In March 2016, New York City will be the gathering place of beverage buyers from around the country.
The inaugural USA Trade Tasting (USATT) and educational conference is scheduled for March 21-22, 2016, and it is an opportunity for boutique wineries, craft breweries and craft distillers to showcase their products to purchasing decision makers.
In addition to producers, importers wanting distribution in the USA and distributors wanting access to buyers are also encouraged to attend.
The Trade Tasting is limited to 200 exhibitors only, so the time to secure your booth registration is now (exhibit prices also increase June 1, 2015).
Why Should Your Brand Exhibit at the USA Trade Tasting?
We are likely all familiar with trade tastings. They are B2B events with the intention of expediting both product sourcing (for buyers) and sales and distribution (for sellers). Trade tastings can also be a fantastic brand building opportunity for producers as there is increased exposure to important industry players and media during a trade tasting event.
The USATT is positioned to take the lead as the preeminent tasting event for the US beverage industry. Why? Keep reading.
Experience
In order for trade tastings to be successful, they need to be well executed. The
organizers of the USA Trade Tasting are none other than the folks at the Beverage Trade Network (BTN) – an education organization experienced with producing successful trade events around the globe.
The BTN’s experience makes them uniquely positioned to hold this first USA trade event and ensure its success.
Close the Deal
With BTN’s experience comes the understanding that a trade tasting is only successful if it results in business growth and connections made for its attendees. To that end, The USATT will feature a unique meeting area. Exhibitors will be able to move serious conversations off of the tasting floor and book 30 minute meeting spaces so that deals can be struck with buyers in attendance.
Having the meeting space removed from the tasting floor allows for a higher level of engagement and allows a brand the opportunity to meet with prospects personally while not letting other opportunities pass.
Attendance
The USATT’s goal is to ensure that exhibitors have a successful event. Those who wish to attend the trade tasting as a prospective buyer “must be able to clearly demonstrate that they are part of a licensed liquor company’s buying process“. The USATT will refuse the right to admit anyone who cannot meet their strict criteria for attendance, and this will ensure a high-quality presence amongst attendees.
The event will be attracting high-profile retail merchants and important buying decision makers in the beverage industry from around the country – in addition to prominent beverage media.
Bottom line: you will want to get your product in front of those who are attending the USA Trade Tasting.
Conference and Events
In addition to the main tasting event, there will also be a educational conference that participants can attend.
Learn from some of the most influential professionals in the beverage industry at the USA Trade Tasting educational conference on 21-22 March, 2016. These presentations from industry leaders on today’s leading ideas on marketing, sales and distribution will challenge and inspire you to grow your beverage company. – USATT
The format of the educational sessions gives a nod to the powerful TED Talk platform, and each of the 12 presenting key note speakers will be presenting bold, forward thinking presentations on various aspects of sales and marketing in the beverage industry.
I am very honored to be one of those 12 speakers scheduled for next March. I’m already working on my presentation!
The Beverage Trade Network is Hiring
The BTN is hiring a Digital and Sales Marketing Manager to help them execute the USA Trade Tasting Event in 2016.
This is a great opportunity to work with an organization dedicated to connecting the beverage industry through its educational initiatives and events.
This is a remote position (meaning you work from home) for someone in the NYC/NY/NJ area as you will be working to execute the event in 2016 and will need to live close by.
To learn more about the job and to apply, visit the job listing