The ASD Show returns to Las Vegas for its annual spring conclave of commercial congress. The event typically attracts 40,000 to 50,000 attendees, with buyers drawn from all over the United States and overseas. In 2010, according the show organizers, that included buyers from 88 countries, with attendance from Latin America rising 13 percent. The show takes place Sunday, Feb. 27, through Wednesday, March 2. Registration is not open to the general public, but trade participants can register for free before Feb. 27, or pay $20 at the door. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the event ending at 4 p.m. on March 2.
Tom Parra, the owner of S.O.G. Vintage Parts & Die Cast Collectibles in Whittier, Calif., is a vendor at flea markets and car shows. He says he has attended the Las Vegas show for the last five years and is coming back again. “It’s a great show,” he says. “I go to see what new toys come around, and to find new products.”
Michael Messner, a candy and nut vendor at the Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet in Las Vegas, has been going to the show for years. His goal? “We try to find new suppliers for the things we sell,” he says. He has some firm advice for attendees: “Put your walking shoes on, and be ready to walk a lot.”
Jim Taylor, a Colorado-based marketing expert, uses flea markets to see what people are looking for and what they are buying. He attends the ASD show to look for new products, too. “Of course some things are always there year after year, but every once in a while you get some new products out of the market, and it is nice to maybe be one of the first people to try marketing them.” He says that it’s a good idea to be methodical when you walk the floor. “Plan on spending at least two or three days, because there’s a lot to see. You could walk right by something and not notice it if you are not taking your time.”
This year the ASD Show exhibitors will be grouped into four general categories, three located at the Sands Expo Center and one at the Las Vegas Convention Center. More than 900 exhibitors in the “Value and Variety” category will be based at the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall, offering close-outs, prepackaged pallets of new and overstock merchandise, and opportunity buys. The featured product categories in this section include General Merchandise, Camping and Outdoor/Sporting Goods, Military/Tactical/Personal Security, Electronics and Accessories, Apparel/Hosiery/Footwear, Tools and Hardware/Lawn and Garden, Food/Candy/Snacks, Housewares, and Home Textiles.
The “Gift and Toy” category will attract 500-plus suppliers to the Sands Expo Center Lower Level, located just next to buyer registration. Featured product categories include Candles/Aromatherapy, Holiday/Special Occasion, Collectibles, Decorative Accessories, Crafts, Religious, Dolls/Figurines, Gift Shop Souvenirs, Novelties, Seasonal, Giftwrap/Giftbags, and Stationery/Cards.
The Sands Expo Center Upper Level will host the “Jewelry” category, with over 300 exhibitors, as well as the “Style and Beauty” category. The featured products here include Fine Jewelry, Custom Pieces, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Estate Jewelry, Gold, Loose Gemstones, Luxury Timepieces, Wedding Bands, Fashion Jewelry, Accessory Sets, Beads, Body Jewelry, Fashion Timepieces, Sterling Silver, Youth-Oriented Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories, Health and Beauty Aids, and Travel Accessories.
Free shuttle service will offer transportation between the Sands and Convention Center locations. Moreover, even participants who do business primarily at the Convention Center may well want to take a shuttle over to the Sands for the ASD Show’s seminar series.
As in the past, the show features a range of educational seminars that offer action-oriented tips and tactics to boost retail business. Two seminars focus on boosting business online through ecommerce sites and marketing. Others are on direct mail campaigns, building foot traffic, increasing staff effectiveness, and merchandising. For more information on the seminars or on the show, call 800-748-5058, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 pm EST. The full seminar schedule is given below.
Seminar Schedule: Monday, Feb. 28, 2011
Taking Your Retail Business Online (10:30-11:30 a.m.): Learn how retail store owners can benefit by expanding into online sales using eBay, Amazon, and Facebook. The seminar compares all three venues, explains the investment of time and money involved, as well as what it takes to get started.
Strengthening Your Website through an Integrated Marketing Plan (12:00-1:00 p.m.): This seminar addresses the necessity of a well designed, innovative website, and how to properly market it through a hands on approach of planning, analysis, and optimization. Covers SEO and PPC tactics, ecommerce strategies, and social media.
Direct Mail Crash Course — Everything You Need to Know About Direct Mail (1:30-2:30 p.m.): Get the fundamentals of direct mail marketing, with tips you need to start doing effective campaigns immediately. Learn how to target the right market, capture your recipients’ attention, and write copy that will get them to respond.
Seminar Schedule: Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Foot Traffic Formula — How to Keep the Doors Swingin’ and the Registers Ringin’! (9:00-10:00 a.m.): Find out about the four elements that combine to get more customers in the door. Includes tactics to get more customers in the door, give them a first experience that makes them want to come back, and proactively generate repeat visits.
Turn Your Staff Into a Service Driven, Selling Machine! (10:30-11:30 a.m.): This fun, interactive workshop focuses on practical, proven customer service and sales strategies, tips, and tricks to boost your store’s sales while providing exceptional service. Includes six powerful words that help discover what your customer really wants.
Terms of Endearment [in Retail] (12:00-1:00 pm): Learn how to recognize shopping patterns to maximize sales potential, the five truths about markdowns and how to get them under control, and how to be an investor in merchandise. Covers key financial tools. And a range of merchandising concepts.
Direct Mail Crash Course — Everything You Need to Know About Direct Mail (1:30-2:30 pm): Repeat of seminar given Monday at 1:30.
Strengthening Your Website through an Integrated Marketing Plan (3:00-4:00 pm): Repeat of seminar given Monday at noon.