NEW ORLEANS — When the Clean Show once again occupies the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center here June 20-23, it will be an event of firsts and lasts.
For some attendees, it will be their first experience of the biennial event formally known as the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning. It will also be the first Clean Show under new ownership in its 42nd year.
In December, Germany-based Messe Frankfurt, an international trade fair, congress and event organizer—the largest in the textile care industry—purchased the Clean Show from the five sponsoring associations: Association for Linen Management (ALM), Coin Laundry Association (CLA), Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI), Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA) and TRSA, the association for linen, uniform and facility services.
As part of the acquisition, the sponsor associations will maintain their close involvement with the show, and Messe Frankfurt aims to continue the Clean Show success story.
While this marks the first Clean Show under Messe Frankfurt ownership, Clean ’19 will be the last organized and managed by Atlanta-based Riddle & Associates. The collaboration and management between the sponsoring associations and Riddle & Associates helped put the Clean Show on Trade Show Executive magazine’s 50 Fastest-Growing Shows and the Trade Show News Network Top 100 shows, as well as being the largest textile services and care show in the world, Riddle shares.
Riddle & Associates says Clean 2019 will provide a platform for all industry professionals and companies to come together on the show floor to share ideas, technologies, education, and networking.
In Part 1, we covered the show specifics, including exhibitors and planned educational sessions. Today, let’s look at how someone can attend Clean 2019, and tips for making the most of their experience.
THERE’S STILL TIME
Connections Housing is Clean 2019’s only official housing agency. Check its website for hotel availability, but hurry—May 20 is the show’s housing reservation deadline.
Industry professionals still interested in attending Clean ’19 can take advantage of pre-registration discounts on the show’s website through June 10. The pre-registration fee is $119 per person for any member of one of the sponsoring associations, and $149 for non-members. After June 10, attendees must register onsite at the Convention Center for a fee of $169 per person.
Registration hours will be 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19; 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily Thursday through Saturday, June 20-22; and 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 23.
The show starts June 20, when attendees will be able to explore the exhibits 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. (distributors have exclusive access from 8 to 10 that morning).
The show floor opens at 9 a.m. Friday through Sunday (June 21-23) and closes at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday (June 21-22) and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 23.
On show days, the Clean Show will provide a complimentary shuttle between most official hotels and the Convention Center, according to Riddle & Associates.
Several U.S. cities have hosted Clean over the years. The first two shows were in Chicago, where it has been held four times. New Orleans is hosting for the sixth time, tied with Las Vegas. Atlanta follows closely behind Chicago with three shows. Orlando has hosted twice and Dallas once.
Future events are planned for Atlanta (June 2021) and Orlando (May 2023).
“The Clean Show is the culmination of nearly 24 months of collaboration and hard work between the sponsoring associations that represent nearly every market and demographic of the textile care and textile services industries, from small local, single-facility or store operations to regional, national and even international companies and show management,” says Joseph Ricci, president and CEO of TRSA, and chairman of Clean ’19.
“Our common objective is to create an international marketplace for innovative products, services and solutions, as well as a forum for exchanging information regarding trends and best practices, all focused on helping our respective laundry, drycleaning and vended laundry members improve productivity, operations and profitability.”
The sponsoring associations and Riddle & Associates have worked hard to ensure Clean ’19 will touch on all aspects of the industry in New Orleans, creating a solid foundation for the future.
“The Clean Show absolutely addresses every sector of the textile care industry,” says Riddle, “whether you’re operating in the coin laundry environment, if you’re operating in laundry, dry cleaning, commercial/industrial laundry, or if you’re in textile rental, whether it be uniforms or linens, etc., software, hangers, computers, everything that one needs to be in this business for all sectors is there.
“This is not just a laundry show, or a rental show, or a ‘this’ show or a ‘that’ show. This show really covers the entire industry called textile care.”
10 WAYS TO MAKE CLEAN WORK FOR YOU
At the world’s largest exhibition and education platform for the textile care industry, it is difficult to see and do everything at Clean 2019, but most people who attend have specific things they want to accomplish. The show is only staged every two years, so you want to get as much as possible from the experience.
Planning ahead can give you a solid return on your investment of time and money and help keep your business running smoothly. Here are 10 ideas from Riddle & Associates for maximizing your Clean 2019 visit:
Set specific goals. What do you want to accomplish? Is it purchasing or upgrading equipment, learning about new technologies, finding a solution to a business problem, or interacting with colleagues and friends? Prioritize what is important to you.
Develop an action plan. Search the Clean Show website for the exhibitors and education that interest you most. Add these to your itinerary. Check the floor plan to locate the booths you want to visit. It will keep you on track and ensure that you meet your primary goals.
Learn in the classroom. Take advantage of the many educational sessions that are pertinent in today’s market. The morning classroom sessions and afternoon exhibit-floor sessions cover a multitude of industry-related topics for all industry segments. You would pay hundreds of dollars for these sessions in another setting, but they are included in the Clean Show registration fee. Check the website for session listings and add those of interest to your itinerary.
Make appointments. For a product you are particularly interested in seeing, make advance appointments with the exhibitors of that product. This ensures that you will get one-on-one time.
Don’t miss the new stuff. Leave enough time in your plan to visit as many booths as possible beyond your original plan. See what is new and exciting, and don’t miss the small booths. You might find something that is just right for your operation.
Join the discussion. If you participate in Facebook or Twitter, connect with the Clean Show so you can be up to date on anything from Clean 2019 news to interesting facts about New Orleans.
Write it down. When the show is over, it can all seem like a jumble of information. Listening carefully and documenting important points in education sessions or exhibitor conversations can be invaluable in reviewing and analyzing your show experience. Use your phone or iPad to type notes, or write in a notebook or on the back of business cards for later reference.
Dress for comfort. New Orleans can get hot and humid in June. Wear light clothes and comfortable walking shoes. You will walk miles on the exhibit floor. Travel light; carry only what you absolutely need. Certain exhibitors offer bags for carrying items you pick up along the way. If you gather too much literature, you can mail it home from the building’s business center.
Have some fun. New Orleans has a lot to see and do. Take a stroll around the world-famous French Quarter or take a ride on a streetcar to visit the renowned Garden District. See what’s new in the Warehouse District. In the evenings, enjoy the region’s outstanding cuisine and the jazz music that plays on every corner.
Educate your co-workers. When you return home, share your new knowledge with co-workers who did not attend. They will feel like they had a part in it and can apply the information to make your entire operation go smoothly.
Miss Part 1? You can read it HERE.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].