My Picks For The 2009 World Tea Expo Core Conferences and Conference Tips

This is my schedule of attendance for the core conferences at the World Tea Expo May 2-4.  I really wish I could attend all the core conferences!  Some of the ones I really want to attend are in the same time slots as the other presentations.  To learn more about each conference please click here.  Hopefully I will get the chance to blog about the session as soon as possible.  I will definitely be doing a write up for everything I am attending.  What is everyone else attending?

SATURDAY MAY 2

• Opening Session: 2009 Tea Trends Report, Lynn Dornblasser (8:00 – 9:30am)
• Flavors: Their Definition and Application, Dolf DeRovira and Wolfbang Boehmer (9:45 – 10:45 am)
• Buying Direct vs. Supplier, A Panel Discussion, Moderated by Heidi Kyser (11:00 – 12:00pm)
• How to Educate Your Customer, Michael Harney (1:00 – 2:00pm)
• Super Workshop: Matcha and Healthier Lifestyle Marketing, Aiya America (4:30 – 6:00pm)

SUNDAY MAY 3

• Understanding Organic Certification from Cost to Compliance, Beth Johnston and Ramkrishnan Balasubramanian (8:00 – 9:30am)
• Sell Your Tea Online Successfully, Michael Cramer OR Mergers and Acquisitions, K. Perry Campbell ( both are at 9:45 – 10:45 am)
• Supply Chain Management and Quality Control, Richard Guzauskas (11:00 – 12:00pm)

MONDAY MAY 4

• Lessons from the Front: Modeling a Successful Tea Shop, Charles Cain (8:00 – 9:30am)
• Market Your Tea As An Affordable Luxury, Melissa Stafford (9:45 – 10:45am)
• Price It Right, Sell It Smart, Robert H. Hedrick (11:00 – 12:00pm)

CONFERENCE TIPS

I was looking online for useful tips for attending conferences and I found the following useful article. I will be applying these points to the Total Health Expo as well coming up April 17.  Points that I found most useful are:

• Put a note on your card before you give it away to help the recipient remember what you talked about  and when someone gives you their card do the same, write on it.  I found this point particularly useful; I remember most cards I collect but occasionally there will be the odd card that I cannot remember how I obtained.
• Write down questions you’d like answered, or goals you’d like to accomplish.
• Meet as many people as you can.
• Avoid co-workers and existing customers.
• Charge your gadgets and devices (PDA, phone, laptop) to 100% each morning
• You’ll probably be stuck in a few lines for registration, lunch, coffee breaks etc. Take a chance to talk with people in line with you.
• Dress so you look smart and professional but are still comfortable. There’s no point wearing a suit and expensive business shoes if they’re uncomfortable and the suit gets crumpled from you sitting all day. **Note. When I went to the CRFA show I saw some women wearing 3-4 inch heels.  Super ouch if you’re going to be walking around the whole day.  I personally will be wearing my signature Jack Purcell Converses.

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