If you are looking for the most up to date information on what new hardware and tools are coming down the pike, attending an expo could be your best bet. At expositions, you'll get to see a wide range of manufacturers all bringing out their latest and greatest, often before they have even hit stores yet. If you have a big job to tackle or are planning on investing in the best tools, a trip to an expo can save you money or give you a performance edge by finding out about what is about to hit the market. This way, you can avoid buying products that may soon be obsolete, or you can discover a faster, easier, and more cost effective way of doing your project.



How do you find expos? Keeping an eye on your local paper and at your local hardware or home improvement stores is a good place to start, but there are online tools that can help you find what's coming to your area, too. At http://allexpos.com, you can search a database of expos all over the world, sorted by topic and location. A recent search of their Building Materials and Hardware category found over 600 expos in the US alone. http://Biztradeshows.com has a database of expos as well, from all over the world, and in 44 categories, including Tools and Tooling Equipment. At http://tradeshow.alibaba.com, you can search a worldwide list of expos with three different categories that include tools or hardware. http://Eventseye.com can help you find expos in almost 600 cities in over 100 countries. For more up front detail on types of exhibitors and items that can be found at a trade show or expo, try out http://tradeshowcalendar.globalsources.com.

Companies that put on expos can be a good source as well. Looking for a trade show and vacation in one? How about attending the annual Hardware and Tools show presented by Messe Frankfurt in Dubai? Get more information at http://hardwaretools.com. Trade Shows, Inc. specializes in woodworking expos and posts information on upcoming events at their website, http://tsiexpos.com.

Attending an expo can be a fun and interesting way to learn about new products, see prototypes in action, and meet people with similar interests. You may even be able to get free samples of items, catalogs you didn't even know existed, or be able to purchase items before they hit stores.