PMA Fresh Summit 2020 is just weeks away and this year’s event will be in a virtual setting. The goal of the event remains the same as it does every year: enabling connections between buyers and sellers across the industry and around the world. Jamie Romano Hillegas explains a little bit more about what the event will look like this year.
Three core themes
This year’s event will center around three core themes, which were decided on based on feedback PMA received from its members. The three themes are connections, content, and community. “During this year’s event you can expect a tailored experience based specifically on your needs and goals with these three themes working throughout. It starts with a simple and smart matching through an algorithm-based platform that will provide recommendations of relevant people to meet, based on your needs. You can also search based on individuals, functions, or key words – the more searches you do, the better the algorithm will get at predicting what you are looking for,” Hillegas explains.
It seems so long ago. Ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of PMA Fresh Summit.
Expo floor becomes a marketplace
The expo floor will be called the marketplace and, even though the event is virtual, it will remain the heart of the expo. “In the marketplace, you can search by companies, products or segments. You can also see who first-time exhibitors are and look for pavilions. There’s an option for bookmarking companies of interest to come back to later. Most importantly, when you find companies of interest you can schedule direct, face-to-face video meetings or send messages,” says Hillegas.
Besides the marketplace where you can find exhibitors, there will also be educational and networking sessions. Hillegas says: “In the sessions, you will hear from experts within and outside the industry, attend Kathy Burns’ State of the Industry, and throughout each of these there will be opportunities to chat with peers and continue to connect. The connections are really woven throughout the event.”
Preparing for the event
As buyers are an integral part to any trade show, they will have some special features available just to them. “The buyers will have early access to the system, before anyone else, on September 28th,” Hillegas shares. “They can start sending meeting requests, discover products and services, and connect with colleagues. This will be what we call ‘the buyer preview. Based on the buyers we’ve already spoken to, they’re excited about the format and about meeting people from around the world that may typically not have been able to attend,” she adds.
The attendees will have access to the platform starting October 7th. “The intent of this is to give the attendees time to familiarize themselves with the platform, create a schedule, start creating connections, and be ready to go on October 13th – 15th,” Hillegas concludes.
To learn more about how to participate in PMA’s Fresh Summit 2020, either as an attendee or as an exhibitor, click here.