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BENEFITS OF BELONGING
Western Technical Fabrics EXPO brings
WCPA members together to build, share their expertise. Western
Canvas Products Assn. members rank among the industry's most
knowledgeable professionals, thanks to events like the Western
Technical Fabrics Expo and the IFAI Expo. The Western Technical
Fabrics Expo formerly known as the Western Canvas Products Annual
Expo has been held yearly and almost without interruption since
1958. In 2000, the WCPA teamed with the Industrial Fabrics
Association International to jointly produce the show.
Most recently, approximately 200
members and friends of the WCPA attended the Western Technical
Fabrics Expo, which attracted some three-dozen exhibitors
representing an impressive cross-section of equipment
manufacturers, materials producers, and service consultants. "Lots
of networking, informative seminars, and a good, solid show all
around," says one regular attendee. "Being there helped me find
new ways of doing business in this current economy, so it was
really invaluable."
Steve Warner, IFAI president, says of
the expo: "This is a tremendous opportunity for participants to
forge new relationships and to reinforce ones that are already
established. The show has developed into something truly great.
Its focus has become sharper. The roundtable discussions are of
particular interest to many of the expo participants here we have
five or six panelists, who normally compete against one another
for business, sitting down to talk out common problems and offer
solutions to help one another and those in the audience."
LEARN NEW TRICKS
Much the same occurs at the IFAI's own
annual expo, only on a much larger scale. According to Warner, the
IFAI Expo attracts more than 8,000 serious buyers from every
corner of the world and from every segment of the specialty
fabrics industry. Also on hand are more than 500 exhibitors
offering industry-comprehensive products and services. The IFAI
Expo also is a great place to learn new tricks of the trade,
Warner adds. For example, there is a technical symposium organized
in conjunction with The Textile Institute in which scientists,
researchers, material- and product-developers, designers,
engineers, specification- and standards-writing organizations,
instructors, consultants and lab-testing professionals convene to
present original published papers on new technologies in fibers,
yarns and fabrics for innovative and advanced textile products.
There is also a series of educational
programs focusing on fabrication of end- products. Everything from
banners and flags to awnings and canopies, from marine sporting
goods to safety and protective items.
HONORING INNOVATION
Both the WCPA and IFAI expos are
occasions for recognizing achievement. The IFAI does so through
it's International Achievement Awards; the WCPA via what are known
as the Excellence Awards. Each organization's awards are intended
to honor innovative design and manufacturing of fabric products.
(See the series of photos on the pages the follow for a look at
the WCPA's 2003 Excellence Awards winners).
The Western Technical Fabrics Expo has
grown in recent years in part because of efforts to market the
event in an ever more targeted manner. For example, with IFAI
help, paid advertisements run in key media outlets, press releases
are issued at strategic junctures, direct-mail pieces go out,
invitational faxes and e-mails are sent, and telemarketing
campaigns are conducted.
Additionally, the IFAI asks exhibitors
to themselves put out word of the expo among their customers.
"It's a great partnership between the WCPA and IFAI," says Warner.
"The IFAI's goal for the Western Technical Fabrics Expo is to make
it more specific to the regional interests of the attendees, who
are seen as largely being owners of small businesses in
traditional product areas."
Industrial Fabrics Assn. International
insiders suggest that, by building upon the efforts taken this
time around, it should be possible to double and even triple
attendance in coming years. |
