In this issue...

The 2005 NFDA Expo:
Investing in your company's long-term success

“I make a point of doing business with companies that support my association through exhibiting, advertising and sponsorships.”

~ L. Ruple Harley, Jr, CFSP, NFDA Past President
250 services per year

NFDA Convention & Rosh Hashanah

If you plan to attend the 2005 NFDA Convention & Expo in Chicago this October, you might have realized that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins the evening of Monday, October 3 – the “official” start of NFDA's premier event. While NFDA makes every attempt to prevent such conflicts with this sacred holiday, the realities behind planning an event of this magnitude – which literally begin nearly a decade before the fact – sometimes make it unavoidable. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

As the convention approaches, NFDA will provide a listing of nearby places of worship for most faiths, including a synagogue in Chicago's downtown Loop, for convention attendees wishing to attend services while away from home.

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Trade Show Fast Fact(s)

When evaluating the Return on Investment for your trade show participation, you must count not only the period of time that the expo took place, but you should also measure six to twelve months after the show.
-Allen Konopacki, Successful Exhibiting

Qualified buyers who mean business conduct business at trade shows.
-2003 Trade Show Marketing Guide

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Age Bias at NFDA Expo?

(The following is an actual letter received by NFDA)

I own and manage a 140-call funeral home in West Virginia and purchase many products throughout the year, and I am always looking for new, exciting ideas. Our funeral home received NFDA's Pursuit of Excellence Award, and I also earned my CFSP designation.

As a licensed funeral director and embalmer, I attend NFDA's Expo to gain knowledge about new products. NFDA's Expo is supposed to be a time when you meet with vendors and learn about new products to help grow and maintain a business but, at 27 years of age, the exhibitors consider me a kid who does not know anything about the funeral business. Lest they forget, I am a potential customer and, in my case, I am the one who handles ordering our supplies!

It is nice doing business with a customer-friendly business. In the funeral business, clients choose a funeral home based on service and expertise. If I bought my products based on the expertise and friendliness of the exhibitors at NFDA's Expo, I would have to look outside of our industry to find a supplier. Needless to say, I was disappointed by the vendors that represented this industry. Unless a vendor plans to go out of business in the next 10 years, they need to stop targeting older funeral directors. The future of their business is catering to all ages in the funeral industry.

Chad R. Harding, CFSP
Gatens Funeral Home

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NFDA Expo Online

NFDA exhibitors receive recognition beyond the exhibit hall, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through NFDA's online floor plan of the 2005 Expo. As a value-added benefit to exhibitors, their company name and contact information is accessible to all NFDA members who visit the Expo Online, including those who cannot attend! NFDA members like to support those companies who support their association through exhibiting, advertising and sponsorships. Featuring exhibitors on NFDA's Website allows members to do business with those companies before and after the official NFDA Expo. You can also sponsor NFDA Expo Online. Call 800-228-6332 and ask to speak with an advertising account executive to find out more.

http://www.nfda.org/expocad2/shows/expo2005/

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Why Frequent Advertising is a Must

The market is constantly changing and new buying influences are unaware of your company, product, or service. According to a Penton Media Report, nearly 25% of buyers experience a job change every year. This includes switching employers, switching positions within the organization, receiving a promotion or transfer, retiring, or experiencing a merger or downsizing situation. Frequent advertising is critical to ensure that the right buying influences are continually receiving information on the company's products or services available. Based on the recent survey of NFDA members, when asked which funeral service publications they read regularly, 96% of them read The Director magazine on a regular basis, followed by state association publications (63.7%).

Why NFDA is Where Your Marketing Dollars Pay Off
In October 2004, NFDA commissioned MemberScope, a division of Research USA, Inc., to conduct a survey of its members in order to find out more about them, their businesses, and their use of NFDA membership benefits, services and programs. The following question was part of the survey:

Which of the following funeral service publications do you read regularly, that is, at least 3 out of 4 issues?

The same people who read The Director also attend the NFDA Convention and Expo. Maximize your marketing dollars with NFDA, a one-stop shop for all your marketing opportunities.

2005 NFDA Convention and Expo-Chicago Style

October 3-5 (Expo Dates)
McCormick Place, Chicago, IL

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