Introducing Virtually VISION

A look into what makes Virtually  VISION stand apart, and how you should prepare for the upcoming expo

By Nora Johnson

What do VISION sessions look like this year now that it is virtual?

VISION is usually experienced over four days, morning to night. But this year in order to give attendees the best virtual experience, we are changing it up to be over two weeks, with sessions being anywhere from an hour to four hours.

There is a huge lineup of classes and speakers, so people are not going to be able to attend everything live. But attendees will have access to recordings of each session through April 15th, and be able to watch anything that they didn't catch live. MWACA members will also have access to those videos throughout the term of their membership.

What are some other advantages of VISION being online?

In addition to the recordings of the classes being available online, you don't have the headaches and expense of travel this year. And of course, in today's times, we're able to make sure that everyone stays safe. Even though it's going to be a busy two weeks, attendees are also still able to conduct their business. Owners don't have to shut their shop down, and their whole team can learn together.

We'll also have an incentive for people to attend training live—during their training session , attendees will receive a code, they can then go and they put that code into the VISIONKC app. Points will also be given when attendees engage and interact with exhibitors, these points allow participants to win some of the $30,000 in prizes that will be given away throughout the program.

How should people prepare for this year in order to get the most out of the virtual conference?

The training is available to attend on the mobile app, or you can use your login to attend online. But the best experience will be on a desktop computer, which will allow you the most functionality in one screen to be able to engage in the chat, the Q&A, and the polls during sessions.

On the opening day of the conference, we’ll have our registration hours. Even though you won’t be picking up a physical badge, we're hoping that people just pop in during those two hours to have an opportunity to make sure the app works, to connect, and to fill out their profiles. We recommend that everybody goes in and sets up their profile on the app with a photo. That way, people can put a name to a face.

How can attendees connect with exhibitors during Virtually VISION?

Attendees can connect with exhibitors by setting up appointments through the app. Each exhibitor will have exclusive show specials and tons of information loaded into the system so visitors can see the latest and greatest products, similar to The New Product Showcase we had outside of the exhibit hall at past in-person VISIONs.

We want to be able to support the exhibitors who are coming to this online virtual program, without them we wouldn't have had the opportunity to host this. And just as the same as you would walk into the exhibit hall in past years, we're encouraging attendees to engage and explore what these exhibitors are bringing to the table.

VISION is one of the top times for those within the industry to network, how can attendees make connections with each other this year?

Attendees will be able to connect and message each other through the app, and networking opportunities are still present during sessions. We have some unique classes this year, like a diagnostic challenge, which gives them the opportunity to work together in breakout rooms to solve a diagnostic challenge. They then come back together and each group reports on what they discovered.

It’s going to be a little bit of a different experience with no handshakes or hugs, so attendees will have to get active and reach out online. There will also be an event wall on the app, similar to Facebook, where you'll be able to go and post pictures and updates throughout the show.

What does entertainment look like this year at Virtually VISION?

We won't have an awards program or a comedy night this year, but we will have an opening welcome reception and general session. And no welcome reception is complete without a cocktail. Each shop that registers for the conference will receive a box with a cocktail and t-shirt for each attendee inside.

On opening night, attendees can come prepared with their drink to kick off the virtual event.