Worth the wait
In 2020 we had flights, accommodation and our exhibit site all paid for. There was only two weeks until we were to hop on-board the A380 and fly to Louisville Kentucky. Then, COVID hit.
MATS was cancelled and we had to put our first international show on hold. Who would of thought that we would be on hold for 2 years!
Well, time has flown by and our first Mid America Trucking Show in March 2022 is fast becoming a distant memory. Below is just a quick rundown on the show and why it will become an annual pilgrimage for NXT Journey.
What is MATS?
The Mid-America Trucking Show is recognised as the annual gathering place for the trucking industry. The event features exhibits of the latest technologies and innovations in equipment, product and services, plus extensive industry-targeted education. It was the perfect place to officially introduce our bags to the USA.
MATS began when Paul K. Young, former Kentucky Motor Transport Association President, and a few industry friends had an idea. They wanted to develop a show in the eastern half of the United States, similar to the largest heavy-duty show at the time, the International Trucking Show in California, and more accessible than the North American Truck Show that had taken place in Boston for many years.
The show has grown to be best trucking event in the USA, with attendees reaching over 80,000 and exhibitors travelling from all over the world. Including little old NXT Journey!
What did we learn?
Although our countries are a long way from each other, the Australian and American customs are not too dissimilar. I said to a few people at the show, that if I was to close my eyes, spin round a couple times and open my eyes, I could easily trick my mind to thinking I was at an Australian truck show. The people were so friendly and supportive. Simply hard-working people that just want to do the best they can and provide the best life possible for their family.
We met some great people during the show, especially our neighbouring stand, the guys from NT Lites. These guys from Nebraska run an awesome company, and you could see from how they treated the visitors to their booth that their customers across the USA are looked after at a top shelf service level.
We took a few of the bags we have designed for Australian companies. Overwhelmingly, the bags we did for Kenworth and Toyota were the standout. We could of sold 300 Kenworth bags if we had the stock. Plus another 300 Peterbilt! The Americans definately love their trucks.
On to 2023
We always knew our first MATS would be a learning experience. A chance to see what it is all about.
We are already planning for 2023. With one year under our belts, we will definately improve our booth, bring more bags and showcase our little Australian Company.
It will be a big 2023 for NXT Journey, with MATS in March and the Brisbane Truck Show in May. But you wont hear any complaints from us. We are just grateful we have the opportunites to travel, share our story and supply our bags to the world.
