Medtrade Spring eyes bright future

LAS VEGAS - As times change for the HME industry, the organizers of Medtrade Spring anticipate that providers' outlook will be for the better. So as the annual conference and expo convenes March 3-5 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, there is an optimistic attitude toward the presentation of new ideas and solutions for the industry's challenges, says Show Director Mark Lind.

“Providers who want answers come to Medtrade,” Lind said. “Beyond mere survival, they want to know how to thrive. Our experts are the best, and the person sitting next to you at any given educational session may also be an expert. Our presenters want to help and educational sessions at Medtrade are geared toward various levels of expertise. All of it has added up to more attendance at the sessions.”

In that vein, a fifth workshop has been added to the traditional four called “Whole Person Marketing: Fundamental Best Practice Training for HME Marketers” by Lisa Wells, vice president of marketing for Cure Medical. The half-day workshop on Tuesday, March 3, is designed to explain how to properly support HME customers with physical, social and emotional support through four primary focus areas.

In order to keep pace in a digital age, Medtrade Spring is actively using social media for marketing and communications with its public. Active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, the Medtrade brand has a strong presence on the social media landscape, Lind said.

“Social media is certainly a big part of what we do, in addition to the more long-form articles in our weekly Medtrade Monday newsletter and with trade media partners,” he said. “It is valuable for Medtrade and the HME industry as a whole to be part of that fluid conversation hub to learn from peers and connect with customers.”

The New Product Pavilion has been a growing area of Medtrade, driven by a surge of first-time exhibitors. Lind believes that fresh interest and energy will continue to fuel the NPP's success.

“We know that more than half of attendees make it a point to visit the NPP, so exhibitors want to be there where they can be properly highlighted,” he said. “Award winners at Medtrade and Medtrade Spring have bragging rights for the year.”

Since its inception, Medtrade Spring has been a shorter, smaller show than its Atlanta counterpart. Because of its Las Vegas location, it has long been called the “West Coast Show” due to the high number of attendees from the region. Some wonder if the show is redundant, but Lind insists that there is “not much crossover” between the shows because of Las Vegas' convenient location.

While this year's dates in the beginning of March are earlier than usual, Lind believes that it is situated perfectly.

“Timing can be tricky—you have to navigate various holidays, school schedules and events to make it work,” he said. “This time around we found the perfect slot—it's early enough that it feels like the year is young, but not too late where we run into March Madness and spring breakers.”