Now,  ATLANTA:

The IWF is a huge, international trade show held every other year at the Georgia World Congress Center. On alternate years, a regional trade show is held same time, same place. This is about our 5th time to trek to Atlanta at the end of August.  Some of you may remember that we exhibited a piece of equipment there last year.  As in years past, Paul and Lisa Phillips made the trip, too.    The GWCC is a huge place featuring three multi-level exhibit halls that are connected by a maze of escalators and corridors. The IWF consumes all three buildings.   Usually, we are able to stay at one of downtown hotels that is clustered around the GWCC and the adjacent Centennial Olympic Park but a hotel shortage this year landed us a few miles away at the Atlanta Renaissance. The IWF shuttle buses ran to and fro so getting to the show was fairly easy.  Joining us at the show was our Kiwi friend Keith Robertson whose company partners with WPS on some projects.  The five us of us ate supper Tuesday night at Pappadeaux's which was well worth the drive up I-85.   I worked the show on Wednesday and Thursday with Jeff.  Wednesday night found us at that the Braves game where the Pirates raided Atlanta but where we enjoyed third base field level seats complete with food service.  The Braves' less-than-stellar season has made for great deals on tickets and seating we were told.   More fine dining ...on Thursday, we were treated to McKendrick's Steak House (an alternative to Bones)  by another company....on Friday we made our annual visit to one of the best Thai places.   I took the MARTA train to Lennox Mall on Friday while the guys hit the show floor again.  A Crocs kiosk had just opened at Lennox and I found the girls some adorable metallic gold  ones. (No No's preschool recommended them for easy off and on.)  Jeff went to the show again on Saturday morning and we were able to meet Jack and Cathy (Jeff's brother/wife) at a coffee show in Lilburn later in the day.  On Saturday night a group of us drove up to Marietta to eat at the Pappadeaux's sister restaurant Pappasittos.  This place is TDF as far as Tex Mex.  Jeff and I shared Lobster fajitas.  Sunday, we packed up and Lisa, Jeff and I started home.  Paul and Keith left together for a series of sales calls before heading back to Ruston later this week.  We were very thankful for the audio books that we had gotten at Cracker Barrel.  For long trips, they are a wonderful entertainment option.  You buy the books on tape or CD but if you return them within a week you are refunded all but a small rental fee. 

I know it sounds like we just ate our way through Atlanta (in the same way we did Memphis) but these trade shows are an enormous amount of work.  Identifying and locating potential customers, competitors, and vendors within the three show buildings is a strategic undertaking.  Not to mention...the meeting and greeting part, the follow-up meetings and the transaction details.