So what is it about the National RV Show that repels corporate executives?
Every year I find it interesting that the same thing plays out in the same way. In fact, in the seven years I have been attending the show, it appears to be getting worse. I’m talking about the lack of corporate executives on the show floor starting at about noon Wednesday.
When the bell opens on Tuesday morning, people run around the Kentucky Expo Center as though it were the Kentucky Derby. It’s a day of frantic activity as people jostle and tussle with each other to get from one booth to another. There is excitement in the air as people get down to the business of doing business. That night, a slew of receptions keep people partying until 9 or 10 p.m. before they head out for dinner. Everyone sleeps fast and gets back to the trade show floor early the next morning.
But, around noon Wednesday, the corporate executives check their watches and announce it’s time for them to leave. Within hours they’re out the door and on their way to bigger and better things. On Thursday, it’s likely we’ll have to issue amber alerts to help track down the missing corporate executives.
Which leaves me to ask, if a company is involved in the RV industry and the entire RV industry is set up for business in Louisville, what could possibly be more important to the future of their business that requires them to leave the National RV Show?
Some people have pitched their theories already. They suggest that corporate executives leave early because:
- They are tired of being beaten up dealers
- They are tired of being beaten up by their own staff
- They realize the competition smacked them again this year
- They don’t want to miss the next episode of Criminal Minds Wednesday night on CBS
It seems to me the corporate execs are flawed in their thinking. When people attend a major three-day trade show, would it be safe to assume that most business owners are going to tie up details with their existing business partners during the first half of the show, then spend the rest of the time looking for new opportunities and new products. After all, they have three days or nearly 24 hours to get everything done.
If that is the case, when the new opportunity arrives at the boon Thursday, who is left to seal the deal? The CEO? Nope. Another senior executive? Not likely. The only one at the booth is the unlucky guy who drew the short straw at the bar Wednesday night and gets stuck attending the show Thursday to take down the booth.
It will be interesting to see how things pan out this year. Will the executives for companies that struggled this year hang around all three days to invest time with their current business partners and seek new growth opportunity. Or will they be back in the office, safe and snug at their desks pouring over financial reports and scratching their heads to come up with ways to grow their businesses?
Time will tell.
Tags: , National RV Show
