MANTS.com 2021 Online

Business Hub Exhibitor

Manual

Just About Everything Exhibitors Need to Help Buying Companies

SEARCH • SHOP • LEARN • CONNECT • BUY

Exhibitor Manual 2021

Table of Contents

A Exhibitor Checklist

1 - 2 General Show Information

3 - 4 Exhibitor Instruction Resources

5 Profile Upgrade Opportunities

6 Registering Exhibit Staff – How To

7 Exhibit Staff Registration Form

7 Sponsorship and Buyer’s Guide

8 New Product Submission Instructions

9 Meeting Notification Form

10 About Attendee Mailing Labels

11 Attendee Mailing Label Order Form

MANTS 2021 is where you come to help Buying Companies

SEARCH. SHOP. LEARN. CONNECT. BUY.

A

Exhibitor Checklist – Preparing for MANTS To help you prepare for MANTS, we strongly encourage you to use the many on-line resources available on your exhibitor console and the exhibitor page at mants.com. While this year is not a “normal” show year, preparing ahead of time will help maximize your success on the 2021 MANTS.com Business Hub. Use this checklist to make the most of the Business Hub. Use the list of items below to help you begin to prepare for the show Have you: ________ Submitted your MANTS 2021 Online Application ________ Made Payment to Access Your Exhibitor Console ________ Downloaded the MANTS Exhibitor Manual ________ Logged in to your Exhibitor Console ________ Reviewed the Profile Upgrade Options Available ________ Watched the Videos in the Exhibitor Resource Gallery (linked in your exhibitor console) _______ Updating Your Profile _______ Product Category Selection _______ Uploading Products and Videos _______ Uploading Press Releases and Show Specials Complete the tasks below using your exhibitor console, the exhibitor page, and the links below: ________ Complete your Exhibitor Profile (Upgrades are available through your Exhibitor Console) ________ Select your Company Product Categories (For the intelligent matchmaking feature) ________ Upload your Videos, Products, Show Specials, Press Releases, and Company Logo ________ Add your Zoom, WebEx, GoToMeeting…etc. Information to your Exhibitor Profile ________ Register your Booth Staff (Registration for Exhibitors is complimentary – please register all

company personnel who will be taking part) ________ Submit your Sponsorship and Buyer’s Guide Ad Orders (Deadline is before October 21st) ________ Submit your Meeting Notification Form ________ Fill out New Product Submission Form (Via Exhibitor Console) ________ Order your 2020 Mailing Disk or Labels (invite your future customers to MANTS)

MANTS 2021 is where you come to help Buying Companies

SEARCH. SHOP. LEARN. CONNECT. BUY.

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General Show Information

Name: MANTS.com On-Line Business Hub

Where buying companies come to SEARCH • SHOP • LEARN • CONNECT • BUY Show Dates: January 6 - 8, 2021

Location: www.mants.com Show Hours: Due to the show being on-line and the variation in our exhibitors’ respective time zones, the hours listed below are suggested and will vary from company to company. Wednesday, January 6th 8:00 am - 8:00pm EST Thursday, January 7th 8:00am - 8:00pm EST Friday, January 8th 8:00am - 8:00pm EST

Exhibitor Profile Design: Wednesday, September 30th – Friday, October 30th Exhibitor profiles may be edited anytime and as much and as often as needed. The MANTS.com Business Hub will go active for viewing on November 1, so exhibitors are encouraged to have, at a minimum, their descriptions and product matching criteria completed (see additional details below).

