At WHP Trainingtowers™, trade shows are an important tool we use throughout the year to connect with fire departments in the U.S. and beyond our shores. By attending these trade shows, we ensure that there is a WHP representative there in person to answer any questions people might have about our training towers, how to purchase a training tower, where to obtain the funds, and how the process works. They also allow us to showcase our products like our Alarm Series™ Towers, MODx™ (Modular) Towers, Padgenite Interlock™ burn liner and our vast amount of other training products and accessories. But most importantly, trade shows give us a platform to show our tremendous customer service. From the planning stage to the sale to the build to our continuous service for years to come, we want them to know they can turn to us for answers and that we’ll be here for them down the road.
Building Relationships Helps Build Training Towers
Trade shows provide a great opportunity to connect and create avenues of communication with firefighters and houses who can use our products. We try to make it as easy as possible, but the process can be challenging. Purchasing a training tower can take years and it all can start with a simple conversation. We build relationships with people from fire departments in other states and around the world to try to educate and simplify the process. We have a strong sales team with people who are very customer-service-oriented.
Sourcewell Contract Makes Purchasing Training Towers Easier
We tell them about our recent Sourcewell contract that we were awarded. Sourcewell is a partner for public agency purchasing. “They vet vendors, like us, to make sure they meet strict government regulations so that they can be chosen by government, education, and non-profit organizations more quickly and easily,” said Joe Kirchner, Vice President of Operations at WHP Trainingtowers. “Whatever we can do to make the process easier, faster and more streamlined for these departments helps put more training towers out there and get more firefighters the experience they need.”
Trade Shows Create Connections
National Sales Manager, Captain Rob Van Bibber, said the market is really starting to open up and departments are moving forward with fire training towers and burn liners. One of the most recent trade shows, for instance, was the Texas Fire Chiefs in Waco, Texas. WHP Trainingtowers has over 30 training towers in the state of Texas and that has created a great interest amongst many of the fire chiefs who are looking into acquiring one for their district. “It was a great show with a lot of contact with current customers and a few new leads on potential customers as well,” Van Bibber said.
Captain Van Bibber also attended the FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference) in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he said they had a great turnout which kept them a lot busier this year. “We had a high amount of customer contacts and leads from that show which is great because the more people we can talk to and expose to our training towers and other products, the more firefighters can be trained and remain safer on the job,” Van Bibber said. “It’s a good feeling knowing your product makes a difference.”
If you’d like to learn more about our WHP Trainingtowers, call 1-800-351-2525 (for international calls: 1 913-385-3663) or, visit us online!
