Insider’s Guide to NeoCon 2015

NeoCon is right around the corner—is your team prepared?

As North America’s largest commercial interiors show, NeoCon Chicago is considered the most important annual event for interior design professionals working in the industry today. The event is so popular among industry insiders, organizers of the three-day event have deemed it to be the “premier platform” for connecting, learning and doing business in the industry. Here’s a look at NeoCon by the numbers:

• 50,000 design professionals are in attendance
• 700+ leading companies are showcased
• 1 million square feet of exhibition space
• Thousands of new products
• 100+ accredited seminars, association forums, special events and keynote presentations that showcase leading industry and business experts.

But aside from all of the great events and networking opportunities, NeoCon is really all about one thing: inspiration.

Unlimited Inspiration at NeoCon

With so many ideas and concepts situated under one roof, it’s hard not to get inspired at NeoCon. Professionals in marketplaces such as Workplace, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Education, Public Spaces, and Government, attend the multi-day event to get unlimited amounts of inspiration on everything from furniture and flooring to fabric and paint. The abundance of energy at NeoCon can also be attributed to the hustle and bustle of Chicago in general.

“NeoCon is like dating; it’s all about finding the right fit,” said T. Fred Roche, President of Parterre Flooring Systems. “As a designer attending the show you are able to meet with different companies, look through the items they have and tell them exactly how to customize a meeting with you. This gives you the opportunity to find that right fit for your project or company.”

As a seasoned veteran of NeoCon, both as a vendor and spectator, the team at Parterre has learned some very important things on how to survive the incredibly massive industry event.

Your Survival Guide to NeoCon 2015

The following are 12 tips and tricks on how to navigate NeoCon:

1. It’s the place to be for project launches

For many vendors, NeoCon represents the event of the year in their industry—especially for commercial spacing and interior design professionals. It’s not rare for a company to release a major project launch during NeoCon. Many of the heaviest hitters in the interior design industry wait for NeoCon to unveil their latest products and designs.

2. Sneak peeks and up & comers

It’s not just about the big companies and major design professionals at NeoCon. Many up and coming small companies have made their mark on NeoCon and continue to reap the benefits to this day. Some of the latest products expected to be available for viewing during NeoCon are already up on the event’s website under New Products for 2015.

3. Get ahead of the game

It’s a really good idea to schedule meeting with exhibitors ahead of time. This allows exhibitors to prepare specifically for your visit and helps them get to know your project needs a little more personally. Exhibitors are listed in alphabetical order on the NeoCon website, so all you have to do is find the company you’re looking for and send them a message or give them a call prior to the event.

4. Get a good night’s sleep

The entire venue is packed so full of energy it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by it all. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep, or if you can’t do that, drink a lot of coffee. Design professionals are typically energetic and inspired people by nature, so imagine what 50,000 of these like-minded people can do when put under one roof. And if the energy wasn’t enough, NeoCon’s attendees consistently bring high fashion and unique style.

5. Leave your bag at home

Don’t even think about bringing a big bag with you to the event. There are plenty available throughout NeoCon. With all the samples and information you’re likely to acquire throughout the show don’t be surprised if you end up walking out with 2-3 bags filled to the brim.

6. Be prepared to do some walking

The Merchandise Mart in Chicago is a 25-story behemoth of a building that encompasses 4.2 million gross square feet in downtown Chicago. NeoCon itself takes up roughly 10 floors of the massive space—so you can imagine the amount of walking you will have to do to get from one exhibit to the next. The event routinely draws thousands upon thousands of people, meaning the small bank of elevators are consistently full and have been known to break down every now and again. Be ready to do a good amount of walking up and down stairs, and most importantly; bring a pair of comfortable shoes. Don’t be afraid to take the freight elevators either—provided that they are running.

7. Ask questions and take samples

Exhibitors are at NeoCon for a reason—to get out and talk to potential customers and to offer up samples of their latest product(s). Don’t be afraid to test out the materials. Sit on, stand on and touch everything and anything you see throughout the show. Exhibitors also highly value your opinion, and are looking for feedback on what you’re looking for or need for clients.

8. Ask for items to be sent to your home

Many exhibitors have no problem sending samples you’ve requested directly to you. If you’re not able to lug around bags and bags of things, don’t be shy about asking to have them sent to you. The badges you’ll be given contain all the pertinent information a vendor needs to execute a shipment. Wear them proudly!

9. Take lots of photos

Your camera (or phone) should be in your hand throughout the entire show. Snap a few photos of things you like, or even things that mildly catch your interest. But don’t make the rookie mistake of taking photos and not knowing the company responsible for the product that caught your eye. Always snap a photo of the exhibitor signage before you take photos of their products. This way when you get home, it’s easy to sort through all of your great finds.

10. Wander off the beaten path

Stray beyond the main showrooms. If you like residential products, check out the first few floors. If you like commercial and flooring products, hit the top two floors. The other few floors feature medium-sized manufacturers and the up and comers mentioned earlier. While the main showroom spaces are amazing, there are some really talented up and comers with fresh ideas that want to help you with your needs.

11. Plan your exit wisely

Photo Credit: Nate Burgos

Leaving NeoCon is never an easy task—unless you’re on foot. If you’re depending upon public transportation, such as taxis, be prepared to wait in line for a very long time. The only way to get a taxi without waiting would be to leave the event early, and that just means you’ll end up having to miss something. Instead, plan on sticking around for an exhibitor event or two at the end of the show to avoid the huge rush.

12. Stick around after hours

The show technically ends at 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday (3 p.m. on Wednesday), but anyone who’s ever been to NeoCon knows that’s not entirely the truth. Booth parties in the late afternoon during show hours from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and after hours showroom parties from 5 p.m. from 7 p.m. allow you to network and socialize with all your colleagues and friends from the industry. Networking opportunities are plentiful before the show even opens for the week and continue on after it ends. There are multiple galas and events on the weekend prior to the show opening. There’s also the 2015 Best of NeoCon Awards Breakfast bright and early on opening day.

If you can’t already tell, Parterre is a big fan of NeoCon and is continually inspired by the incredible amount of energy that flows throughout the event year after year. This year, Parterre will be introducing nuElements, which features over 30 new luxury vinyl tile and plank designs from its InGrained and HardCore collections. To see the traditional look of wood brought to new life with InGrained, the earth-warm and stone-cool tones of HardCore or any other products, check out the Parterre booth at NeoCon, space 7-4122.