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| The Canadian Rental Mart is for you |
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Feb. 16, 2010 – The secret to success often lies in seizing opportunities when they become available. Right now there is a great opportunity waiting for you as a member of the Canadian rental profession. The Canadian Rental Mart takes place March 9–10 at the Toronto Congress Centre, and it promises to be the single most important event in the rental calendar for 2010. The opportunities to connect with suppliers and get the straight goods from company reps are simply enormous. More than 220 booth spaces were available when booking began. As of today, we are pleased to report that the show has completely sold out! For a complete list of exhibitors, please click here . The list is current as of February 16, 2010. We are also pleased to announce that online registrations are now open for those who wish to attend the show. Online registration is quick, easy, and free. To register online, please click here.
Seminars and workshops The latest and greatest in equipment, technology, and services are a big part of what makes trade shows worth attending. But they are far from the only things of value at the Canadian Rental Mart. First, there is the education aspect. Knowing your own strengths is an invaluable tool. The Myers-Briggs assessment is a great way of determining not only your own preferences and communication styles, but those of others in your organization.
“For me, the MBTI was a complete turning point in my life,” says Price. “After a lifelong journey of entrepreneurial development, it was the one step I really needed. Since taking the assessment, I’ve experienced exponential growth in my life.” Another great seminar is planned for March 10. Mark Weirda of Dri-Eaz will present “Profiting from the Renovation Market.” This is a great opportunity. Despite the lingering effects of the recession, many Canadians are choosing to renovate their homes in 2010. Those who know how to sell their services to the renovation marketplace may see an upswing in their business in the next year. There are social aspects to the Canadian Rental Mart as well. Shirley McCormick is the CRA Ontario Social Events Co-ordinator and Secretary. She has organized a great program for the 2010 Canadian Rental Mart: “After you have visited all the exhibiting companies and taken advantage of the excellent seminar that has been planned with your business needs in mind, be sure to attend the first-class banquet across the street at the International Doubletree Plaza Hotel on Tuesday evening,” says McCormick. “After a cocktail reception, you will be served a delicious three-course dinner. After dinner there will be awards presented to deserving recipients in the rental industry, and you will be entertained by two roving magicians during dinner, and with a stage show after dinner. And there will be lots of draw prizes as well.” There will also be a Next Gen Reception at the hotel in the afternoon by invitation only. The rental industry has a lot of family owned and operated businesses, and the Next Gen Reception is where the up and coming stars of the industry meet and exchange ideas. There are many great opportunities to meet experienced rental veterans in one place and enjoy a great social gathering. Attendance at the banquet or seminar is by pre-registration only. Please contact Shirley McCormick by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone/fax at 1-905-697-0380. Tickets will be limited, so order yours early using your credit card or a cheque payable to CRA Ontario. All cheques should be mailed to Shirley McCormick at 20 Loyalist Ct., Newcastle, Ont. L1B 1A8. All seminars and social events will take place at the DoubleTree International Plaza Hotel. Seminars are free for registered participants. To register and reserve your place at the Canadian Rental Mart, please click here. Location, location, location The DoubleTree International Plaza Hotel is the official headquarters hotel for the Canadian Rental Mart. This Pinnacle award-winning hotel is located directly across from the Toronto Congress Centre, where the
Please make all reservations directly with the hotel, using the information provided below. Please note that rooms may not be available after February 4, 2010. Early booking is recommended. Phone: 416-244-1711 Toll Free: 800-668-3656 Group Name: Canadian Rental Mart 2010 Group Code: CRM Have it all! Trade shows can be an overwhelming experience, even if you’ve attended dozens over the years. Having a firm plan in place means that you’re sure to see everything you came to see. You’ll leave the show secure in the knowledge that you’ve spoken with the best people to help your business. Below are some great tips for making the most of your trade show experience. 1. Establish your goals Know what you want going in. Your goals are going to dependent on a large number of factors. Someone who is fairly new to the industry may simply want to visit as many booths as possible, and will plan accordingly. An old hand with lots of experience will probably want to be a little more selective, and target just the exhibitors that have something new to offer. 2. Set a schedule and stick to it Make sure to play to your strengths when it comes to setting your schedule. Sitting down and writing out what you’ll be doing every minute of every day sounds efficient, but if you’re the sort of person who prefers to play things by ear, you will either drive yourself nuts or simply abandon your schedule completely within the first hour. A more fluid schedule might be the best thing for you if that’s the case. In any event, make sure your schedule fits your personality. Don’t try to make your personality fit the schedule. 3. Pre-emptive strikes Exhibitors want to talk to you. After all, that’s why they are there. But sales reps have a lot of demands on their time when they’re working shows, and they may not be able to give you the attention you deserve if you just wander by. The solution is simple. Make appointments to speak with them. Ideally, you can take some time before the show to set up these appointments. 4. Bring a large bag Ever tried to stuff 12 pounds of assorted marketing materials into a laptop case? Trust us, it doesn’t work. The most efficient thing to do would be to give serious and sober consideration to every single item, and to use prior experience to tell you if you should keep it or not. However, efficiency is highly overrated. Situations like this don’t call for efficiency, they call for cramming every single thing you receive into a great big bag. You can sort through it at your leisure when you get home. The Canadian Rental Mart only lasts a few days. Don’t waste time weighing the pros and cons of picking up a flyer. Just grab everything and go. You have a recycling bin to deal with the eventual rejects. 5. Write things down Feel free to take some notes. If you don’t want to look like a reporter, don’t carry your notebook in your hand. Instead, try to take a break every two hours or so, and write down anything interesting, while it’s still fresh. 6. All work and no play means Jack was dull to begin with There are a lot of social activities associated with trade shows. It’s a great chance to talk shop with like-minded professionals. Students of business history know that more than one million-dollar deal foundered in the boardroom and was resurrected in the pub. 7. Don’t waste time Time is really the only commodity a person has. Don’t get trapped into hour-long presentations for products you’ll never buy just to be polite. 8. Dress for success In this case, that means casual wear with comfortable shoes. Save the tie and tails for the social events. If you have any questions, regarding the Canadian Rental Mart, please feel free to contact Mike Davey or Ed Cosman using the information below. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Canadian Rental Mart! Mike Davey 888-599-2228 ext. 241 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Ed Cosman 888-599-2228 ext. 276 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Tuesday, March 9th 10:00 SEMINAR “Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment” 11:00 SHOW OPENS 5:15 NEXT GEN RECEPTION By invitation only Foyer, Mississauga Ballroom Doubletree International Plaza Hotel 5:00 SHOW CLOSES 6:30 GALA SOCIAL EVENT Mississauga Ballroom Doubletree International Plaza Hotel Wednesday, March 10th 10:00 SEMINAR “Profiting from the Renovation Market” 11:00 SHOW OPENS 4:00 SHOW CLOSES Online registrations are now open for those who wish to attend the Canadian Rental Mart. Online registration is quick, easy, and free. To register online, please click here. |
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