If you plan to attend drupa2016, as a visitor or as a presenter, you have to make the most out of the event and make as many connections as possible.
The drupa is the largest printing equipment exhibition in the world, held at Messe Düsseldorf in Germany, on May 31 – June 10, 2016. The expo focuses mostly on print, equipment, printing technologies, press, packaging production, print services, 3D printing and green printing. They are opening up new visitor target groups with state-of-the-art technologies and new solutions.
For any industry conference or event, networking is the top priority. Leaving the right impression on prospective colleagues or clients can help forge relationships and create new opportunities for you and your business.
So, how do you make a strong impression at an event that expects to reach attendance of over 300,000 people? Follow these networking tips to make lasting connections – inside and out of the exhibition halls.
Prepare in advance and do your homework – Enter the drupa website, go over the database and the plans, and download the official drupa mobile app. These tools will help you a long way. Not only will you find listings of the companies exhibiting, but also details of contact people. Explore even further and check out social media of companies that interest you and learn even more about them. Remember to continue networking outside the show floor; the best connections can happen when you go out to the pub after hours.
Make sure you are both attentive and interesting – In many conversational situations, people tend to take over and dictate the conversation. Try to avoid that, and show interest in what your partner is saying, and don’t take over the conversation. If you want to build rapport with someone, listen, ask questions, and be attentive. You’ll be surprised at the bonds you can create with people when you find out you have things in common.
Value your time – Time is a precious resource when it comes to big expos. When you start planning your time at the event, don’t plan to meet too many people. Forging 4-5 genuinely useful connections is far better than spreading all over and coming out with tons of business cards but no real connection with anyone.