Scare away your fears this trade show season

It was the night before the convention and everything…went wrong! Marketing material was left at the office, the sales team won’t land until halfway through the first day, and you brought shoes but they belong to different pairs. Before we can get into the haunting spirit this October, let’s make sure you’re not making these scary mistakes with your exhibit program.

Don’t make these trade show mistakes

1. Not leaving enough time to adequately prepare for the show
   • Trade shows have deadlines from submitting drawings to confirming how many people will be at your space. A great exhibit can take months of planning to ensure your team will be successful at the show. We recommend a good time window to start planning your exhibit is between 3 to 6 months before the show, depending on the size and location. Check with your show deadlines as well, that might increase the number of months you need to start planning.
2. Changing exhibit sizes and not changing your booth configuration
   • If you own your current exhibit structure, make sure to see if it can be easily configured to fit smaller spaces or have pieces added to create larger spaces. If you are changing the floor space size at your next expo, sit down with your team and see how it will affect your current exhibit. Depending on the size, it might be easy to downsize your booth. However, it’s best to talk to a trade show professional to see how you can do that.
3. Reusing old graphics without checking them
   • Checking old graphics before putting them up in your booth might be easier said than done. Maybe your organization changed technical terms or added a new location. If your old graphics don’t reflect that, then people on the show floor won’t know.
4. Not budgeting correctly
   • Exhibiting can be expensive if you don’t take the time to budget correctly. Unexpected costs can happen and if you haven’t added that into your budget, it just might cost you more. Review your past trade show expenses to accurately forecast what you will spend this year.
5. Not having a dedicated trade show employee
   • Depending on how many shows your organization attends a year, having a dedicated trade show employee will help with planning and organizing your event. Your sales manager can take on the task but that will also take time away from their main job duties.

Need help with your trade show exhibit?

If you’re looking for help with your trade show exhibit, fill out our contact form and a member of our team will reach out!

Bonus Point

1. Not wearing walkable shoes in the convention center
   • If this is your first time attending a trade show, ditch the heels and other uncomfortable shoes and swap them in for walking shoes. You will spend the next two to three days standing on your feet for hours and walking thousands of steps.