Kyle’s Blog: Shows Allow Youngsters To Forge Relationships

GNN blogger Kyle German is in a unique position as he heads to the PGA of British Columbia Trade Show, which gets underway today (Wednesday) at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. Working at Point Roberts, which is actually located in Washington State, German is limited in how much buying he can do in B.C., but he still feels, as an association member, it is important to support the show. He says the shows also allow young professionals and buyers to establish responsibilities and relationships with company representatives.

With a lot of vendors, we have to buy through the United States, whereas with certain small vendors, we can go through Canada.

Usually, what I’ll do is go to the B.C. show and I’ll see everything and buy through the vendors that will allow me to purchase through them. I’ll have to go through the U.S. for other products.

Our shop is pretty small, so we don’t do a lot of buying, but going to the show, from my perspective, is an important part of being a PGA of B.C. member. As an association, we need that show and we should support it.

The show is also a great social event, as well. For me, I don’t see a lot of the B.C. reps I know because they don’t come across the border, so for me, it’s nice to go out and actually see the reps who I see once or twice a year, but used to see a lot more.

The show is a little more interactive now. I remember when I first got into the association, everyone would walk around as a group and it was more like, `Hey, how you doing?’ in passing.

Lately, shops give different people different responsibilities. In their buying plans, they will put one person in charge of this and one person in charge of that. It’s more of an education, particularly for young people, than it used to be and I think that’s great.

It’s good for the reps too because they end up dealing with more of the people who, later on, will be decision-makers, so they start to form relationships with them earlier in their careers and I think everyone wins in that scenario.

It used to be that a professional would say, `Okay, here’s my assistant pro,’ and the reps’ response would be, `Hey, how are you doing?’ but now, they’re actually forming a relationship, It’s come a long way.

I know when I used to go to the shows, I loved it when I was given and budget and told this is what we want to do, so make your own buying plan out of it. If I was working at a place that had three or four assistants, I would go that route.

Somebody I used to work for used to tell me if, in two years, the person below you can’t take your job, then you’re not doing your job.

Whatever position you’re in, whether it’s golf or retail or a Fortune 500 company, I think mentoring is a huge aspect of success that is often overlooked.

Related Posts:

• Golf Shows Must Re-Invent Themselves
• Member Attendance Is Critical For B.C. Show