Exhibitor Profiles Explained Enclosed is our Premium Digital Packages for Exhibitors spec sheet, which outlines everything that is included with each of our Profile Categories (Basic, Premium, Elite, and Ultimate). Every exhibiting company receives a Basic Profile package for participating and has the option of upgrading their company’s profile if they wish. Exhibiting companies will: complete their company description, upload their logo, list their product categories, and upload press releases, show specials, product pictures, and videos. The profile has a scheduling system whereby attendees may request, or exhibitors may invite customers to meet at a designated time during the MANTS show dates, January 6 – 8. Exhibitors may customize the dates, time of day, and length of time that they are available to meet with customers. Exhibitors are encouraged to add a link to the web-based meeting platform of their choice (Zoom, Go To Meeting, Skype, WebEx …etc.) to their profile, so that they may host customers one-on-one, in small groups, or hold larger gatherings during the show dates. The Business Hub has an intelligent product matching algorithm which allows exhibitors and buying companies to be matched based on 150 pre-determined product and service categories. When completing their respective profiles, exhibiting companies and individual attendees will indicate which products or services they offer and are looking for. Using this criteria, exhibitors and attendees are “matched’ based on areas of compatible interest. Exhibitors may reach out to their “matched” companies and attending companies may use the appointment scheduling and e-mail contact features to request information and set appointments to reach exhibitors directly.

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Appointments and E-Mails

Each of the Profile Categories (Basic, Premium, Elite, and Ultimate) includes a set number of Connect E-Mails and Connect Appointments. Exhibitors may use the e-mails to reach out to those buying companies with whom they have been matched or have an interest in connecting. Both exhibitor and buyer e-mail addresses are protected from view and not revealed, until one or the other replies to an e-mail sent or received. Likewise, they may use the appointments to invite current and potential customers to schedule a time to meet during the show dates. This is where having a web-based meeting platform is ideal, because it gives exhibitors and buyers the ability to meet face-to-face. Each individually registered attendee also receives 50 Connect E-Mails and 30 Connect Appointments. Exhibiting companies may purchase, any time before January 8, additional e-mails and appointments should they exceed their profile allotment. Sponsorship and Buyer’s Guide Advertising For companies looking to further increase their visibility, MANTS has a robust sponsorship program available with a wide range of benefits built to reward those who go the extra mile and elevate their company’s presence in the MANTS.com Business Hub. MANTS will print 4,000 copies of our annual Buyer’s Guide and make it available digitally as well. Space will be limited, so ads will be allotted first to 2021 sponsors and those companies renewing the premium and prime ad spaces they had in the 2020 guide. The balance of the ad space will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. We have added an option for exhibitors who wish to run their ad in the digital version only if we run out of space in the print version. Business Hub Participation Policy – What You Need to Know By submitting a contract and subsequently paying the invoice to exhibit in the MANTS.com Business Hub, exhibiting companies and their representatives agree to participate by, at a minimum, completing their company descriptions and product matching criteria. This policy was established to encourage companies to make their products, services, and equipment available to buying companies looking to replenish inventory, upgrade equipment and restock shelves. For companies, who do not do the bare minimum as outlined above by October 30, 2020, your profile will be removed from the Business Hub until completed. Please know that we appreciate your cooperation in complying with this policy. Contacting MANTS The MANTS show staff is here to assist you and help make this process as easy as possible. This is a learning process for all of us, but rest assured, we are committed to doing our best for our exhibiting and buying companies alike. If you have any questions or need assistance, please e-mail info@mants.com or call the office at 410-296-6959.

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Building Your Exhibitor Profile – Step-by-Step An Exhibitor Profile is THE CENTERPIECE of your presence on the 2021 MANTS.com Online Business Hub. The more detail and specifics your profile has, the more likely buying companies with like interests are to find you. A well-crafted profile is where shoppers can become customers, and current customers become repeat customers.

Below are detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to Build or Update Your Basic Profile, Update Your Product Categories, and Upload Videos, Products, Press Releases, and Show Specials.

IN ADDITION: On your Exhibitor Console (where you build your profile) is the Exhibitor Resource Gallery. This gallery contains four short, homemade MANTS-specific videos offering step-by-step instructions. Use these videos as an introduction to, in conjunction with the instructions below, or as your guide to completing your profile.

PROFILE INSTRUCTIONS:

Building / Updating Your Basic Profile Information: 1. Login to your Exhibitor Console (This link and login info was emailed to all primary

contacts).

2. At the top under Online Booth Information, select the link to Update Exhibitor Profile. This is where you will make any demographic changes – be sure to use the checkbox towards the bottom if this is a permanent company change.

