Holding the 2010 Expo at Grand Casino in Hinckley proved to be a good decision for the show. Retailers and exhibitors were pleasantly surprised to find such a bright and spacious conference center and many were unaware that the facility existed. The conference center is separate from the casino and unless you look for it, you wouldn’t even know it was there. The weather was warm and sunny and the exhibit hall was a buzz with activity.
The Expo began on Monday evening with the Exhibitor Reception, which was held in the exhibit hall, and was followed by a dinner with speakers Dan Fesler, Chairman of NLBMDA, and JL Glass, a motivational speaker, who entertained and inspired attendees while encouraging them to persevere through the tough times and be creative in thinking of new ways to do business. After dinner, hospitality rooms saw a lot of activity and a good time was had by all.
There was a full schedule of events on Tuesday. The retailer seminars were all well attended and the speakers received rave reviews. There was a full house for the membership meeting and lunch where Craig Webb from ProSales Magazine shared upbeat but realistic statistics on the state of the industry. The exhibit hall had a steady stream of visitors all day and exhibitors commented how happy they were to see so many people.
We’re already looking forward to next year and hope to build on the success of the 2010 Northwestern Building Products Expo.
