoring Women in Industry Luncheon

Oatey Co. is proud to announce its sponsorship and participation in PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, the premier national conference for plumbing, heating, and cooling professionals in the United States. The event will take place on October 23-26, 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Huntington Convention Center.

As a Cleveland-based company and one of the oldest and most respected names in the plumbing industry, Oatey Co. will be a part of a showcase of Cleveland hometown brands, joining forces with Ridge Tool Company (RIDGID), Moen, and Merit Brass. These companies will be positioned in a central area of the Exhibit Hall and some will also be offering plant tours to celebrate and showcase Cleveland manufacturing.

“Oatey Co. is incredibly proud to sponsor and participate in PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, an excellent opportunity for industry leaders and plumbing experts to come together, learn, and share ideas,” says Patrick Aquino, Oatey’s Vice President of Wholesale Sales.

Katherine Lehtinen, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Oatey, added: “We look forward to giving attendees and media an insider’s look at the world of Cleveland manufacturing as well as Oatey’s many innovations and contributions to the industry since its founding more than a century ago.”

“We are excited to welcome these industry leaders to Cleveland and to showcase our region’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing,” says Gordon Taylor III, Chief Sales Officer at Destination Cleveland, the destination marketing and management organization for the region. “While exploring our city and touring the innovative local businesses, conference attendees will see firsthand that Cleveland is The Land of building meaningful connections.”

As a Cleveland-based sponsor, Oatey will offer tours of its 160th Street manufacturing operations, providing an opportunity for attendees to gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of the company’s world-class facility, learning about the chemical and mechanical processes that bring the highest-quality plumbing products to life.

Then, attendees will enjoy a hands-on experience at Oatey University, a best-in-class training center for industry tradespeople, inspiring innovative new products and advancing the state of the art in the plumbing industry. Oatey social media ambassadors Nick Parlet (@plumbingsk8r), Colin Luttrel (@colintheplumberllc), Rob Broccolo (@prodrains) and Evan Berns (@re.plumb) will be on hand at Oatey University to welcome facility visitors. They are looking forward to connecting with fellow industry members, sharing their knowledge and personal stories about promoting the plumbing trade.

Once registered for the PHCC Connect Conference, attendees can sign up to participate in this tour, which will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM ET.

That same day, Oatey is proud to sponsor a Women in Industry Luncheon hosted by the PHCC National Auxiliary and Women in Piping and Plumbing. Oatey’s Lehtinen will open the event, which will include an interactive panel discussion, featuring women who work in the plumbing and HVAC industries. Panelists will share their personal stories, challenges faced, and thought-provoking ideas for how the trades can become even more welcoming and inclusive.

Lehtinen will also highlight The House That She Built, an organization whose mission is to help generate awareness of the skilled trades. A new children’s book, also titled The House That She Built, educates young readers about the people and skills that go into building a home, telling the true story of a home built by all female tradespeople. Each luncheon attendee will receive a copy of the book and be asked to read it to a child in their life or a local elementary school classroom. Lehtinen sits on The House That She Built Executive Leadership Council.

After registering for the conference, attendees can sign up to attend the Women in Industry Luncheon, which will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM ET. Each luncheon attendee will receive a copy of The House That She Built.