Trade Show Preparation - How To Get Organised

Trade shows can be very motivating and even inspiring. Nothing beats talking to your existing customers, prospects and peers in your industry. However, they can also be exhausting, standing on your feet all day and engaging with people in what you hope is a positive and energetic way! Maintaining energy levels and enthusiasm can be difficult.

Here are a few considerations and tips on how to cope with pre- stand build, during and post show.

4/3 Months in advance of the event

Check all the kit you will need including any stand graphics and display equipment. Does it still work, are any parts missing, do you need to update the graphics and message? It is worth having a ‘dry run’ before the big day itself.

Do you need to create any literature to hand out? Allow plenty of time for proofreading your artwork (by several people) before it goes to the printer and check it when they deliver it back, as any mistakes need time to be rectified.

Check if you need to hire in any additional equipment such as audio/visual.

Buy any branded giveaways such as pens, sweets, webcam covers and cuddly toys are always popular. Talk to Mindvision for creative ideas on what would work well. The more time you allow, the easier it is to think about clever options.

Branded corporate clothing looks good and makes a professional first impression- make sure you have what you need including spares. Mindvision can supply a wide range of smart clothing options.

Book any accommodation as soon as you have confirmed your attendance, as local hotels get booked up fast if it is a big show.

Also pre-book any parking required and any vehicle hire required if you can’t take it up in your own vehicles.

Pre-show publicity- tell people where to find you and use social media and email to generate a build-up. Let the world know not only where you’ll be and when, but why they simply must pay you a visit.

A Month before the event

Staff briefing- Ensure all staff have a detailed information brief on the event, giving background, information about what you are showcasing, your performance expectations, venue and accommodation details and relevant contacts.

Choose your team wisely, they are representing your company and need to be passionate about your products or service, knowledgeable and approachable.  Ensure that they know the prepared pitch in advance. Identify exactly what it is you intend to achieve and set very specific goals and outline how you intend to make it happen.

Post show (or even during the evenings)

Follow up promptly on any leads and do what you promise. Make the contact relevant, targeted and personal and ideally get the original contact to make the follow up so they can develop a relationship.