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Virtual reality: IGCEMA trade show opens today

Details: Category: Industry; Published: Tuesday, 19 April 2011 18:16; Hits: 6733

You don't need to buy a plane ticket, spend money on a hotel room or bring walking shoes to attend this trade show. All it takes is a click of a mouse to put it front and center

The IGCEMA Virtual Trade Show opened today, a free, live three-day Internet event in which suppliers and dealers can mesh with customers who register at the website www.virtualgolfshow.com. More than a dozen companies are participating, including John Deere Golf, Jacobsen and The Toro Co. That is a handful more than last year, and newcomer participants include Weidenmann and Speed Roller.

This is the second year for the virtual trade show, but the first time IGCEMA has partnered with GCSAA to make it happen. The association is helping market the trade show.

Although the live show concludes Thursday, it will be available without the live chat feature for an additional 90 days.

"This is an alternative for those who can't attend their regular trade shows to see the products," says Stephen Tucker, equipment manager, The Ritz-Carlton Members Club (picured above), who also serves as the IGCEMA's chief executive officer. "Everyone we talk to loves the concept because they can do it any time, sitting at their own desk, and it doesn't interfere with their schedule."

Tucker already sees increased traffic at the website. Only a few hours after the show began, more customers entered the lobby area of the trade show than at the same time in 2010. The aspect of it that really gets Tucker's attention is where some of those customers are logging in from to be part of it.

"We're seeing people from South Africa, Dubai and China log in to something we came up with and created and are taking advantage of it," Tucker said. "I get a goose-bump feeling when we pull up those names from another country. That's huge for where we want this to go."

A new feature to make the experience appear more like you are at an actual trade show is the voice-over IP, in which you actually can talk to some of the exhibitors.

"We can't do anything about touch and feel, but we can integrate communication," Tucker said.

You even can register for a daily iPad2 drawing, and there will be other prize giveaways for Wednesday's show, Tucker said, but you will have to log in to find out. Tucker says it'll be worthwhile.

"It's not going to be hats, I can tell you that," he said with a smile.

Posted by Howard Richman on April 19, 2011