NEWSLETTERS - NEW PODCAST: Heartland of America company attendance up 20 percent

Heartland of America: dealer company attendance up 20 percent

Rent-to-own dealers and vendors from over five states across the midwest trekked to the banks of The Lake of the Ozarks Monday for opening night of the fourth annual Heartland of America Regional Trade Show and Seminar in Lake Ozark, Missouri.

Around 145 dealers representing 24 companies will peruse some 66 vendor booths and meet factory representatives and distributors from a wide range of product categories during the buying show portion of the conference June 16-18.

MRDA President John Cleek Jr. and Trey Payne of Acer America. Click here for podcast with John Cleek Jr.

Total company participation is up 20 percent over last year, according to Missouri Rental Dealers Association Executive Director Ken Steiner. The fact that 13 of the 66 booths are filled with vendors new to the Heartland Show speaks well for the viability of the show especially in challenging economic times.

"The key is going to be how much are they really going to sell," Steiner says. "The value of this show is for store managers and owners to get a chance to touch and feel the product and talk to people who make and distribute it. You can't get that out of a catalogue."

MRDA is hosting the Heartland Tradeshow.

In addition to the buying show, fishing and golf tournaments, dinner and awards banquet, the event will also feature guest speaker Mike Frank who will speak on the topic, "Finding, hiring, training, motivating and keeping good people" on June 18.

Some 95 exhibitors are on hand for the two day buying bonanza, many of whom got a jump start at a special vendor preview showcase reception Monday night.

Dealers talk shop at the Heartland Vendor Showcase Preview.

Over 100 dealers flocked to the showcase to get a taste of what's to come when the full show officially opens from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Vendors are offering attending dealers exclusive trade show specials on orders placed at the Heartland Show.

Purchasing dealers will also be entered into cash drawings worth up to $3,500 at the conclusion of the conference June 18.

Brian Moore, a store manager with Rental City, said his company has participated in the Heartland of America Show since it's inception three years ago.

Moore says it's the dealer friendly pace and easy of access to vendors that make the Heartland show valuable his job a whole lot easier.

"It's a more personal atmosphere and a lot easier to get in and talk to vendors," Moore says. "You get more insight into a product and how it works when you can spend 10 or 15 minutes talking about it and they're not trying to rush you on. It makes it a lot easier to understand what you will be selling."

Click here for APRO photo gallery of the event.

Click here for podcast with John Cleek Jr.

mevans@rtohq.org