Article Number : 4370 |
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| Date | 4/9/2009 9:18:57 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=4370 |
| Abstract | By Matthew Spieler DALLAS—Hanley Wood Exhibitions, owner of Surfaces, has launched a redesigned, more powerful Web site— surfaces.com—that organizers say is designed to be a year-round go-to place. According to Nicole Buraglio, associate director of divisional marketing for Hanley Wood, along with the overall site being “cleaner, more functional, easier to... |
| Article | By Matthew Spieler DALLAS—Hanley Wood Exhibitions, owner of Surfaces, has launched a redesigned, more powerful Web site— surfaces.com—that organizers say is designed to be a year-round go-to place. According to Nicole Buraglio, associate director of divisional marketing for Hanley Wood, along with the overall site being “cleaner, more functional, easier to navigate and better looking visually,” it was built with numerous networking and business management tools that can be used beyond show time. One of the new tools is “ConnectionPoint.” Put simply, when either an attendee or exhibitor registers they are given a “personalized portal.” This opens access to all Hanley Wood events; their own history of events or seminars they attended, booth spaces, costs and more. Exhibitors get detailed information on their previous booths spaces, including size and cost, plus it opens a direct contact with Hanely Wood. “It gives us a way to talk with them on a personal level,” Buraglio said. There are many more tools for exhibitors to connect with customers, she added, but the amount in which they can be used is based on a company’s booth size. The larger the space, the more tools of which they can take advantage. Attendees can register for upcoming classes, print the handout materials for these courses in advance, read blogs from the actual speakers and more. One of the more powerful functions of the new site is its ability to recommend to attendees courses and events they may be interested in based on their past activities. Both exhibitors and attendees can also look up each other and set up appointments or connect on a personal level. Buraglio noted this feature, without any publicity or fanfare, was used by approximately 15% of Surfaces exhibitors this year to contact existing and potential customers. “We feel as more people use the site they will learn all its possibilities and want to bookmark it so they can continually come back,” she added. In addition to the Surfaces Web site, Hanley Wood redid the sites for all its shows in a similar format. “The idea is to be a focal point, a place to connect attendees and exhibitors, not just during the month leading up to the market but all year.” When it comes to Surfaces, Buraglio concluded, “In this challenging economic climate, the show is an indispensable part of the equation for all retailers, distributors, architects, designers and installers to sustain and grow their business. Surfaces is already the only industry event where floor covering professionals leave with the necessary tools and knowledge they need for their business success, and with this new site it doesn’t have to stop when the show is over.” For more information, visit surfaces.com or call 972.536.6300. |