eShipping Marketing Team 2/17/20 eShipping Marketing Team 2/17/20

3 Things Manufacturers and Distributors Can Anticipate at the 2020 Work Truck Show

The Work Truck Show (WTS), which is held in Indianapolis, Indiana, features hundreds of manufacturers, distributors, and truck lovers who come together to explore the latest vocational trucks, vans, vehicle components and truck equipment. The event is also known for industry-specific training and educational conferences.

As you and your team plan a trip to Indianapolis for WTS 2020, here are a few things to anticipate and plan for.

The Manufacturer and Distributor Innovation Conference

Are you a manufacturer or distributor of commercial truck parts or bodies? Do you want to enhance your manufacturing processes and build business results? There’s a conference for that.

“Held in conjunction with The Work Truck Show® 2020, this conference teaches commercial truck manufacturers, upfitters, distributors and body builders of all sizes how to improve manufacturing efficiency and business results using the latest techniques and technology” (source: The Work Truck Show).

Photo courtesy of The Work Truck Show Facebook page

The conference includes a variety of speakers, including Paul Akers, founder and president of FastCap, a product development company specializing in woodworking tools and hardware for the professional builder. Paul will deliver the keynote address to discuss how technology, best practices and lean thinking can power business success.

To attend, an extra package is required. Learn more about the conference or purchase your package, click here.

Hyper-Focused Networking Events

Traditional networking events can often be stale and misguided, giving you small pockets of time to meet others and have good conversations. But at WTS 2020, you have designated times to meet other industry professionals and build better relationships.

The Opening Reception, the Generation Next Leadership Workshop & Networking Reception, and the NTEA Annual Meeting are all hyper-focused networking events you can attend (source: The Work Truck Show).

If you’re a fan of arcades or racing games, you’ll need to make sure you attend the opening reception. There will be arcade racing games, a pit stop tire change challenge, and a micro reality race track

If you would like to attend any one of these events, separate registration is required. Be sure to register before March 3rd so you can maximize your networking opportunities!

You’ll Be in a Hidden-Gem City

Indianapolis is, by far, one of the most underrated cities in the United States. With one of the nation’s safest and vibrant downtown areas, you’ll be surprised by how much you can do.

After the show, relax and enjoy the city. The Indiana Convention Center is located right next to the Indianapolis Colt’s Stadium, connected to a four-story urban shopping mall by a skywalk, and is surrounded by more than 200 restaurants.

There’s even the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, which takes residents and visitors to different locations around downtown.

You can see gardens and memorials, explore restaurants, visit local shops, and more! If you’re finding it hard to decide what to do, following the trail will help you explore this beautiful city.

How Much are Industry and Market Challenges Costing Your Company?

If you’re a manufacturer or distributor in the automotive space, you most likely run into major business challenges within the industry and market. These challenges can easily stunt or inhibit business growth — like the international trade war, product speed to market, eroding margins, and more.

It’s easy to let these issues go unsolved. Or, even if we desire to combat them, the difficulty is in the execution and development of a sustainable strategy. If not implemented correctly, it can easily cost your company hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long term.

These industry and market challenges are here to stay. So, how do we combat them? What strategy do we need to employ? One effective outlet that is often forgotten about is the distribution chain.

Defined as, “A series of businesses that transport, store, and sell goods to customers,” the distribution chain is much like a supply chain, however, it offers even more access and visibility to layers of freight data (like landed costs, SKU level costs, and non-compliance missed savings) and services (like distribution mapping, process waste analysis, and eCommerce fulfillment). With the right team, data, and tools set in place, the distribution chain can act as a competitive edge for your business, reducing costs and improving customer experience.

At eShipping, that is what we do and specialize in. We work with your team and your data and pair it with our technology to put you back in control of your distribution chain to reduce costs and improve customer experience.

We’ve invested time and money in the automotive space to better understand the frameworks for company growth and success. Our investment in the industry means we understand what it takes to succeed in this space. Our proven distribution chain strategies and technology means you can make better decisions to support other business functions.

Our team will be at the Work Truck Show, and we’d love to meet with you to show the first step needed to reduce costs and improve customer experience.

Click here to schedule an intro with a team member at the show. We’d love to meet you and understand your business.

About eShipping

We provide distribution chain management solutions that encompass both people and services for all modes, with full optimization, and complete visibility into your data.

