The NAR
conference in Chicago was smaller this year, but that's not
necessarily a bad thing. Less noise can mean better focus.
As formerly large exhibitors such as HomeSeekers and HomeGain pulled out
of the conference (but not with enough notice to prevent being
included in the NAR's program, map and directory) it could have meant
a poorer experience for the attendees. Instead, I saw Realtors being
courted to try services and wares with patience and respect. The
smaller conference meant less of a carnival-like atmosphere, but it
appeared to me that better business was being done.
It was six years ago when I first started going to the NAR trade
shows. At that time, we were presenting a company called Realty
Connection, and I was one of the first exhibitors to have a live
connection to the Internet. We had huge crowds with most attendees
thinking we invented the Internet along with Al Gore, because they had
never seen anything like a live Web site before.
The only other major crowd that I saw that year was at a discount
jewelry booth. Since that time, I've seen NAR's trade show double in
size with a lot of space given to Net companies of all shapes and
sizes.
Realty Connection evolved four years ago when we added a stickiness
feature called Agent
News, and that grew into an even better business model called Realty Times. I
went from being an exhibitor to reporting on the conventions. Now that
work is handled by my staff, and I can make observations for the fun
of it.
My observations on this year's conference are:
- The NAR seems to be a waking giant and is taking back its
power.
- There are a lot of people mad at Homestore.
- There are a lot of people mad at Stuart Wolff (yes, there's a
difference between the two)
- The trade show appeared to be half the size it was two years
ago.
- Many of the lenders' booths seemed to be half or a third the
size they used to be.
- The NAR did a nice job covering the large spaces vacated by
HomeSeekers, HomeGain and others.
- There was much less glitz, laser shows, and giveaways.
- Almost all dot-comers were dot-yawners. Nothing really new.
- People were so down at Homestore's booth that I wanted to send
a wreath.
- There was much less chest-beating going on. Vendors were less
arrogant, and more anxious to please.
- The only line I saw was at Microsoft's booth because they were giving away
money.
- Everywhere I went the most common question I heard was, "Is
Blanche Evans here?"
- The biggest crowds were at the discount jewelry booths...some
things never change.
Related Articles:
Near
Record Attendance Expected At The NAR Convention
Realtor
Conventions To Start On Schedule
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