Maximizing Trade Show Success: FieryFX’s AI-Powered Experience at KBIS
Welcome to the final episode of Season 6 of Elevated. I’m your host, Brandy Lawson, and in this episode you’ll hear a behind-the-scenes look at how our FieryFX team maximized our experience at 2024 KBIS in Las Vegas using pretty much every AI tool and method we’ve covered this season.
Planning for Trade Show Success
As you are well aware, the journey of attending an event, especially a conference the size of KBIS, begins long before arriving there. As we began planning our time at the conference, we used Perplexity to research Vegas hot spots — the best eateries, comfortable yet convenient accommodations, and must-see attractions. Our objectives for the time at the conference were: to deliver an authentic FieryFX representation, absorb the latest industry info & insights, and foster new partnerships.
The trip kicked off with my drive from sunny Phoenix to vibrant Vegas. MileIQ tracked every bit of that journey, ensuring precise mileage reports for our records. Meanwhile, Gael, our COO, and Cali, our Head of Content, flew in from the East Coast, booked a Lyft from the airport and joined me at our condo.
Seamless Logistics and Smarter Note-Taking at KBIS
Once on the ground, logistics were a breeze with our Lyft business account. Not only did it streamline city travels — from hotels to the bustling convention center — but it also ensured all expenses were effortlessly logged, making reimbursements not anything anyone had to remember to submit later.
KBIS isn’t just an industry event with endless booths and sessions. It is a place for connection and creation. Each day, armed with Noteshelf 3, I attended key sessions, capturing granular insights hand-written digitally on my iPad. This practice wasn’t just about convenience; it connected me deeper to the content, making notes readily shareable across our team through Clickup.
Content Creation and Digital Connections Made Easy
Meanwhile, Cali wielded her camera, capturing dynamic visuals in photos and videos. Her keen eye transformed photos into potent content for our social platforms, neatly organized in our shared cloud storage. She didn’t worry about getting just the right length of video for a reel or the right aspect ratio for a blog graphic – AI would take care of formatting and resizing later.
On the show floor, instead of exchanging traditional business cards, we went paperless SocialMaster token (using near-field communication, where you tap to send your info) & QR code instead of business cards. One quick scan, and all our contact details and a custom call-to-action or resource are instantly shared. These digital tokens weren’t just business cards; they were conversation starters, setting the tone for creative collaborations.
After-Hours Connections and Daily Debriefs Simplified
With any conference the real connections happen after-hours, and that is especially true in Vegas. One night I was able to grab dinner with clients at In & Out — an invaluable tradition. And one easily expensed with the snap of a photo and jot of names via Hubdoc. I also enjoyed treating them to Frozen Baileys at O’Sheas – a treat you should not sleep on if you get to the LINQ Promenade. Again, swipe, snap and documented!
Back at the hotel, the team would do a quick daily debrief. With Otter.ai as my ally, I could reference recorded voice memos from each day, or just turn it on to record the debrief conversation so no one had to be in charge of notes. Whether it was capturing session feedback or preparing tomorrows’ action points, transcription turned spoken thoughts into tangible information.
Capturing Inspiration and Enhancing Event Value with AI
Oh, and let’s not forget those spontaneous content sparks—ideas that hit during chats with attendees or while exploring the show floor. Even if I couldn’t jot them down immediately, using Otter.ai on my phone preserved those thoughts. This ensured no inspiration was lost to Vegas’s vibrant buzz.
Our KBIS experience was a learning journey. We became more attuned to our target clients while using business innovation to enhance our time there. By integrating AI tools into our journey, we reduced the friction typical of such events.
How might you apply these innovations in your next event or project? Start small, build confidence, and let AI lead to lighter loads and more impactful outcomes. Oh, and get your ticket for KBIS 2025! I’m speaking on Thursday about harnessing innovation in your Kitchen & Bath Design business.
Are you all in on using AI in your business, but need some hand-on expert help? Book 15-minutes with me at fieryfx.com/chat to get personalized guidance.
