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FASTENER NEWS DESK 2020 BEST BOOTH DIGITAL
AWARDS FROM IFE MATCH & MEET by Lisa J. Kleinhandler
As we begin December, and head towards the end of
2020, let us acknowledge the good that we have found
during the unforeseeable events of the past year. COVID-
19 changed business in ways that are very significant.
Even as we begin to see light at the end of the tunnel
coming, we have all had to adapt our personal, family
and business lives. There were no warning signs, we
just had to quickly adjust to life with the pandemic as it
unfolded. The fastener industry played a significant role
as our industry was deemed essential from day one.
Communicating with clients, suppliers and industry peers
quickly evolved into Zoom meetings, webinars and virtual
events as a necessity.
The fastener industry was faced with the cancellation
of the largest fastener show in North America, which came
with great disappointment for the industry attendees.
In September the IFE show organizers, Emerald Expo,
announced their commitment to growing industry
connections digitally and to continue supporting business
relations in the industry.
The International Fastener Expo (IFE), North
America’s largest expo for industrial fasteners, tooling
and machinery, held the first digital event of its kind on
November 11 – 12, 2020. Match & Meet by IFE focused
on facilitating and deepening industry connections with
education and networking opportunities, through a proven
AI-powered platform. The digital event’s success was
marked by great participation from partners, exhibitors,
sponsors, and attendees. Over 500 attendees and 60
exhibitors came together during the event. Within the
two days, 3,800 total connections were made and
8,500 messages were exchanged, leading to over 700
meetings and video calls. The Match & Meet platform
will remain open until mid-2021 and participants can
continue to connect until that time.
The event showed the resolution of the fastener
industry and the companies that serve it. The educational
sessions were very well attended, which has not been the
case over the past few years on the show floor in Vegas.
Many of the attendees we spoke with enjoyed the one-onone
meetings that were more personal than having them
in-person on the show floor with so many distractions. The
big take-a-way here is that what seemed improbable only
a year ago has now become the possible.
Of course, the Fastener News Desk duo missed being
in Vegas, connecting with industry friends, dancing the
night away at the industry parties, being on the show floor,
and of course looking for the Best Booth Award winners!
So, with that being said...
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
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