NECA Leading the Industry Call for Energy Solutions

Consistently high energy prices mean that more building owners and facility managers are demanding energy-efficient systems and incorporating alternative power sources into their buildings. As the voice of the electrical construction industry, NECA is committed to ensuring our members are ready for the latest market opportunities in green construction. To this end, NECA recently convened the Energy Solutions Summit in Los Angeles.

The meeting addressed how the electrical construction industry will respond to the rapidly growing demand for more efficient energy systems and alternative energy sources. More than 40 NECA contractors and chapter managers with experience in sustainable building projects were invited to the Summit chaired by Rex Ferry, NECA President-Elect, to offer their insight and prospective on the future of green electrical construction.

The recommendations generated by summit participants will be used to develop a strategic plan and prioritize what resources will best help NECA members respond to the evolving needs and technology of the green construction market. Initial plans and resources will be introduced at NECA’s annual convention in Chicago. Read more about the Energy Solutions Summit now.

New! NECA Show Media Room!

The NECA Show Media Room will be the central resource for live updates from NECA 2008 Chicago. We’ll be producing our first-ever NECA Show blog there, and the space is also open to Show exhibitors for one-on-one meetings with reporters or other contacts. Space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and we try to ensure that everyone who needs the space has an opportunity to use it, so please let Beth Margulies, beth.margulies@necanet.org, know as soon as possible if you would like to take advantage of this.

We will also have an exhibitor “Take One” area in the on-site Media Room for NECA 2008 Chicago where exhibitors can leave materials and press kits for reporters to pick up. If you are interested in providing press kits for the “Take One” table in the Show Press Room, please prepare 15-20 kits and a cardstock table tent with your company name and booth number. These items SHOULD NOT be shipped to NECA prior to the event, but shipped with your booth materials. You can drop off your materials in the Show media room Saturday, Oct. 4 between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. or Sunday, Oct. 5 between 9 a.m.-noon. read more...

Making the Most of Your Time at the NECA Show – Know the Statistics

Taking the time now to plan how you and your colleagues will approach Show-goers in Chicago will definitely help prevent miscommunication on-site! The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) report on face-to-face contact is very revealing.

• 87 percent of exhibitors rate face-to-face interaction in marketing their company’s products or services very or extremely important in performing their job.
• It takes an average is 1.6 calls to close an exhibition-generated lead, compared to the industry average of 3.7 calls to close a field-generated lead.
• The cost of contacting a prospect in the field is $308 vs. $212 cost per visitor contacted at an exhibition.
• 53 percent of attendees are planning to buy one or more products and services as a result of what they saw at an exhibition.
• 51 percent of executive decision-makers asked a sales representative to visit their company after the show.
• 76 percent asked for a price quote at the last show they attended.