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| | The Minding Your Own Business Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Tradeshow questions... | Views: 956 | | Sep 13, 2003 12:05 am | | Tradeshow questions... | # | 
Linda Elliott | | What are the biggest mistakes made at tradeshows?
What are the most important things to keep in mind when attending a tradeshow?
I ask because I will be attending my first one next week :)
Linda M. DePaz,
Professional Organizer & Organizing Consultant
Be Clutter-Free
www.BeClutter-Free.comPrivate Reply to Linda Elliott | | Sep 13, 2003 2:15 am | | re: Tradeshow questions... | # | 
Sharon Summerlin | | Hi, Linda...I think one of the biggest mistakes you can make at a tradeshow is going unprepared. Do you know who is going to attend..pre-registered list? Can you research their companies before you go? Do you have appointments to meet with any of them?
One of the most successful trade show experiences I had was one where we had scheduled appointments during the tradeshow. We even prepared contracts/agreements to be executed by the prospects at the tradeshow.
Another "big" mistake you can make is not following up. I think the stat is that 80% of the trade show leads are not followed up. 45% of the folks who attend a trade show are there because they plan to buy something that is exhibited at the trade show within the next 12 months. Those are your prospects.
Hope this information helps...good luck.
Sharon
> Linda DePaz wrote:
> What are the biggest mistakes made at tradeshows?
>
>What are the most important things to keep in mind when attending a tradeshow?
>
>I ask because I will be attending my first one next week :)
>
>Linda M. DePaz,
>Professional Organizer & Organizing Consultant
>Be Clutter-Free
>www.BeClutter-Free.comPrivate Reply to Sharon Summerlin | | Sep 13, 2003 2:54 am | | re: Tradeshow questions... | # |
Briley Giamalva | | Linda,
I have organized some events here in my area. The last one we had was at the areas largest mall and I will share with you what I coach on and some of the things I notice:
1) Visual appeal. Add height and color to your booth. That is a biggy! If you offer bath & body products go with a theme along that line. Make it fun and flow together.
2) If you do cash & carry make great signs and put them in the clear acryllic sleeves. Say "Cash & Carry" or "Show Special," etc. Let them know what you have to offer.
3) Stand, when possible, and greet and invite passerbys in. Look like you are having fun instead of sitting and reading a book. Be attentive!
4) Some people think a video helps, but I have never seen the benefit of it. Most people will not stand and watch a video in a noisy mall or event. Maybe if it was a video of strippers??? Just kidding, but you get my drift.
5) Many see the benefit of offering a drawing to entice people to complete your form and enter your booth.
6) I use to take the front of my catalog and have it blown up to a poster size (you can do this easily with a 8/15 by 10 catalogue) and laminated. Put it in a frame and stand it on an easel. If you have a really attractive catalogue, this is an eye catcher. We put ours on an easel, put a gray picket fence below to hide the legs (had a welcome sign on the fence) and greenery and vines woven through the gray fence. Most people thought our blown up pic of the catalogue was a picture and we had a ton of people ask us how much it was. We decided after that we should have sold posters of it since so many people asked us the pricing!!
Again, eye appeal is a lot. If you are unsure how to start, go to a finer department store and notice how they display their products. Many times we have props in our home already we can use and don't need to purchase additional display items.
If all you really have is pamplets, still add height with a shelve and put something on it that follows the theme of your company. Add a basket with greenery, etc.
Be sure you have plenty of handouts and information available.
Good luck to you!
Diane
http://www.henclub.com
http://www.wahmsearchengine.com
> Linda DePaz wrote:
> What are the biggest mistakes made at tradeshows?
>
>What are the most important things to keep in mind when attending a tradeshow?
