Vendors: Please don’t ask me to promote you if you’re skipping NSS

It’s not uncommon to find a sky high stack of messages demanding attention in my inbox since email access has sporadic during my stay in Hong Kong. Today’s 300+ messages squealing “Read me! Read me!” came as no great surprise; three particular vendor emails, however, did (surprise me, that is–not literally squeal). They each asked if I would please promote specials being offered this spring-—something I routinely do in Shopping List posts.

What makes these three vendors unique is that none of them intend to exhibit at the upcoming National Stationery Show. Instead, they’ve asked if I would post their specials to offset their absence in May.

My response? Um…no.

Here’s the thing–anyone who attends NSS this year is doing so at great financial expense, regardless of whether they’re a buyer or an exhibitor. In exchange, exhibiting vendors will be rewarded with opportunities, customer contacts, new accounts, and orders that justify their investment–both in time and in money.

Those who intend to stay home, however, have made no sacrifice or investment. They’ve made the choice, for whatever reason, to sit out on those opportunities, customer contacts, new accounts…and orders.

Your competitors are investing the time and money to bring their A game to New York. Retailers are investing their time and money to bring their A game to New York.

So go ahead and skip the show; the decision is entirely acceptable as long as you also accept responsibility for passing on potential sales and visibility as a result.

If you want the orders, folks, you’re going to have to show up to get them. Please don’t ask me to do the heavy lifting for you.