Start with a plan before you head out to the show. Schedule the companies you must see, and stick to that schedule. Manufacturers plan for an entire year to talk about their plans for product launches, advertising campaigns and marketing initiatives. They invest thousands of man-hours and dollars to make sure you see their products. If you schedule an appointment and have to make alterations, call the exhibitor.
Most booths have phones.
Ask vendors for booth phone numbers at the time you schedule an appointment. Use the Internet. This simple scheduler enables you to contact a company, read about its products and reach company contacts in one fell swoop. Start thinking now about your product needs for tomorrow. You may not have the shelf or column space in March, but June could be a different story.