Trade shows abound with opportunity, but these can be missed opportunities if you don’t take advantage of the situation. At Bel-Air Cases, we can provide with amazing custom trade show cases, and provide you with a few extra tips for trade show success.
1. Spread The Word As Soon As Possible
Trade shows don’t really start on the morning of the show, you need to building interest in your booth and making contacts long before the doors swing open. Be sure to advertise your presence via social media and generate some excitement. Send out some email blasts or even send handwritten notes to a few potential clients.
Also, don’t forget to spread the word during the trade show. For instance, if you are planning a demonstration or giving away a freebie, get it out there on Twitter and Instagram. If you are hosting an after-hours event, publicize the event before and after it occurs.
2. Create A List Of Goals
Before you head out to any trade show, you and your team need to be clear about the goals of the show. Trade shows can be a big investment, so you want to earn a big payoff. For some companies, that might be closing a set amount of sales, for other companies it might be cultivating a set amount of new leads. In addition to meeting goals, simply having goals makes it easier for your team to develop materials and present their sales pitch more effectively.
3. Build An Amazing Display
Your trade show display can make or break your chances of enjoying a successful event. The design should reflect your product and your customer base. For instance, a booth for the tech industry will look quite a bit different than a booth for the food industry. The same thoughtful approach you used for packaging design should factor into your booth design.
Of course, not every sells a product, and many booths are providing services. The same logic still applies, however, and you want to design a booth that will appeal to your customer base. No matter what you create, keep in mind that you only have a few precious seconds to attract someone’s attention. In many cases, hiring a professional designer can be the way to go.
4. Small Booth? Make A Big Impact
Obviously larger companies probably have a larger budget, but just because you are a hosting a small booth, this doesn’t mean you can’t make a solid impact on passersby. Typically, a small booth includes a backdrop and a table stacked with information, but you could skip the table and instead set up an open space that’s more accessible for clients.
Consider placing items on shelves against the booth wall rather than just displaying items on tables. You might have one small round table at one end of the booth where you can talk with clients, but keep as much of the floor space open so that people can enter and look around.
For instance, perhaps you sell organic beauty products. You might use natural materials to line the back wall of your booth, such as burlap or cotton fabric or even reclaimed wooden pallets. Add some string lights, or bouquets of dried flowers to decorate the top of the booth. Keep your logo visible while creating an inviting, warm ambiance that draws clients into your booth.
5. Provide Thoughtful Giveaways
Giveaways are always a good idea, provided that they will hold some value for potential customers and keep your company in mind even after the show has ended. Reusable water bottles, coffee flasks, flash drives and tote bags are just a few of the many items that can be customized with your company information and used again and again, keeping your logo or company name fresh in mind.
Another option to consider is giving away food or water. Walking the trade show floor can be exhausting, and a candy bar, cookie or bottle of water (all customized for your company) can draw attention to your booth and create a memorable experience for potential new clients.
At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve attended and presented at a fair share of trade shows, and one thing we know for sure, is that our custom trade show cases can make set up, take down and transport a breeze. Our trade show cases are built to withstand the rigors of transport, but also built to accommodate the unique sizes of trade show displays and materials.
Additionally, we can customize each of your trade show cases with custom decals, molded-in logos or perhaps engraved plates. We offer an assortment of stock colors, as well, so that you can order a fleet of cases that will be easy to identify, even on the most crowded trade show floors.