2010/05: Ask Me
Q&A 14 years ago No Comments

I was wondering if you have been to NeoCon before” I am seriously looking at attending this year as a student, and I have heard attending all three days is a great idea even though the student activities are only on Wednesday morning/afternoon. I guess the rest of the time you get to wander, look at awesome products, and network” Please let me know your thoughts!


(submitted by Jenn W.)

Yes, I go to NeoCon almost every year, and this year is no exception. In fact, last year PLiNTH & CHiNTZ sponsored the ASID Student Lounge, which was a lot of fun.

If you can possibly swing it, I would definitely go to all three days. There is so much to see, and you’ll never get through all of it ” even in three days. If you do, you”re drinking way too much caffeine!

Your goals should be to”

” broaden your knowledge of product, and
” meet as diverse a range of industry players ” interior designers, manufacturers” representatives and executives, trade publication journalists, other students ” who will not only widen your perspective of the industry, but will serve as important contacts for you down the road.

A few important tips, though:

” Wear comfortable shoes. I’ve tried to “look cute” in heels, and I’ve almost ruined my feet. Twice. You will be on your feet ALL day for three days, so test out some nice flats or low heels, and go with those ” at least for the majority of the time.

” Don’t load up a ton of product literature. It will weigh you down while you”re on the tradeshow floors, and it will be expensive to take back, whether you ship it or try to take it in your airline baggage.

” Although I’d recommend going to the Keynote addresses, as a student I wouldn’t sign up for any other courses. You need to get as much time on the floors as possible.

To help you get an idea of what you’ll find, I”d recommend that check out these past articles about NeoCon on P&C:

Notes From NeoCon 2009
Notes From NeoCon 2009 ” Continued

Notes From NeoCon 2008 ” What”s Hot

Notes From NeoCon 2007 ” Part 1 [with Podcast]
Notes From NeoCon 2007 ” Part 2 [with Podcast]

Oh, and don”t forget to have lots and lots of fun. That’s mandatory.