Program Summary:
The Trade Show Office developed comprehensive strategic
plans for overseas and domestic shows. These plans
spell out the direction of the programs, set targets
for shows, and define the procedures for program
operations. The overseas plan scheduled 25-28 shows
annually for the next two year cycle CY1999/2000; 12
domestic shows were targeted for attendance in 1999.
A report on FY1998 show results/success stories for
use of the FY2000 congressional budget submission was
prepared. A comprehensive CY1998 show report
summarizing the direction of the shows, results and
success stories was also completed.
29 overseas shows
and two missions have been successfully completed in
fiscal year 1999. Results projected in the company
evaluations are as follows: a total of 1,215 companies
participated in FY99 shows, on-site sales were $16.8
million, projected 12 months sales were $314.9
million, and 11,383 serious contacts were generated.
The largest one of those shows include: Foodex ‘99
held in Tokyo with $87 million projected sales and
190 participants, the European Seafood Exhibition
held in Belgium with $40 million projected sales and
31 participants, the Gulf Food Show ‘99 with $20 million
sales and 60 participants, the World Food Moscow ‘99
with $47.1 million projected sales and 12 participants,
and the Americas Food & Beverage Show in Miami with
$20.3 million and 235 exhibitors. In general, over
two thirds of the participants were small and close
to 20 percent minority companies.
Missions to
Costa Rica and Russian Far East had 15
participants. About $4.8 million sales of
U.S. food products are expected in the next 12
months from these missions.
Thirteen
domestic shows were visited, resulting in 488 new
contacts with potential exporters and 51 Buyer Alerts
(free/low cost advertising overseas).
Recruitment for
1999 shows involved TSO staff working with posts on
the development and mailing of over 45 flyers and
brochures to the general mailing list of about 5,800
and to specialized target audience. In addition, a
two-year show calendar with the shows planned for
1999/2000 was sent to all the customers and state
departments of agriculture, targeting about 8,000
recipients. The calendar of shows on the Home Page
has been re-formatted and regularly updated, the
Agribusiness Marketing Events carried out or recommended
by posts created as a new feature on the Home Page
and was regularly updated.
Success Stories
