I run a small gift shop and old time ice cream and candy shop at history museum. When I took over there were no vendor lists, log in information or past invoices for a lot of our products. I have been struggling to find vendors and products that fit our market. The show was a great way to find new items and get a chance to talk to the vendors about their items. I came back with some great products and a better plan for purchasing in the future.

The show is full of new ideas from lots of suppliers. Wear comfortable shoes to walk the floor. Engage with the suppliers, ask product questions and ask their take on industry trends and the overall business climate. Gain perspective. The suppliers at this show want to talk, they know their business and you can learn from them.