Save money at your next show or event by carrying in your own displays and setting up yourself.
If you are new to exhibiting and have a 10x10 or 10x20 booth space, consider purchasing portable trade show displays and handling the setup and dismantle yourself. There are a lot of factors to consider like, are you a one person operation/company or do you have a sales team? Is your sales team willing to setup the booth space and if so do you trust in them to take the time needed to dismantle it properly? Furthermore, will the hassle of setup lessen the effectiveness of your sales team? Do you want them worrying about the setup and dismantle or focusing on the show itself? Also consider the cost of possibly sending your sales people to the show a day earlier. It is not a easy decision but sometimes it is easier to simply send the extra $600 for setup and dismantle and not worry about it.
All we are saying is do your research and see what makes sense for you but remember that anything that you can carry into or wheel into the show is usually exempt from material and handling fees. If no tools are needed for the setup and dismantle you usually can setup yourself if done within 30mins or less. Shows rules and regulations sometimes defer so please check your show rules and regulations or contact your exhibit house for more information.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Hey I'm Over Here!
Ever go to a show and feel like no one knows you are?
You're in the corner of the event because it is your second time at the show and you didn't get a good booth selection again. Or maybe you put yourself in the computer section when everyone else is in the cool gadget section. How is anyone going to know that they need your product or service too?
Simple advertise, yes advertise. No, I don't mean buy an ad on TV, radio or in the exhibitor manual. There is a less expensive way that you can try. Advertise in your neighbors booth space.
Advertise in another exhibitors booth space that doesn't sell what you sell or better yet find an exhibitor who is complimentary with your product or service. You are going to buy coffee, surely you need sugar. You could be that sugar. The best part about it is that this can virtually cost you nothing! If your partner in crime stands to gain by putting there ad in your booth space it can be a win win situation and no extra money could be spent depending on your negotiating skills. Now comes the display.
A perfect display for such a clever idea is a roll up banner stand that also holds literature on it stating where you are located and a little about what you do. I'll leave the ad artwork up to you. Retractable banner stands are also a great way to advertise in someone else trade show booth space. Good luck, and remember aside from the cost of the banner stand with a literature rack on it, what do you have to lose?
You're in the corner of the event because it is your second time at the show and you didn't get a good booth selection again. Or maybe you put yourself in the computer section when everyone else is in the cool gadget section. How is anyone going to know that they need your product or service too?
Simple advertise, yes advertise. No, I don't mean buy an ad on TV, radio or in the exhibitor manual. There is a less expensive way that you can try. Advertise in your neighbors booth space.
Advertise in another exhibitors booth space that doesn't sell what you sell or better yet find an exhibitor who is complimentary with your product or service. You are going to buy coffee, surely you need sugar. You could be that sugar. The best part about it is that this can virtually cost you nothing! If your partner in crime stands to gain by putting there ad in your booth space it can be a win win situation and no extra money could be spent depending on your negotiating skills. Now comes the display.
A perfect display for such a clever idea is a roll up banner stand that also holds literature on it stating where you are located and a little about what you do. I'll leave the ad artwork up to you. Retractable banner stands are also a great way to advertise in someone else trade show booth space. Good luck, and remember aside from the cost of the banner stand with a literature rack on it, what do you have to lose?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
First Time Exhibitor Tip - Bring a camera
After all your hard work you must remember to bring a camera to the show.
Take a picture of the booth so that you can show to your colleagues that couldn't make it or better yet your boss. Photograph things that you want to change next year. You can also use your photos on your website or other print production. Be sure to take high-resolution photo for large format printing.
If you see any booths that you like or displays that you want for next time, ask that exhibitor if you can take a picture and do so. Check your rules and regulations about taking pictures of other exhibitors first.
Take a picture of the booth so that you can show to your colleagues that couldn't make it or better yet your boss. Photograph things that you want to change next year. You can also use your photos on your website or other print production. Be sure to take high-resolution photo for large format printing.
If you see any booths that you like or displays that you want for next time, ask that exhibitor if you can take a picture and do so. Check your rules and regulations about taking pictures of other exhibitors first.
Unhappy with the General Contractor?
Have you been going to your biggest show of the year and every year you get labor that you are unpleased with? You are probably paying $65 - 100.00 an hour for your labor.
Contact your exhibit house and request to use a different show contractor. You don't have to use the general show contractor and often times other contractors have lower rates and better labor. Be sure to pay attention to their minimum order for hourly labor and keep in mind it is a gamble, but if you were getting bad labor before they you can only do the same or better. Lets hope.
Ask your custom exhibit house for their opinion on the matter, it wont hurt to ask.
Contact your exhibit house and request to use a different show contractor. You don't have to use the general show contractor and often times other contractors have lower rates and better labor. Be sure to pay attention to their minimum order for hourly labor and keep in mind it is a gamble, but if you were getting bad labor before they you can only do the same or better. Lets hope.
