The International Tool and Equipment Group (ITEG) held its biennial Expo on April 14th and 15th. The mission of ITEG, a member-owned organization comprised of Auto-Wares, Automotive Systems Warehouse, Delegard Tool, MEDCO and Tools and Equipment Warehouse, is to help promote brand awareness, member and sales team training and drive national programs of its national vendors.
The ITEG Expo featured more than 300 attendees including 58 vendor companies. Bill Robinson, president of ITEG, said his primary goal for the Expo was to provide attendees with an up-close-and-personal knowledge and training opportunities.
“The Expo is different from most of the other Shows that vendors attend because it’s not a selling show; it’s a knowledge and training show. The sales and marketing people take home educational catalogs, discs, flyers, jump drives…all so that they can do a better job of representing the vendors to their customers,” he said.
Set up in a round-robin pattern, this Expo offered small groups of attendees the unique opportunity to speak with each vendor before moving on to the next one. “We like this format because all vendors are treated equally and all attendees spend the same amount of time in (each) booth,” Robinson said. He added, “Everyone has the same amount of time; everyone has the same amount of space, so all of our valued vendors have the same opportunity to engage with the attendees.”
The best part of the show is seeing people are getting more information; people are engaged here. Robinson says, “I’m excited as soon as it starts because as soon as our teams start the rotation, you see they’re gaining knowledge. They’re talking, asking questions and you know they’re learning.”
The ITEG Expo, held on Thursday and Friday, was also held in conjunction with the ATD Tools Expo on Saturday, April 16.
Robinson says one of the best things about ITEG and ATD Tools is that they have a tremendous initiative for continuous improvement. Every year, the attendees are surveyed. One of the things the attendees have asked for in the past was to have a training session separated by category, not company. This year the ATD Expo provided training in A/C, Battery and Electrical, Lifting, Lighting, Lubrication and Shop Equipment.
ATD prides itself on offering well-placed products in categories where there is a need. “Lighting is our fastest-growing category due to the acceptance of the professional brand and the constant change and innovation that we’re bringing to (the category),” Robinson said.
Andrew Keim, current Chairman of ATD echoed Robinson’s comment. “It’s not just about offering another alternative; it’s about offering an advanced product in a category where there’s an appetite for alternatives,” said Keim. He added, “Our goal is to continue to grow the ATD brand, and to expand where we think the brand will have a strong position in the marketplace. Lighting is one of those places.”
Scheduled every two years, this was the third Expo for the group. The next ITEG/ATD Tools Expo will take place at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo., April 19th to 21st, 2018.
