Frequently asked questions

What makes Mid America Showcase different than the other traveling trade shows, including Showtime?

Mid America Showcase uses a mini-suite format, unlike the exhibit hall format that other shows use. This format is designed to give promotional consultants and suppliers a more private atmosphere for one-on-one conversations.

Because your hotel room is also your exhibit space, we make all the travel arrangements for you with our all-inclusive price. When you compare our rates and attendance figures to some of the others, you'll see that we offer you twice the return on your investment because of our consistently higher attendance figures.

Why do you visit the same cities each year?

We have studied the "mid-america" market very carefully and we know, from our research, where to locate our events to draw the highest attendance rates in the industry. This year, we've added a week in the Southwest, applying the same principles to produce what we expect to be a huge success.

How does the relationship with Showtime work?

Mid-America Showcase was acquired by Showtime in 2007. We expect this to be a very long and durable business relationship that will benefit our customers even more than it benefits us. The two organizations will not compete with each other in the same market areas, and schedules will always take into consideration the needs and preferences of our supplier and distributor audiences.

What are the show hours?

We open the doors at 9:00 am and the show ends at 1:00 pm.

What is the exhibit format?

Suppliers set up table-top displays in the living room section of their hotel suite. It's best to use displays that are easy to assemble and pack quickly for transportation to the next city.

How do the displays travel?

Most suppliers are able to travel by car or air with their exhibit material conveniently handled as checked luggage that fits in the trunk of their rental car. Of course, we offer cargo service to handle the inter-city transportation of your displays and cartons of samples and catalogs. At the end of each week, you are responsible for the return of your freight to your own office or other destination.

Is there a limit to the number of suppliers?

We put a limit of 50 suppliers on each event to insure that there is neither an over-crowding of exhibits and promotional consultants are able to see all suppliers within the four-hour duration of our show.

How do you assign rooms and exhibit locations?

We are given a block of rooms by each hotel, and specific room assignments are made before our arrival. Suite locations are assigned with the convenience of our promotional consultants in mind.

Do I get a discount for signing up for more than one week?

Yes, generous discounts apply to multi-week reservations. Please refer to our space reservation forms for exact details.

I have multi-line reps in some regions. How do they participate?

Some multi-line reps take advantage of our special rates that are designed to satisfy their needs for exhibit space, transportation and freight. Please refer to our Multi-Line Rep space reservation agreement if you are a rep who wants to travel with MidAmerica Showcase to present all your suppliers' lines, we welcome your participation!

Other suppliers prefer to designate a rep who will be their exclusive representative using our regular supplier reservation. Please feel free to select the option that best suits your marketing needs and budget.

Do I need to make my own hotel reservations?

No. Hotel reservations are our responsibility. If you need additional rooms, please use the spaces on our reservation forms to let us know.

Should I rent a car or use your Bus Service?

Take your choice. Some suppliers like the freedom of independent travel and others enjoy the camaraderie of group travel in our bus. Bus service includes door-to-door transportation, and we'll make stops as required to satisfy your appetite and other biological functions. Singing and snoozing are optional. Groping the driver is not permitted; passengers are free to make their own rules of conduct.

Are meals included?

You will find continental breakfast available every morning and we also provide lunch. You're on your own for dinner.

Where should I ship my catalogs and samples?

Generally speaking, your shipments will be sent to each hotel and you should ship early enough to insure arrival NO EARLIER THAN 2 days prior to each event. We provide labels that we STRONGLY advise be used so that the hotel staff will recognize your shipment and keep it together with all the other items staged in advance of our arrival. Remember, each hotel receives several hundred individual items for each of our events, so storage charges could apply if your freight arrives too early!

We will provide you with the list of destination addresses and you can always check our web site if you've misplaced your copy.

What marketing efforts of our own should I make?

Most suppliers send email and fax notices to their customers in each demographic area to alert them to be sure to attend. It is also a good idea to put a notice on yor web site, and we will be glad to provide you with a "See us at Mid-America Showcase" web button that you can use to create a link to our schedule.

Will I receive a list of the distributor attendees?

Yes, we will provide a list of attendees after each Mid-America Showcase event.

Can I have electricity for my exhibit ?

Yes, your suite is equipped with AC outlets.

What's the difference between Mid-America Showcase and SHOWTIIME?

The SHOWTIME format is an exhibition hall arrangement with parallel rows of tables in a hotel ballroom.

MID AMERICA SHOWCASE (unless you are advised otherwise) uses mini-suites in hotels like Embassy Suites where suppliers can work with promotional consultants in a more private setting.

Are the show formats the same in all cities?

Yes.

How do you promote to distributors and invite them?

We use all available resources to announce Mid America Showcase to industry distributors in each geographic area. We also provide you with promotional templates that you can use to send announcements to your customer list.

Do distributors have to register in advance?

No, advance registration is not required. However, we have enabled optional online registration for distributors who want to pre-print their badge and get driving directions to each show.

Can distributors bring their clients to the show?

No, clients are not invited. Our shows are open to promotional consultants only.

What's included in your Cargo Service?

Your responsibility is to pack up your display and sample cartons and leave them outside your suite for pickup by our staff. We will load it onto our vehicle, drive it to the next city, unload it and deliver it to your suite.

We are not responsible for damages or losses that may result from improperly packed items. We suggest you have rugged exhibit cases for your table-top displays and strong cartons that can be re-used if necessary. Smart suppliers travel with package tape to re-seal partially used cartons of samples and catalogs.

Do I get frequent flyer points?

No, but we will be glad to provide hand lotion to soothe your skin after a full day of shaking hands with so many new customers.

Is anyone available to tuck me in and read me a bedtime story?

You never know. Call room service. Ask for Alan.