Our infrastructure allows the Vaudra Ltd. investigators to frequently attend industry related tradeshows in the U.S. to further develop ongoing investigations or identify new targets selling our client’s product. We typically are able to cost share the expenses between multiple brand owners, making this an affordable option to survey a brand’s presence at a particular trade show. Attendance to the show requires preparation, and the results often lay the ground work for the next steps in the investigation.
Although the tradeshow exhibitors are typically the main attraction, these venues may also allow us to meet up with other subjects of investigation who may be in attendance, further building rapport. In general, tradeshows offer a unique opportunity to have face-to-face interactions with targets, which can impact the course of the investigation. Negotiations that may have taken a month to execute via e-mail or telephone could be accomplished in 20 minutes, conversing during a tradeshow. Although brand owners and company representatives may attend these tradeshows in search of counterfeit and diverted product, an experienced investigator with a well-established informant base is a better option for soliciting offers and finding those offering the brand of interest.