Trade Shows and Such

[Ernie Martinez]

Being new to this industry, I'm not aware of the relevant shows that are worth attending. Can some one point me in the right direction.

Thanks

[Mark Sipes]

Are you looking for training, more equipment or products??.... if so what subjects or process?

Las Vegas 2013 ARA
Jan 29 - Training Day,
Jan 30-Feb 1 Exhibits @ Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino

[Ernie Martinez]

I little of all of the above. I have new Laser, CNC Router on the way, just want to stay up on ideas, products, techniques etc. Currently my focus is on Signage, and Gift items, but my biz is brand new and I havent found my niche yet.

[Martin Boekers]

This show albeit smaller than ARA, has been worth while for me to attend as it's about 5hrs away
but it covers some signage and printware products also.

http://thenbmshow.com/upcoming-shows

[Mark Sipes]

What make/model of CNC Router.... and what specifically are you going to produce ? Who are your customers? retail, walk by, mall, wholesale, electricians, new construction, hospitals, yachting ??

There is so much out there that you could buy and still not find your niche.....Crystal, wood, vinyl, injection moulding, casting, acrylic embedments, jewelry, sublimation, tiles, pad printing, sand blasting, marble, granite, models, and the list goes on

[Ernie Martinez]

I will be taking delivery of a Laguna IQ CNC 2' x 3' router next week. So far I've had 2 jobs, engraving wine glasses for a restaurant and making signs for a hotel. I live in a tourist town so I have a lot of opportunities to make gift items for all the gift shops around here. THis is a very affluent area with multi million dollar homes, so theres also opportunities to work with the Home builders to do Tile and Glass engraving for custom back splashes and murals etc. I am a pilot and a boater, so theres all sorts of opportunities to do photo engravings of owners airplanes and boats. Signage is another area of interest. This is why I got into this business, there are countless ways to go.

I do not want to deal with walk in's. I want to do high value custom work, or production wholesale work.

I have a day job as a software engineer where I get to work from home (well from my shop now) so I'm in no hurry. I'm going to start my marketing campaign in the next few weeks with targeted direct mail campaign addressing some of the above opportunities and see which one generate the most interest, then I'll focus.

At the end of the day, I'm having fun learning to use new toys and building a new business.