3. Right below that checkbox is where you will upload your company logo for display

4. As you scroll down, you will see a box labeled Brands; indicate here the brands your company carries. Attendees will be searching for specific brands.

5. The large box that follows is the Online Profile; this profile is critical to your Business Hub profile for MANTS 2021. Attendees will be matched to you based on your product categories, but they can also utilize a keyword search, so be sure to include any unique product offerings that your company may have in your description. Also, this is the place to add in your Zoom, WebEx, GoToMeeting…etc. information for attendees to connect with you in real time. If you upgrade your profile, you will see that you have a larger character count. Once finished with your company description, scroll down.

Updating Your Product Categories: 1. Once you have finished with your company description above, you will update your

product categories.

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2. The first section of categories is for the printing of the Buyer’s Guide ONLY. These will be pre-filled with your selections from years past, but you may make changes.

3. The remaining categories are all utilized for the intelligent matchmaking aspect of the Hub. Be very thorough in your selections of these categories. Select all categories that are relevant to your company to ensure the best matchmaking with attendees.

Once you have updated your logo, company description, and selected your product categories, hit “save” on this screen. Now move on to uploading your products, show specials, press releases, and videos.

All profiles in the MANTS 2021 Business Hub include the ability to upload videos, products (to appear in your profile as well as in the product showcase for attendees), show specials, and press releases. If your company chooses to upgrade its profile, you will receive additional uploads in these categories. The process for adding these items is similar, so please follow the following steps for each of your uploads.

Uploading Videos, Products, Press Releases, and Show Specials: 1. Login to your Exhibitor Console (This link and login info was emailed to all primary

contacts).

2. Scroll down on the left-hand side and you will see four links to: Manage Videos, Manage Products, Manage Press Releases, and Manage Show Specials

3. Select the link for the content you want to upload.

4. You will be prompted through the various screens with uploading information and specifics such as video size, image size…etc. Also, on these screens you have the ability to edit, delete, and replace uploaded content.

5. Be sure to hit save and/or upload to complete this process.

6. Once finished, you may return to your Exhibitor Console and use the links to access your content to preview your videos, products, show specials, and press releases.

7. On any of these screens you may scroll down to return to your Exhibitor Console, or simply use the toolbar at the top and hover over “Exhibitors” and go down to “Exhibitor Console.”

8. In your console – you may use the green tool bar on the left under Update Exhibitor Profile to “Preview Your Company Profile.”

MANTS 2021 is where you come to help Buying Companies

SEARCH. SHOP. LEARN. CONNECT. BUY.

Learn more or ask questions: exhibitsupport@personifycorp.com 443.832.3807

LISTING OPTIONSBasic

Included

Premium

$229

Elite

$329

Ultimate

$499

Premium Placement Your exhibitor listing will be placed at the top of the exhibitor list and search results.

VideosTell your story with video. 1 1 2 3

Digital Product ShowcaseAdd detailed descriptions and color images. 2 3 5 Unlimited

Show SpecialsSpotlight discounts & giveaways. 1 2 5 Unlimited

Press ReleasesShare what's happening at your company. 1 2 5 Unlimited

Company LogoIncrease your brand recognition.

Product CategoriesChoose those that buyers will use in searches. Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited

Company Online Profile (characters) Introduce your company. 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500

Connect Emails Send emails directly to individual buyers. 50 75 100 150

Connect Appointment Requests Make appointments with buyers. 30 40 50 60

Website URLDrive traffic to your website.

Company Name, Address and Booth Number

Reasons to Upgrade: Exhibitors with an enhanced online profile are listed under the enhanced listings tab on the online floor plan map. The company names and booth num-bers of these exhibitors are displayed in bold, and a special icon makes their listing pop in the list as well as on the online floor plan map.

Exclusive Online Exhibitor List Sponsorship with Ultimate Upgrade - $750

Reach more attendees with your company logo on top of exhibitor list and search results. This exclusive sponsorship includes a permanent banner on the

Exhibitor List and an ultimate listing.