Email: connect@eShipping.biz

Phone: 816.505.0198

eShipping Marketing Team 7/25/19 eShipping Marketing Team 7/25/19

3 Things to Know Before Attending The 2019 Great American Trucking Show

The Great American Trucking Show (GATS) is “an interactive and all-encompassing public convention of trucking professionals” (Source: GATS). With over 500 exhibitors, 50,000 attendees, thousands of industry products, and more, GATS is a premiere event that provides community resources and industry insights for anyone in the automotive and trucking space.

If you’re planning to attend The Great American Trucking Show 2019, here are a couple things you should know as you plan your schedule and arrive at the expo.

1. The Recruiting Pavilion

The show is heavily focused and involved with helping trucking professionals grow and develop their careers. They do this by connecting them with recruiting representatives from “over 100 exhibiting fleets” at their Recruiting Pavilion (Source: GATS). There, they can receive more information regarding a company’s fleet programs, benefits, and opportunities.

2. Dallas, Texas: The Place to Be

For the last 6 + years, The Great American Trucking Show has been hosted in sunny Dallas, Texas. With the area’s high concentration of restaurants, numerous shopping centers, and world-famous architecture, it’s a popular place for expos such as this.

If you’re visiting Dallas for the first time or have been there multiple times already, here are some interesting facts about the Dallas area, including some fun locations and restaurants to visit:

Famous Architecture
“The world-famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed Dallas Theater Center’s Kalita Humphreys Theater, a gorgeous performance space located in the Turtle Creek area of the city.” (Source: Mentalfloss.com).

Famous Movies:
“A few of the movies/TV series filmed in the area: Dallas; Silkwood; Places in the Heart; RoboCop; Born on the Fourth of July; Walker, Texas Ranger; Prison Break” (Source: Visitdallas.com).

The Sixth Floor Museum
“The Sixth Floor Museum documents the much-loved President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and legacy, housing many facts about the tragic day as well as covering the President’s early life and presidential policies” (Source: thecrazytourist.com).

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
If you’re looking for good food in the “Lone Star State,” this steakhouse has you covered. They are rated as one of the top steakhouses in the surrounding Dallas area, boasting a clean environment, exceptional service, and an ambient atmosphere.

3. Educational Sessions

In year’s past, the show has provided educational sessions and workshops from industry leaders and experts in the automotive space. In 2018, the show provided seminars covering topics like general business tips, the ELD mandate, and industry trends.

For the 2019 Great American Trucking Show, the sessions are scheduled to incorporate much of the same material through Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. To view the updated list of educational sessions, visit their events page by clicking here.

eShipping Marketing Team 7/25/19 eShipping Marketing Team 7/25/19

Here’s What You Can’t Miss at AAPEX 2019

Whether you’re selling automotive parts or looking for cutting-edge products that can help your business stay ahead of the competition, the 2019 AAPEX Expo in Las Vegas is just the place you need to be.

If your company plans to exhibit at the trade show or you simply plan on attending, here are some key events and you can’t miss out on.

George W. Bush is a Keynote Speaker

George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, will be speaking at the Keynote Breakfast on Nov. 5. The AAPEX website states that his fireside chat topic is “The Challenges Facing Our Nation in the 21st Century and the Power of Freedom.”

The doors open for this early-bird event at 6 a.m. in The Palazzo Ballroom at The Venetian, so be sure to get there early to grab breakfast and find a seat!

The AAPEX Virtual Vehicle Challenge is Back

Competing in this challenge has its perks. According to AAPEX, the winning competitor for each day earns free registration for the AAPEX 2020 Show and housing for up to 4 nights.

How do you win this deal? By being the fastest competitor to install parts into a vehicle using virtual reality goggles. Watch this video of the Virtual Vehicle Challenge to know what to expect.

Networking and Product Viewing Possibilities

The AAPEX Show is “the world’s gathering place for the more than $1 trillion global automotive aftermarket industry,” according to the MEMA website.

There are more than 2,500 exhibiting companies, over 48,000 buyers, and plenty of exhibits to experience in just 3 days. From the AAPEX website, here are just a few exhibits you can attend:

The New Products Showcase: you can preview the new products entering the aftermarket
The New Packaging Showcase: discover innovative and eco-friendly ways to package your product and increase your sales