Trade Show List

Minority and women owned businesses can find help getting business by following this trade show list to some of the most important diversity shows each year.   Many government agencies and corporations attend these shows sending their procurement and purchasing officers open to finding new vendors.  Attending these shows is one of the best ways to get to know purchasing officers.  There is also the benefit that all these contacts are located in one place during each show.

The following trade show list is a must attend for any Minority Business Enterprise (MBE).

NMSDC
The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) is made up of a number of regional councils.  It is the regional councils that certify businesses as being minority owned.  They also have regional trade shows with local governments and corporations who are looking to diversify their vendor base.  Minority owned businesses should attend their regional trade show too.  But the biggest feature of the NMSDC is their annual trade show, it is worth attending every year.  The NMSDC is every strong in attracting major corporations and having them look at using more small, minority businesses.

MEDWeek
The Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference is sponsored by the United States Government's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).  The MBDA supports minority businesses through its business development centers throughout the nation.  The MBDA has regional and local MEDWeek events that lead up the National MEDWeek.  National MEDWeek held in Washington, DC every year has workshops, a trade show, and annual awards for outstanding minority businesses.  This is a must for every MBE to put on their trade show list for government purchasing.  There is also the added value that while being in Washington one can visit an OSBDU or two and government agency purchasing offices while in town.

GSA Expo
An absolute must for any business that is doing or wanting to do business with the federal government.  The GSA Expo is the General Service Administration's  (GSA) annual show.  What is unique though, unlike the other conferences on this trade show list, the GSA Expo is for federal procurement and purchasing personnel.  But the trade show is for vendors who sell to the government.  That means all the traffic at the show is purchasing officers, contract officers, or procurement personnel. Talk about a target rich environment!  Other events on this trade show list are a mix of purchasing officers and vendors, the trade show to GSA Expo is all vendors.

National Small Business Week
The Small Business Administration (SBA) coincides their annual event with the President's Annual National Small Business Week.  Held in Washington, it is an event that has speakers, forums, awards, and meals.  It is a very good event to network.  However, the trade show portion is limited to the sponsors of the show and some others.  This event will require one to polish their networking skills and be able to identify key connections to introduce themselves.  But key people will be at the events and will be receptive to speaking with you.  This is a good chance to set some meetings later or get introduce some key contacts in the government's offices or in corporate offices.