Advanstar Partners with Social B2B Tech Provider Balluun on "Shop the Floor" Digital Showroom
July 23, 2013
Advanstar Communications’ “Shop the Floor” digital showroom for buyers and sellers received a major boost recently when the company partnered with Balluun, a social business-to-business technology provider.
“Shop the Floor” was launched early this year at Advanstar’s fashion-related shows, including MAGIC Marketplace.
Partnering with Switzerland-based Balluun allows Advanstar’s “Shop the Floor” offering to now be seamlessly integrated for trade shows, digital showrooms, B-to-B communication and commerce.
In addition, Balluun’s technology will enable Advanstar to provide its customers with a commerce-enabled “Shop the Floor” mobile application, which is designed to enhance and complement the in-person experience.
“This partnership combines complementary strengths and focus to benefit the markets and customers we serve,” said Joe Loggia, CEO of Advanstar.
He added, “Advanstar has leading brands and hundreds of thousands of customer relationships across multiple industries, while Balluun brings deep software development skills and the latest technology for b-to-b commerce. With this relationship, we will be able to help raise the profile of our exhibitors, expand their exposure to their respective markets, as well as provide more discovery and buying opportunities to our attendees.”
“Shop the Floor” opens to retailers 30 days before MAGIC’s physical showfloor, stays open during the show and remains open for 30 days after the show.
“’Shop the Floor’ (allows) retailers more time to get their job done,” Loggia said.
Retailers have the opportunity to shop the floor by categories, create look books and choose early on what they want to buy.
“It will create a 60-day value equation,” Loggia said. “People will still need to come to the show to … touch the merchandise.”
By integrating the Balluun software platform, the “Shop the Floor” experience will have a heightened level of ‘social’ activity as well, creating more of an ‘in-person’ dynamic that leads to better sales cultivation, as opposed to simply automating the order-taking process, according to Balluun executives.
“When we launched Balluun, we knew we were leading the way in shaping the future of wholesale social commerce,” said Peter Koch, CEO and co-founder of Balluun.
He added, “We realized early on that there is a great need in the tradeshow industry for a platform like Balluun to enhance and extend the experience for exhibitors, attendees and beyond the tradeshow floor. We are thrilled to be partnering with a world-renowned tradeshow organization like Advanstar. Together, we are on a tremendous path that will transform the face of the tradeshow industry.”
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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