I worked for a large company that had an annual Vendor Fair. This is an excellent idea because it brings the vendors and the user community face to face. It gives your users a chance to ask questions and get free samples and literature. It also lets them know that the Purchasing Department realizes that the end user community exists. This goes a long way towards fostering inter-departmental harmony.
The fair gives Buyers the opportunity to meet all their users who are usually just names on a screen or voices on the phone. Booth or table displays allow Buyers to introduce new vendors, showcase accomplishments (this is a great time to show off those recent savings numbers), and highlight upcoming changes or programs such as a new software system.
If you want to hold one of these fairs at your company, give the users extra incentives to attend by encouraging vendors to bring free samples and also raffle off a few high value items. Popular items at our fairs year after year were tickets to local professional sporting events and a television set.
Please share your ideas/experiences for the benefit of other site visitors.
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