Industrial Distribution

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Learning from your mistakes
May 18, 2005

Before I went to the Industrial Supply Assn.’s convention last week in Toronto, I was hoping to return and write a story how great the convention was, the excitement that was generated and the substantial number of members that the event drew. But I can’t because, well frankly, to put it in the nicest possible way, the convention was not good. Not good at all.

After talking to many, many manufacturers and distributors during the three-day meeting, I can only tell you that the association has to make a lot of amends in order to draw interest in future events.

Before some of you start telling me I should be only writing positive stories about ISA, think again. I’ve been a very strong supporter of NIDA, SIDA, IDA, ASMMA, ISMA, ISA and any other acronyms you can think of. I’ve been part of this industry for 20 years and I want this association to succeed and the convention to grow. But facts are facts.

So what went wrong at this convention? First the logistics. Originally the hotel was said to be a 10-minute walk from the convention center. Actually, it was, at a minimum, 25 and more likely 35 minutes. The booth program was held at the center, the seminars and other events at the hotel. There were no shuttle buses and getting back and forth was not easy. And, as in other past such conventions, manufacturers complained there were not enough distributors in attendance.

At least two people I talked to missed the important member’s luncheon because they had to be back to meet with distributors at the afternoon session. Cabs were at a premium. Others complained that they couldn’t attend the educational sessions at the hotel because they had scheduled appointments back at the convention center.

The hotel was under construction and the restrooms near the seminar rooms were being renovated. It was a long walk when Mother Nature called, and I can tell you that I was a traffic cop for a short time directing people to the restroom facilities. (When you’re my age, you learn very quickly the location of the nearest restrooms.)

There were even minor other things pointed out to me by attendees. For example, the night of the cocktail party in the ballroom at the convention center, there were no signs or banners with the ISA logo to promote the new association.

In ISA’s defense, the newly-formed association of former IDA and ISMA members has only been in existence for one year. John Buckley, the new executive vice president of ISA, is a veteran trade association executive and during the past year spent much of his time re-organizing the group. He has some excellent plans for future development of the association.

Tom Berger, the president of ISA, and other board members spent countless hours in meetings to get the association up and running. That wasn’t an easy task, and Berger and his colleagues deserve a lot of credit for overcoming a substantial amount of issues.

So the future is good, right? I hope so.

ISA will hold its last Fall meeting the weekend before Thanksgiving in Chicago. This meeting has been held at the same location at the same time for something like 60 years, and since this will be the last one, ISA is hoping for strong attendance. Next year, there will be only one convention in San Antonio in May.

The association also has strong leadership. Tim Tevens, the incoming president of the association, like Berger, certainly has the respect of association members and is determined for the group to succeed.

Alright. I’ve vented long enough and it’s time to look ahead. Here’s hoping that ISA will learn from this past meeting and have an outstanding convention in November. We certainly hope so.

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Posted by Jack Keough on May 18, 2005 | Comments (3)