Additional A La Cart Options:

Floor Plan Banner Ads - $295 Each

Tell your story to potential buyers through promotional videos. Upload videos directly from your console.

Every attendee checks out the online floor plan. Catch their attention in this hot spot with a track-able banner ad.

Videos - $150 Each

Exclusive Online Floor Plan Sponsorship with Ultimate Upgrade - $999

This exclusive sponsorship includes a permanent clickable logo on the online floor plan and an ultimate listing.

Additional Appointments(10) - $100Additional Emails(50) - $75

Increase traffic to your online profile by

4 - 5 times

Premium Digital Packages for Exhibitors

Promote your products & services 24/7/365

Increase your online leads by

3 - 4 times

Enhance web exposure and SEO

Maximize ROI by generating high quality

new leads

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Registration for Exhibit Staff

Registering on-line is encouraged. However, anyone who prefers to register by fax or mail may use the form in this manual. Make sure to follow the form submission instructions as they have changed for 2021.

Please register all your company’s exhibit staff who will be active on the 2021 MANTS Business Hub. Having a Business Hub Profile does not mean that your staff is registered. While exhibitors always have access to their console and profile, exhibit staff must be registered to be able to login and use the Business Hub and see what buying companies can see.

Please Note: There is no charge for exhibitor registration, and you may register up to ten staff. If additional exhibit staff registrations are needed, please e-mail info@mants.com or call the MANTS office at 410-296-6959.

There are two ways to register your exhibit staff on-line:

1. Exhibitors have direct access, via a single sign-on, to registration through your console. The primary contact for your company can give you access to your company’s console.

2. Register staff using the exhibitor page on mants.com using the instructions below:

1. Go to mants.com and select the Exhibitors tab at the top of the page; 2. Scroll down to the Registration Section and select On-Line Booth Staff Registration; 3. Select your Company name from the drop-down list; 4. Enter the Primary Contact’s password

If you do not know your password, select ‘Forgot Password’ and it will be sent to your primary contact’s e-mail address. MANTS does not have your password. If you do not receive your password within a few minutes, check your spam folder.

5. Once completed, all registrants have access to the MANTS Business Hub.

6. Registrants may also access the Registration Resource Center. Here, they can access their registration, update contact information, print a receipt, resend a confirmation, and use the Invite-a-Colleague feature to invite customers to visit them on the Hub.

For any questions regarding your registration, please contact mants@xpressreg.net or call the registration company at 508-743-0507. For show information, please e-mail info@mants.com, visit MANTS.com, or call 410-296-6959.

Exhibit Staff Registration Form – MANTS 2021

Please register all your company’s exhibit staff who will be active in the 2021 MANTS Business Hub. Please note that there is no charge for exhibitor registration, and you may register up to ten staff 1. Include all requested info below including unique e-mail addresses for each.

PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT:

Company Name: __________________________________________________________________

Primary Contact Name: ___________________________________________________________ (Primary contact is not automatically registered and must be listed below if exhibiting)

Primary Contact E-Mail: __________________________________________________________

Address 1: ______________________________________ Address 2: _______________________

Postal code/zip: ______________ City: _____________________________ State: ____________

Country: ________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: _________________________________________________ Ext _________________

Mobile / Cell: ________________________________ Fax: _______________________________

Please PRINT the information requested for your exhibit staff below (limit 4 staff per form):

_______________________ ________________________ ________________________ NAME TITLE UNIQUE E-MAIL REQUIRED

_______________________ ________________________ ________________________ NAME TITLE UNIQUE E-MAIL REQUIRED

_______________________ ________________________ ________________________ NAME TITLE UNIQUE E-MAIL REQUIRED

_______________________ ________________________ ________________________ NAME TITLE UNIQUE E-MAIL REQUIRED

Total Number of Registrations: ____________ Total Registration Fee: ___$0.00__________

SUBMIT REGISTRATION FORMS BY:

FAX: (508) 743-9658 • MAIL: MANTS Registration • PO Box 818 • Brooklandville, MD • 21022

