James Connolly described his initial IAAPA experience last year as “Hell.” It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy the weeklong convention in Orlando, the world’s largest in the industry; he actually likes IAAPA. But he felt unprepared for the fast pace, large crowds, and the quick interactions at the convention. “It’s very busy, but also very interesting,” said Connolly, representing Bumper Boats Inc. from Newport, R.I.
This year, he came more prepared. As the convention center filled with a continuous stream of visitors for four days, IAAPA veterans shared advice for first-time attendees. Tips ranged from wearing comfortable shoes to being focused in every conversation you have.
Jake Swegle from Paragon Commercial Concession Equipment in Ames, Iowa, shared that they had made the mistake in the past of overcrowding their booth, making it hard for visitors to explore their products. “Now that we have more space, we attract more serious customers,” said Swegle.
In LaGrange, Ky., Cold River Mining Corp. offers family parks an interactive feature that allows visitors to pan through stones and gravel. Ryan Houchens, representing the company at IAAPA, advises newcomers to bring water and wear comfortable shoes. “It can be overwhelming,” he said, recalling his first experience seven years ago.
With over 550,000 square feet of exhibition space, it can be a challenge to see everything at IAAPA, especially in one day. Ken Brace from Rapid Prototyping Services in Space Coast has a system of concentrating on different pavilions one at a time to navigate the massive floor effectively.
Tamar Kelly, the international sales director for Light Up Toys, encourages attendees to take their time and savor every moment at IAAPA. “It’s an eye-opening experience that shows how vast our industry is,” she said.
As Connolly interacted with visitors at the Bumper Boats booth, more at ease than his first year, Arthur Grover at Aardvark Antiques shared his advice after attending IAAPA for over 30 years. Grover believes in managing time by being decisive, advising buyers to not spend too much time in one booth and vendors to quickly identify potential buyers. “Within a few minutes, you should know if they are interested,” he said.
