Wrinkle–Me-Not

Tips for Traveling to the Show:

• Pack hanging clothing in dry cleaner plastic bags. When you get to your room, lift off the bags and hang your clothing immediately to loosen any wrinkles
• Try dry cleaner bags when folding clothing. Allow a little air to enter the bags
• Tissue paper between the creases when folding clothing may eliminate wrinkles
• Hang clothing in the bathroom and use the shower to steam out the wrinkles

For ways to increase your Return on Investment from trade shows, connect with: Ruth Failer on LinkedIn and Tips of the Trade on Facebook

All Contacts are Not Customers

 Cross Promotion

Consider creating a list of strategic partners that will not necessarily attend your trade show, but will assist you in promoting it.  For example, ABC Association cannot share emails with you, but is able to send out a blast to their contacts at no charge to you. And you in return for them. 

 
Your staff may be able to provides names you never thought of.
Contact Ruth Failer for other ways to promote your trade show attendance.

See Tips of the Trade on Facebook for more tips and photos. 

Limit your Trade Show Objectives

Consider your target audience when you prepare your expo objectives before the show.  It is best keep your objectives down to three. You may have many more, but the top three will guarantee your priorities are in order and keep your expectations in line.

Do your research, it is possible you will have different objectives for different shows.
Contact Ruth for assistance in matching the show with your objectives. Visit Tips of the Trade on Facebook; www.facebook.com/tipsofthetrade

The Marketing Doesn't Stop When The Show Starts

Ruth Failer

Hear ye, hear ye,

Don’t stop marketing even when the expo has already begun. It’s easy to get into sales mode when the show opens, but what are you doing during your down time?

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire has different acts alternating on various stages. Towards the end of the day, we were watching people filtering in while waiting in the bleachers for the Fight to the Death Jousting Tournament. While everyone was getting comfortable two performers from another show known as the Washing Wenches walked around the outside of the jousting arena “dusting” the railing and interacting with audience members. What caught my marketing eye, were the large signs tied to their backsides indicating the times of their upcoming acts.

Because of their presence we were suddenly reminded of their entertaining act and made a point to see their last show of the day.  Very clever these wenches!

Marketing from their Backsides

Some expos close for education sessions or lunch and most booth staff will step away from their booth or have a shift change at various times of the day. What are you doing to keep your company on the minds of those who still have an opportunity to stop by your booth?

Of course I am not going to recommend you tie a banner to your backside, but perhaps there are other creative ways to get your prospects attention to stop by your booth after the break. Contact Ruth for creative ways to bring potential customers to your booth. For more photos of Faire visit FB

Happy New Year

Ruth Failer, Certified Trade Show Marketer

Tips of the Trade would like to wish you a happy healthy and successful 2013. May your trade show booth staff know their product and your objectives. May you have the strength to ask for assistance when needed and offer praise when deserved.

Trade Show Trends

BREAKING NEWS: New CEIR Report on Trends in Use of Exhibitions Points to Resiliency

DALLAS, 8 November – Today, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) issued the fifth report from The Role and Value of Face-to-Face Interaction Study Series titled Trends in Use of Exhibitions. This report provides a snapshot of the use and motivations for attending and exhibiting at business-to-business exhibitions. This 12-page report provides an in-depth look at attendee and exhibitor use of exhibitions, including frequency, reasons for participating and projected use in the near future.

CEIR Research Director Nancy Drapeau, PRC, said, "Attendee and exhibitor practices today, as well as their expected participation in the near-term, points to the resiliency and enduring value of business-to-business exhibitions. Despite economic challenges and alternative marketing options, these professionals use and value exhibitions and plan to do so in the next two years."

Key findings of note:

Attendee results:

• When comparing attendance to business-to-business exhibitions and private events, attendees favor exhibitions. They attend an average of 3.4 exhibitions annually compared to 2.6 private events.
• Results suggest attendance will continue to grow in the next two years. Six out of 10 attendees will go to the same number of exhibitions as they are attending today while 23 percent plan to attend more.
• The search for new products continues to be the primary driver to attend (80 percent).   

Meet expectations: Choose the right show

Meet expectations: Choose the right show

It was 80 degrees in Pasadena, California in January for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl. An influx of people pack up their belongings and move to the land of sunshine after attending these events or watching them on TV. Based on a single beautiful warm sunny day they make the assumption that their life will be better by moving to Southern California.

Making the decision to exhibit at a show should be based on more than a first impression from learning the total number of people who attend that show. It is important to know who is actually visiting the show: are they your customers, and especially the potentially profitable ones?

These are some of the considerations in making this determination:

• Attendee demographics
• Exhibitor attendance
• Buying season of your customers
• Conflicting shows
• Trends and market growth in your industry
• Your past experience
• Show costs

Ruth Failer, Bronze level, CTSM

 If your objective is to have a positive Return on Investment from trade shows, then choose your show based on solid information. Extensive research before the show can save you from pouring resources into a show that will not reap rewards.

Ruth Failer to Present 'Selling Without Spewing' Educational Session at EXHIBITOR2012 - Exhibitor News Network (ENN)

 Press Release: EXHIBITOR News Network

Ruth Failer to Present 'Selling Without Spewing' Educational Session at EXHIBITOR2012 -