1 Please contact MANTS if additional exhibit staff registrations are needed. E-mail info@mants.com or call 410-296-6959.

Use This Form, ONLY

If You Do Not Wish to

Register On-Line

INCOMPLETE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED – ALL INFO REQUIRED -7-

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Sponsorship and Advertising Despite being unable to meet in Baltimore this January, MANTS remains committed to providing a place where exhibitors can host buying companies and business can get done. In preparation for 2021, we have realigned our sponsorship and advertising programs to reflect current conditions. What has not changed is how much we value these relationships and the variety of recognition sponsors and advertisers will receive for going the extra mile at MANTS 2021. Download our: Sponsorship Opportunities Buyer’s Guide Ad Options Over 3,800 non-exhibiting (buying, shopping) companies were represented at MANTS 2020. We welcomed over 12,000 paid registrants (including exhibitors) who gathered to do business, network, and learn about the hottest horticultural trends. We all love good numbers, but numbers are just numbers without something to back them up. And for this, we rely on our show demographics for facts like:

88% of MANTS attendees make or influence final purchasing decisions 74% of attendees are owners, managers, buyers or in sales/marketing

MANTS has access to over 11,000 buying companies with over 17,500 unique e-mail addresses and we are reaching out to all of them. In addition to print and e-mail communications, MANTS has committed its entire advertising budget to driving business to the 2021 online Business Hub. MANTS remains the show that is truly exhibitor focused and attendee driven, and we are committed to helping your exhibit and marketing dollars go further. Click here if you need a reminder of why we say MANTS means Business!!

(On-Line users click above to see why)

If you have advertising or sponsorship questions, please call Kelly at 410-296-6959 or e-mail: kelly@mants.com.

1. Go to the Exhibitor Page on mants.com

2. Scroll down to locate this linkAre you debuting a new product at MANTS

3. See the details and access the form

4. Provide the specifics and click to submit

Are you debuting a new product at MANTS – Tell us!

Want to promote your company’s new product, plant, service, or equipment to the registered media who will be looking for ideas to write

about this fall and winter?Or to buying companies who are looking for ways to improve their business?

New Product Online Submission Form

4 Easy Steps to submitting your new product(s) on the

MANTS.com Business Hub

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Even though we cannot meet in Baltimore, MANTS recognizes the need for exhibitors and attendees to connect. And we would like to help attendees find your meetings just as we do in Baltimore.

Exhibitors are encouraged to add a link for the web-based meeting platform of their choice (Zoom, Go To Meeting, Skype, WebEx …etc.) to their profile, so that they may host customers one-on-one, in small groups, or hold larger gatherings during the show dates, January 6 – 8, 2021.

Please provide the information requested below by PRINTING accurately and legibly:

Company Name: __________________________________________________________

Meeting Name: ___________________________________________________________

Meeting Contact Name: _____________________________________________________

Contact E-Mail Address: _________________________________ Phone: ____________

Meeting Day/Date/Time (EST*): ______________________________________________

Is this meeting by invitation only or open to the public: ___ Invite Only ___ Public

Expected Meeting Attendance: _______________________________________________

Connection Type (Zoom, GoToMeeting, Skype…etc.): ____________________________

How Do Attendees Join the Meeting? __________________________________________

Additional Notes/Comments: _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

If not using the on-line form, please print and fax to 410-296-8288 or info@mants.com

For MANTS Office Use Only

Meeting Publicized: ___________________

Recorded by: _________________________

Meeting Notification Form

Date Received

* Please use Eastern Standard Time as your default time

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About Attendee Mailing Labels – What Exhibitors Need to Know

MANTS 2020 had the largest registration since 2008 (over 12,000 including exhibitors) and the largest number of non-exhibiting/buying companies (3,830) ever recorded.

Enclosed is your attendee Mailing Label Order Form for MANTS 2020.

