Episode 283 - Revamping Trade Shows While Building Industry Community with Tonnika Haynes
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In this episode, Lucas and David are joined by Tonnika Haynes. Tonnika shares her experiences navigating trade shows like Vision and ASTA, highlighting the challenges of scaling events while maintaining their community feel. The conversation touches on the struggle to balance profitable training with meaningful content for shop owners. They also discuss the importance of grassroots networking and accountability within industry associations, emphasizing the need to evolve while remembering what made previous events special.
00:00 Trade show insights and takeaways
00:00 Trade show insights and takeaways
04:45 Struggling to secure instructors
09:25 Improving trade show quality
11:08 Evaluating training investment costs
15:18 Investing in employee training
18:21 Challenges in Automotive Training
22:41 Getting great deals at the show
23:30 Boosting vendor sales at trade shows
27:40 Considering a move to a convention center
30:58 Regional networking events in Asheville
35:07 Adjusting content for wider appeal
37:22 Demand for hands-on Tesla class
41:53 Early board experiences discussed
42:36 Addressing organizational dysfunction
46:57 Launching the new podcast
52:03 Discussing video production deadlines
53:03 Braxton starting a media company
56:04 Introducing the next topic