>
>I ask because I will be attending my first one next week :)
>
>Linda M. DePaz,
>Professional Organizer & Organizing Consultant
>Be Clutter-Free
>www.BeClutter-Free.com Private Reply to Briley Giamalva | | Sep 13, 2003 3:19 am | | re: Tradeshow questions... | # | 
Russ Singer | | Do not hand out literature/brochures. Most of the literature is discarded before people make it home. Do not just hand out cards - get cards from people (or have them fill in a contact form) and contact them. People won't call you.
And, especially important - take notes on the backs of cards/contact forms, because you likely won't remember all the people you meet.
Contact them within a few days or the lead will go cold.
Russ
> Linda DePaz wrote:
> What are the biggest mistakes made at tradeshows?
>
>What are the most important things to keep in mind when attending a tradeshow?
>
>I ask because I will be attending my first one next week :)
>
>Linda M. DePaz,
>Professional Organizer & Organizing Consultant
>Be Clutter-Free
>www.BeClutter-Free.com Private Reply to Russ Singer | | Sep 13, 2003 4:13 am | | re: Tradeshow questions... | # | 
Penny Sadler | | Linda,
Trade shows are fun! It's been my experience that the biggest mistake is trying to see everything. It's usually impossible. Since you are an organizer, my best advice is to be organized. ha ha. Seriously, look at the agenda each day and prioritize and then stick with it. Otherwise you will be overwhelmed.
> Linda DePaz wrote:
> What are the biggest mistakes made at tradeshows?
>
>What are the most important things to keep in mind when attending a tradeshow?
>
>I ask because I will be attending my first one next week :)
>
>Linda M. DePaz,
>Professional Organizer & Organizing Consultant
>Be Clutter-Free
>www.BeClutter-Free.com Private Reply to Penny Sadler | | Sep 13, 2003 6:27 am | | re: Tradeshow questions... | # | 
Doug Stetson | | Making sure everything fits together and can be crated back out of the show in one trip. It's a long way to parking after many long days.
> Linda DePaz wrote:
> What are the biggest mistakes made at tradeshows?
>
>What are the most important things to keep in mind when attending a tradeshow?
>
>I ask because I will be attending my first one next week :)
>
>Linda M. DePaz,
>Professional Organizer & Organizing Consultant
>Be Clutter-Free
>www.BeClutter-Free.comPrivate Reply to Doug Stetson | | Sep 13, 2003 3:45 pm | | re: re: Tradeshow questions... | # |
Sharon Summerlin | | I agree, Russ. The most successful trade show campaign I ever participated in...cost less than $10K and generated over $1M in revenue the following year. We were the "meatballs" trade show booth. We had a small table top exhibit with mascot coming out of the jungle dressed in camoflage (sp?) and saying "It's a jungle out there."
In order to dress up the booth, we bought hundreds of inexpensive stuffed animals and used them, pineapples and coconuts to decorate the booth...handed out trail mix and took business cards from folks who wanted to win a stuffed animal.
The majority of our funds were spent on the table top and the hotel rooms, because the event was in Palm Springs. We did an extensive interactive campaign prior to the event and it was very successful Our booth was voted "best in show". There was no such vote, it was a grass roots campaign because everyone wanted our attention because we were getting soooo much attention because of the cute animals.
Besides everything else, we had fun!
Sharon
> Russ Singer wrote:
> Do not hand out literature/brochures. Most of the literature is discarded before people make it home. Do not just hand out cards - get cards from people (or have them fill in a contact form) and contact them. People won't call you.
>
>And, especially important - take notes on the backs of cards/contact forms, because you likely won't remember all the people you meet.
>
>Contact them within a few days or the lead will go cold.
>
>Russ
>
>> Linda DePaz wrote:
>> What are the biggest mistakes made at tradeshows?
>>
>>What are the most important things to keep in mind when attending a tradeshow?
>>
>>I ask because I will be attending my first one next week :)
>>
>>Linda M. DePaz,
>>Professional Organizer & Organizing Consultant
>>Be Clutter-Free
>>www.BeClutter-Free.com Private Reply to Sharon Summerlin | | |
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