Ask your custom exhibit house for their opinion on the matter, it wont hurt to ask.
First Time Exhibitor Tip - Traffic Flow
You are buying or renting a new booth and you don't know what to get.
Food for thought, keep in mind where you are in the convention center. Pay attention to where the main entrance/exits are. Are you near a food court or bathroom? Is there a big pillar in the middle or next to your booth space?
Use this things to your advantage. If you know that most of the traffic is going to come from the left, then angle your booth to attract your clients from that angle so that they can see you from far away. Maybe get a banner stand to compliment your booth space and position that in a place where everyone can see it.
Are you near a food court? Give promotional items that go along with being near a food court. Maybe a mint or hand out something that when they are eating people will see and want and therefore gaining someones eye. Maybe you have a contest for prizes at certain times of the day.
Are you near a bathroom? Put your banner stand by the bathrooms inviting them to visit them at your booth space ##. This of course will only work for a little while until someone notices that it is against the rules and regulations. But maybe you can figure some other clever way to get peoples attention while they are passing by.
Not to say being by a bathroom or food court is a good thing but try to turn it in your favor. Definitly pay attention to where you feel the traffic flow will be coming from and try to capture that flow without compromising your next trade show layout.
* Be sure that whatever you decide to do that it falls within the shows rules and regulations.
Food for thought, keep in mind where you are in the convention center. Pay attention to where the main entrance/exits are. Are you near a food court or bathroom? Is there a big pillar in the middle or next to your booth space?
Use this things to your advantage. If you know that most of the traffic is going to come from the left, then angle your booth to attract your clients from that angle so that they can see you from far away. Maybe get a banner stand to compliment your booth space and position that in a place where everyone can see it.
Are you near a food court? Give promotional items that go along with being near a food court. Maybe a mint or hand out something that when they are eating people will see and want and therefore gaining someones eye. Maybe you have a contest for prizes at certain times of the day.
Are you near a bathroom? Put your banner stand by the bathrooms inviting them to visit them at your booth space ##. This of course will only work for a little while until someone notices that it is against the rules and regulations. But maybe you can figure some other clever way to get peoples attention while they are passing by.
Not to say being by a bathroom or food court is a good thing but try to turn it in your favor. Definitly pay attention to where you feel the traffic flow will be coming from and try to capture that flow without compromising your next trade show layout.
* Be sure that whatever you decide to do that it falls within the shows rules and regulations.
Portable Rental Displays
Going to your first show? Testing out a new market but don't want to spend a lot of money?
Rent your display rather than buy. That way you can enter the market with minimal investment.
A few things to keep in mind when renting your standard pop-up display. First off, they all look the same once they are put up more or less. You don't care about the frame or how durable the case is, you are only going to use it once.
The one thing you may be concerned with is the fabric. In my opinion Front Runner Fabric looks better than Prelude Fabric. The difference being that Front Runner Fabric having horizontal groves which will make the seems less visible.
Detachable Graphics...
When it comes to the detachable graphics you want your header to be well visible, so your logo on the left and right side of the header will insure that people coming down the isles will see you from either direction. Also make sure that you have blank space or bleed on the edges in case you have to trim the sides down due to a different size rental display in the future.
Also if you plan on changing your logo or name of the company or simply only plan on using the graphics once, get them printed on inexpensive media. Request a proof if you are concerned with the quality, but bottom line is that good quality prints can come from inexpensive media. You don't need a 22mil print that is laminated with expensive 10mil backer for durability if you are only going to use it once. A high quality paper with a 3mil face lamination should be fine.
Other than that shop around and get a good price. Good luck.
Rent your display rather than buy. That way you can enter the market with minimal investment.
A few things to keep in mind when renting your standard pop-up display. First off, they all look the same once they are put up more or less. You don't care about the frame or how durable the case is, you are only going to use it once.
The one thing you may be concerned with is the fabric. In my opinion Front Runner Fabric looks better than Prelude Fabric. The difference being that Front Runner Fabric having horizontal groves which will make the seems less visible.
Detachable Graphics...
When it comes to the detachable graphics you want your header to be well visible, so your logo on the left and right side of the header will insure that people coming down the isles will see you from either direction. Also make sure that you have blank space or bleed on the edges in case you have to trim the sides down due to a different size rental display in the future.
Also if you plan on changing your logo or name of the company or simply only plan on using the graphics once, get them printed on inexpensive media. Request a proof if you are concerned with the quality, but bottom line is that good quality prints can come from inexpensive media. You don't need a 22mil print that is laminated with expensive 10mil backer for durability if you are only going to use it once. A high quality paper with a 3mil face lamination should be fine.
Other than that shop around and get a good price. Good luck.
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