Addressing Material Handling Costs
Thank you for being an essential part of the NATM community and for sharing your feedback regarding the material handling costs at our 2024 event in Las Vegas. We deeply value your input and are committed to ensuring a positive and fair experience for all our exhibitors.
We recognize that the material handling costs at the 2024 event were higher than expected for exhibitors, and we understand the frustration this has caused. The increased costs were primarily due to unionized labor regulations at our South Point Las Vegas venue. These regulations mandate supervision (and associated fees) for anything brought into the facility, which unfortunately drives up associated costs. Additionally, although pricing information was available on the Freeman website, it may have been difficult to locate and should be more prominently listed.
Addressing Your Concerns
Please be assured that we are actively engaging in discussions with Freeman, our decorator for 2025, to address these issues. Our goal is to find ways to mitigate these expenses and improve pricing transparency moving forward. Here are some of the steps we are taking:
Enhanced Communication
One of the key measures we are implementing is better communication of pricing structures. We aim to provide clearer expectations regarding material handling costs. Freeman will be working to provide more transparency regarding pricing by providing a quick facts sheet and handout for exhibitors regarding material handling.This will help you plan more effectively and avoid unexpected expenses.
Selecting Convention Sites Accordingly
NATM is also requesting pricing estimates for material handling for all prospective future NATM Convention and Expo sites. This will assist us in identifying higher-cost locations due to labor and material handling costs.
Looking Ahead to Nashville 2025
It's important to note that material handling fees for our 2025 event in Nashville will also be higher compared to other locations, such as our events in Fort Worth. NATM contracts with decorators years in advance, and material handling costs are finalized much later in the process.
NATM has recently received an estimate of $1.72 per pound for material handling costs for the 2025 Nashville event. However, there are a few points to consider:
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Carry-In Option: In Nashville, if exhibitors can carry in their items themselves, they will not be charged any material handling fees.
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Flat Spotting Fee: NATM is currently negotiating a flat spotting fee for anything that rolls into the exhibit hall. This should provide a more predictable cost structure for exhibitors who need to move larger items without having to pay per pound.
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Ongoing Discussions with Freeman
Our team is in ongoing discussions with Freeman to explore ways to reduce costs. We are advocating for more transparent and fair pricing models that will benefit all exhibitors. Your feedback is a crucial part of these discussions, and we are committed to finding solutions that alleviate the financial burden on exhibitors during the move-in process.
Moving Forward
Your satisfaction and success as an exhibitor are of the utmost importance to us. We want to assure you that your concerns are being taken seriously, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work towards implementing these changes. Our goal is to create a more equitable and cost-effective experience for all exhibitors at future NATM events.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to improve and provide the best possible experience for our exhibitors.
Thank you once again for your continued support and for being a vital part of the NATM community. We look forward to seeing you at NATM Convention & Trade Show in Nashville in February 2025!
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