If you’ve never been to InstallerSHOW before, I hear you! Last year was my first year at the show, with only a week at Refresh under my belt, so you could certainly say it was the best introduction to the world of installers!
Firstly, we’ll get the practical things at the way – wear comfortable shoes! Secondly, prepare yourself for three days of heating, plumbing, renewables, networking, giveaways, caffeine and at least one person trying to convince you they could have gone pro in boxing.
To help you prepare for this year’s show, here are five things you can definitely expect from your first InstallerSHOW experience…
1. A genuinely brilliant programme of content
InstallerSHOW isn’t just about wandering around collecting tote bags (although there will be plenty of that too). The content programme is packed with expert talks, demos and discussions covering everything from heat pumps and sustainability to business growth, skills and the future of the industry.
Whether you’re there to learn something new, challenge your thinking, or just sit down for 20 minutes with a coffee – there’s always something worth tuning into.
A quick plug that we are running two sessions during this year’s show, so be sure to check our talk ‘working with brands: how to secure collaborations and create great content’ and our feature in the panel discussion on ‘marketing for kitchen installers’ – both on Thursday 25th June!
2. The friendliest crowd in the industry
There’s something about InstallerSHOW that just feels welcoming!
Maybe it’s because everyone’s there for the same reason. Or maybe it’s because half the industry already follows each other on Instagram…
Either way, expect proper conversations, friendly faces, and the kind of atmosphere where people will happily stop for a chat even if you’ve only ever interacted through social media or never met them before at all!
3. The most random but fun activations
You come for the latest heating and plumbing innovations. You stay because you get to see your manager trying to beat the high score on the boxing machine.
InstallerSHOW has become famous for its stand activations from strength challenges and arcade-style games to reaction tests and competitions that suddenly become very serious among grown-up installers!
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself attempting a weight-lifting challenge, punching a boxing machine harder than necessary (you can visit our stand for that!) or queueing for something you don’t fully understand because everyone else is doing it.
It’s all part of the experience.
4. Endless content opportunities
If your camera roll isn’t full by 12pm on day one, are you even doing InstallerSHOW properly?!
On a serious note, every year, exhibitors somehow manage to outdo themselves with creative stands, interactive demos and content-ready moments. One minute you’re filming a heat pump demo, the next you’re getting your face printed onto a cappuccino – check out our Instagram for the evidence.
For marketers who want to keep the content going even after the show, it’s a gold mine of content that can keep your social media feeds full for months. It’s also a great place to get feedback from installers who actually use your products or service on the type of communciations they want to receive or the content that will stop them from scrolling.
5. The Heating Installer Awards
It simply wouldn’t be right if we didn’t mention it…
There’s a very specific moment on Wednesday afternoon where you’ll suddenly notice crowds of installers and plumbers gathering in one area like something important is happening.
That’s because it is.
The Heating Installer Awards announcement has become one of the biggest moments of the week celebrating some seriously impressive people and work from across the industry.
You’ll know you’re nearby when people start holding drinks, phones come out for photos, and there’s an unusual amount of nervous pacing at the Plaza.
We hope to see you there on Wednesday at to witness this year’s winners be crowned, including the first ever Plumber Awards winners!
A quick bonus point – Freebies. So many freebies.
Pens. Hats. Socks. Water bottles. Mini toolkits. T-shirts. Stress balls. Tote bags all merch that you definitely don’t need but absolutely take anyway.
See you there!
We hope to see you at this year’s show. Don’t forget, we’re hosting our very own Refresh Run Club on Wednesday 24 June at the NEC! If you’re heading to the show, why not join us for a steady 5k? It’s the perfect excuse to meet connections before the craziness of the show begins and you can even grab a few Refresh goodies.
Otherwise, you can catch us on Stand 5G90, be sure to drop by, say hi and let us know how your first InstallerSHOW is going!