MANTS labels are classified into eighteen (18) major industry groups to help you better target the markets you wish to reach and make the purchase of labels as cost effective as possible. Many companies provided us with several contacts, so the lists are segmented such that, wherever possible, you reach the most appropriate contact in a company. In cases where a company listed multiple buyers, purchasing managers and/or owners with different last names, we did include more than one contact.

LABEL SETS DO NOT INCLUDE E-MAIL ADDRESSES or PHONE NUMBERS

Labels are available on pre-printed sheets or on a USB drive in Excel format. Your labels may be sorted by zip code or alphabetically by company name. While the cost for label sets on USB is higher than the label sheets, the label information on the USB may be re-used. You may purchase as many sets as you need, but your cost will never exceed the cost of the entire USB or $995.

PLEASE NOTE: MANTS only sells these addresses to MANTS exhibitors. We do not sell or provide this or any MANTS contact lists to attendees or any outside parties for any reason.

Be advised that many label sets will have duplication and that the total number of all labels in the individual sets will be higher than if you were to order just all attendees list. This happens because when registering, companies are asked to list all the services that they provide. Therefore, if a company is a Nursery that also operates a Garden Center, then that company information will appear in both sets of labels. We have included the title for all contacts if they provided one. Companies with only one contact in the company’s information will appear only once, per location address.

Use the enclosed Label Order Form to select the industry group(s) you wish to order AND circle your choice of printed labels or USB in the appropriate column. Please indicate how you want your labels sorted (by zip code or alpha) and if no choice is circled, we will sort your labels by zip code. Be sure to include your total label cost in the space provided to help ensure your order is correct. All orders are shipped postage paid.

If you have any questions, please call Kelly at 410-296-6959 or e-mail kelly@mants.com.

Category Count Label Cost USB Cost All 2020 Attending Companies 3745 $775.00 $995.00 Allied Product Supplier / Distributor 280 $67.20 $89.60 Arboriculture 175 $42.00 $56.00 Consulting Services 382 $91.68 $122.24 Education 197 $47.28 $63.04 Equipment Dealer / Manufacturer 96 $23.04 $30.72 Garden Center 1090 $261.60 $348.80 Greenhouse Grower 580 $139.20 $185.60 Irrigation Specialist 166 $39.84 $53.12 Landscape Architect 480 $115.20 $153.60 Landscape Contractor / Maintenance 1408 $337.92 $450.56 Landscape / Hardscape Supplier 550 $132.00 $176.00 Landscape / Interiorscape Designer 639 $153.36 $204.48 Lawn Maintenance 531 $127.44 $169.92 Non-Profit / Gov't Organization 254 $60.96 $81.28 Nursery Grower / Wholesaler 956 $229.44 $305.92 Press / Media / Garden Writer 102 $24.48 $32.64 Professional Grounds Maintenance 491 $117.84 $157.12 Transportation Services 50 $12.00 $16.00

PLEASE CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING. Print Labels: _____ Alphabetically; or _____ by Zip Code (If A Selection Is Not Made, Labels Will Be Sorted by Zip) __________________________________________________________________________________________________

You must complete all of the contact and payment information section below in order to receive your labels:

Company Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person (PLEASE PRINT): ___________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________ City: ____________________ State: _______ Zip: __________

Telephone: ____________________ Fax: ____________________ Email Address: ____________________________

_____ Please charge my credit card $____________ for our MANTS Order ____Master Card ____Visa

_____ Enclosed is a check for the amount of $____________ for our MANTS Order

Credit Card No: _____________________________________________________ Expiration Date: _______________

Security Code: ________ (3 digits on back of Visa or MasterCard)

Card Billing Address (if different from above):__________________________________________________________

Signature: ____________________________________________ Print Name: ________________________________

Please fax this form with your credit card info to 410-296-8288. Or, mail it with your check or credit card info to: MANTS Address Labels • P. O. Box 818 • Brooklandville, MD 21022 • All Label Orders are shipped postage paid except rush orders. Please call for costs. Files cannot be e-mailed. CD’s are available upon request.

MANTS 2020 Address Label Order Form Please circle the label or USB set(s) you wish to order below:

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