Nearly everyone dreams of a big idea for a new gadget from a new product for the mass market. It used to be much easier for small businesses to introduce new products than it is today. A few years ago a small company could start with a new product or idea with retailers in the region, first to build up the local customer base and then fan out across the region, nation or world. But the landscape has changed dramatically with retail chains with thousands of great items on the market today do not change. In the past 15 years, countless smaller chains and independent operators have either been swallowed by their larger competitors, or simply went bankrupt because they could not compete with the giants. This makes it much harder for small businesses, their products on the market because a) there are fewer retailers approach and b) there are thousands of companies competing for the attention of fewer buyers.
Twenty years ago, trade shows can often be an inexpensive way to a new product to showcase thousands of potential buyers, but as the retail exhibition was a wave of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Many salons who saw the operations of small and medium used meet their participation and reduce many of them just completely disappeared.
For example, show men Sportswear Buyers (North American NAMSB) are used, one of the largest apparel trade shows in the U.S., but now it is gone. For years, the salon NAMSB that retailers of all sizes will present the latest styles and future were checked. It was also where some now household names their debuts in the mass market. At an exhibition NAMSB (many) years ago, I wanted a friend who would sympathize with the owner of a new company, she knew hot to do justice. We passed a small booth staff with only one man shows his new t-shirt designs, Stussy and his name was one or two years later took over from his company. For him, the show NAMSB the ideal springboard to success. Today, however, shows there is less to choose from and they are much more expensive, so that a larger bet. So if you are considering a trade, you should be better prepared to do your homework, invest money and do it well or you will be proved for the setting failure. (more…)