by Amy Hill, editor
It seems hard to believe, but in just over a month it will be time for this year’s GIE+EXPO and Hardscape North America show. Mark October 27-29 on your calendar if you haven’t already.
If you have never been to the GIE+EXPO and Hardscape North America in Louisville on the Ohio River, here’s a glimpse of what you can expect.
Let’s start by mentioning that it’s the biggest trade show in the landscape industry. It features:
. more than two full days of educational classes for landscape, lawn care and grounds professionals;
. more revenue-generating equipment than you’ll see at any other industry trade show this year;
. dozens of new products;
. and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to network with colleagues and make new friends.
If you’re a first-timer, plan to be overwhelmed. About 500 exhibiting companies will be displaying their wares and services inside the 500,000-square-foot Kentucky Convention Center. But, the really exciting part of the event is the 19 acres of outdoor demos where you can operate just about any mower or other sizable piece of landscape equipment you can imagine. The first year I went, I had a hard time finding my way around the first few hours, but just take a breath and take it all in.
You’ll have a good time, too. There are lots of good restaurants and entertainment on Louisville’s rocking Fourth Street Live!
That’s also where you’ll join several thousand other attendees to enjoy a concert by Stealing Angels (an incredible music group of three talented women) the evening of October 27, and a raucous evening with country music star Charlie Daniels and his band on October 28.
In the end, and months later, what you will remember most, though, is the great people you met and the profit-building ideas you picked up by networking with colleagues and new friends. The relationships you make in Louisville are ones that you will have for a lifetime.
See you next month!