So, are you going to the Inside Self-Storage Expo in Las Vegas this month? Committing to industry education can seem like a luxury, I know. But you will return with a suitcase full of energy and ideas. Only you can decide if your business and career are worth the investment. In this letter, Ill help you make that choice. You will see that the ISS Expo is the best value around!
As you probably know, our annual Vegas show isnt the only educational self-storage product from which to choose, but its the largest and most economical, by far. Youll be served the most extensive menu of speakers available and the biggest group of storage vendors yet assembled in one exhibit hall.
ISS is the industrys No. 1 information franchise. Between the magazine and our tradeshows, its been pretty clear to me that were kicking steel buttress and taking names. But is the ISS Expo really the best place for you to get your learn on? For many reasons, the answer is yes. More on that in a minute.
Every year when Im working in the ISS booth, at least one person tells me that we are an association. No, I explain, the Self Storage Association is an industry organization that provides lobbying and advocacy services. Were professional information providers bringing you premiere publications and conferences to improve your business. People still get confused, especially when there are events hosted by both groups. So in an effort to clear this up, take a look at your options between now and April:
| EVENT | NUMBER OF SESSIONS | NUMBER OF EXHIBITORS | REGISTRATION COST | COST PER SESSION |
| ISS Expo, Las Vegas | 35 | 180 | $365 | $10.40 |
| SSA Ski Workshop1 | 7 | 0 | $480 (member), $680 (non-member) | $68.57, $97.14 |
| SSA Spring Convention2 | 17 | 78 | $549 (member), $649 (non-member) | $32.29, $38.18 |
| Source 1: Numbers based on information published in the 6-page Ski Workshop brochure distributed by the Self Storage Association. Source 2: Number of sessions and costs calculated using the 16-page show brochure available on the SSA website. Number of exhibitors taken from the Dec. 4, 2007, edition of the SSAs Monday Morning Memo e-newsletter. | ||||
Considering how busy everyone is these days, with limited time and resources for travel, its important to know where to get the best return on your investment. Its easy to see the ISS Expo in Las Vegas gives you the best bang for your buck. At only $10.40 per educational session and more than twice as many exhibitors, you cant beat the price or experience. And if you want to make the most of your precious time, doesnt it make sense to choose the show that gives you more optionsand topics?
So if youre into executive retreats that offer yoga and skiing, head for Telluride; but if you want in-depth self-storage training, join us in Vegas for the best deal the industry has to offer. You can mix business with pleasure at the incredible Mandalay Bay resort, one of the newest and most beautiful venues in the city!
By the way, if you come to the Expo, youll be witness to one of the ways in which ISS uses your dollars to give back to the self-storage community: Well be announcing the winners of our annual Scholarship Program. Every year, we give five $2,000 scholarships to students affiliated with self-storage who are pursuing their education in any number of fields. If you know of someone who would benefit, please encourage them to apply. (That goes for you too!) Wed love to help. Look for this years winners in an upcoming issue.
Whatever your conference of choice, I hope you invest in yourself soon. Youre worth it.
Kimberly Hundley
Editor
[email protected]
