Trade Shows Help You Stay Informed

RCS Influencer Rae July says that her company looks at trade shows as a learning opportunity.  

Editor’s note: The following is an interview with RCS Influencer Rae July to discuss her company’s trade show strategy. You can listen to RCS’ Megan Ellsworth interview her below or scroll down to read the transcript.  

Listen to the interview here or read the transcription below.

Megan Ellsworth:  Hello. We are back with February Influencer Topics here at Roofers Coffee Shop, and I have with me today Rae July with Chinook Roofing. Hello. 

Rae July:  Hi, Megan. How's it going? 

Megan Ellsworth: Good. Glad to have you here again. We're here to talk about trade show strategy. So what does Chinook do? Do you have a trade show strategy? Do you go to certain ones? Tell me a little bit about that. 

Rae July: So we typically will have a few of our employees go to trade shows. We go to western states and IRE. 

Megan Ellsworth: Love it. 

Rae July: And most recently, because I'm part of National Women in Roofing ... 

Megan Ellsworth: Oh yes. 

Rae July: ... yes, there is a trade show locally here for our roofers. Our Roofing Contractors Association of Washington, the RCAW, they usually have a trade show in the spring and NWIR participates in that. And so when we participate in the RCAW Trade Show, it's usually just us having a booth and we share stuff about NWIR, give some merch out, and get some people signed up to be part of the organization. But the larger shows, we just typically go. I like going to the larger shows because I actually go to the classes. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yes. 

Rae July: I'm a nerd like that. 

Megan Ellsworth: No, I love it. 

Rae July: Because I learned so much when I go to those classes. And in addition to learning a lot in the classes, I take it back to the office and share that with my coworkers and implement some of the things that I've learned. I like to go. Trade shows are just overwhelming in itself. 

Megan Ellsworth: Oh yeah. 

Rae July: If I can do it in two days, that's what I try to do. I never want to just try to conquer it all in one day, because there's just so much. But I like swag, stuff we all get. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yes. 

Rae July: That's always. And I get enough swag from enough of the booths and I bring it back and I share it with the people in the office. 

Megan Ellsworth: Oh, I love it. 

Rae July: Just randomly hand stuff out, because I know I'm never going to use all of it. I mean, how many shirts can I really wear? How many charging stations can I really use? I only have one phone. So I like to bring it back and share it. But, again, it's always a learning experience for me. I look to see what new products are out there. 

Megan Ellsworth: Smart. 

Rae July: I look to see what new equipment is out there that can make our business better. And, again, networking and connecting with some of those people at the trade shows, it's always fun. But again, it's super overwhelming. There's a lot to see. And I don't think I've ever gone to a trade show where I've seen everything. I honestly don't think I have, because other people will say, "Oh, did you see this at the trade show?" I'm like, "Nope, I don't think so," because it's just so much. And you want to get as much information. I will write stuff down and take pictures of things so I can remember. I use the Notes app on my phone and I will snap a picture and make a quick note of what this thing is that I saw, and maybe a picture of the person, the trade person's business card so if I have any questions, if it comes up. Sometimes I'll do some research to see if it's available in our region, because when you go to trade shows, not everything that you see would be available in your region. 

Megan Ellsworth: Right. 

Rae July: So those are the things that I do. 

Megan Ellsworth: Oh, I love it. Yeah, man, those trade shows, especially IRE, the big ones, oh my goodness. So overwhelming. So fun though. And boy, do I love free stuff too? 

Rae July: Yes. Absolutely. 

Megan Ellsworth: I love that you use the Notes app too, and I think that's a great idea, taking the picture and putting it in and then jotting down notes underneath it. Do you tend to just go for the company or are there other team members that go? 

Rae July: So typically it's other team members that go. It's usually been some of the more senior people who go to the trade shows, but I like to go and I get to go because our managers and the higher ups in our company, they see the value that has come from me going to the trade shows, because I come back and I share. I always come back with knowledge to share with the rest of the company, come back with finding a new product or a new tool item, for example, to share with the company. Last year, when we were at IRE, our company actually bought a piece of equipment to help us with the installation of metal roofs. It was an expensive piece of equipment, but it was worth it. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. 

Rae July: And so those are things that we gain from being part of these shows, going to these shows. It's more than just a time to congregate and hang out, just have a good time and talk about your business, but it's also a great time to learn. It's all educational for me and I really enjoy that. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. Those classes, man, they're so informative. And I grew up going to my mom's classes that she would speak and I would be like, "Yeah, roofing!" I love it. Did you guys go into IRE having this equipment purchase in mind or were you just blown away, your socks were blown off and you were like, "We need this"? 

Rae July: No. There was no intention to purchase the equipment. It was one of those things that you walked by, you saw it, you saw what it can do, and it was like, "We need that. This is a great investment. We can definitely use that piece of equipment." And that's where it came from. And honestly, I don't think anyone goes to the trade shows with the intention of buying anything. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. 

Rae July: Because a lot of the times you have no idea really who's going to be there and what they're going to be showcasing. 

Megan Ellsworth: Right. 

Rae July: You just go, and yeah, you hope to find something cool, but it's never really purposeful or intentional to purchase something. And so when you find something that would build your business and help with the productivity of your business, absolutely, you'd want to get it. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. Love it. Great. Well, thank you for your beautiful wisdom today for our February Topic. Really appreciate it. 

Rae July: You're welcome. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. 

Rae July: Thank you, Megan. 

Megan Ellsworth: Hopefully, we can all congregate at a trade show here in the future sometime safely. 

Rae July: Hopefully August, right? 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, hopefully. IRE, that would be awesome. 

Rae July: Fingers crossed for that one. Come on, COVID. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yes. Yeah, woo! Well, thank you, and I will see you in March. 

Rae July: Thanks, Megan. 

Megan Ellsworth: Thanks. 

Rae July is an Estimator at Chinook Roofing & Gutters in Fife, Washington. See her full bio here.