Yes, the latest innovations in tile and stone will form the core of Coverings 2012, April 17-20, as 800-plus exhibitors from every corner of the world line the aisles of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. But, at the heart of it all will be a first for the international expo and conference: Coverings Central. This 1,500-square-foot show floor addition, Booth #3728, is designed to be an information highway hub where attendees can gather to digitally interact and network with one another, experience the social media-minded seminar sessions, and capitalize on the potential business opportunities that lie within the online sphere of today’s marketplace.
“The shift toward social media as the platform for businesses to build brand identity and value is more prevalent than ever before,” said Karin Fendrich, show director of Coverings. “To keep the Coverings 2012 community in step with the digital movement, we are serving up valuable programming that will help give them an edge on harnessing the benefits of the Internet, social media and the entire digital landscape. Coverings Central is intended to be a destination location offering tremendous networking opportunities, both online and offline, and invaluable information that, when put into play, will prove profitable.”
A Staging Area…Meeting Place…Break Lounge
With the launch of Coverings Central, show organizers have also created new 15-minute educational sessions. Social media is the key theme to the seminars scheduled here, and among them are: Social Media: The Art of Indirection; What Makes for an Effective Online Presence; How Social Media Helps the Online Retailer; The 24-Hour Social Media Campaign; Website Development; Getting Started on Twitter; Social Media: A Vital Tool for the Tile and Stone Industries. All told, there will be 18 free seminars showcased in Coverings Central’s dedicated presentation space, and most will address the crossover interests of all attendee segments—architects and designers, builder/remodelers, distributors, fabricators, installers and retailers.
Coverings Central also promises to be a magnet for those attendees who understand the business payoffs of being social media savvy. A “Twitter Wall” composed of large-scale computer monitor displays will let guests track and share show news and provide valuable up-to-the-minute information. The “Blogger’s Café” within the space will provide ample bandwidth to file comments, observations and reports. Additionally, show goers will find the space’s many computer stations a great convenience for tapping into the Internet for free.
PROJECT: Green also will be represented in Coverings Central, with the display of “winning” installations chosen by Coverings judges together with Environmental Design + Construction magazine editors, featured here.
And, while Coverings Central will be a welcome touchdown space for those needing a convenient break in between appointments or before walking more of the show, there’s also an area intended to put a “tile smile” on one’s face. Stop in the “photo booth” for a quick digital snap suitable for transmission and/or printing. With a choice of Atlanta landmarks as the backdrop — a reminder that Coverings heads there and to the Georgia World Congress Center, April 29-May 2, in 2013—it’s one more irresistible freebie that’s likely to make Coverings Central a buzzing center of activity.
Visit www.coverings.com or www.facebook.com/CoveringsShow.