What good is developing great products if you do not show them off properly to your target audience?
The sentence above actually encompasses the whole logic behind a trade show booth ideas.
However, a mention needs to be made here: trade fairs (or shows) are different from consumer fairs in that they are open for companies, rather than for the general public.
That being said, we thought of comprising a brief guide for organizing a trade fair. Only useful tips inside.
How Your Checklist Should Look Like
First off, here’s a glimpse into the essential points which should be on your event checklist:
- Put together and provide all the resources (e.g. documents and regulations) participants will need.
- Book the venue in advance.
- Think of the floor map – the way trading stations will be lined up.
- Provide assistance with booth resources.
- Book an entertainment act.
- Provide networking opportunities for the participants – trade shows booth ideas are not just about exhibiting one business’s services, but also about establishing business partnerships.
- Offer accommodation options.
- Make sure the logistics are all dealt with (e.g. power supplies, carpets, furniture, cleaning products, office supplies).
- Have a separate plan for your promotional efforts.
- Cast special attention to the aftermath of the exhibition.
Planning and Team Management
A trade show can be a costly endeavor. The last thing a planner would want is an event which exceeds its allocated budget.
This is what careful planning helps you avoid. So make sure you add an extra 10% when crafting your budget.
There are many expenses you may not have foreseen, so ensuring you have a safety net will come in handy in case the unexpected occurs.
Besides the financial aspect, team management is crucial for such a large scale event. It is best to have clear roles distributed within your teams.
Plus, you will need as many volunteers as you can gather. So, a pro tip would be to seek out for volunteers, right after you have booked your venue.
On-site Trade Show Booth Ideas
Since the scope of a trade fair is a promotional one, marketing materials and resource distribution should be as swift as possible.
As an organizer, you have to be able to provide assistance with:
- Badges
- Tickets
- Fliers
- Invitations
- Customer report templates
- Press kits
- Broadcast hardware
- Booth setup and lighting
Participants should be able to get as much exposure from the fair as possible.
As long as you strive to meet their needs, you increase the odds they will want to attend the next edition.
Entertainment
Checklists, planning, finances, logistics – these seem to be the pillars of good trade fair organizing.
However, apart from them, you need that little extra something which will make your show stand out. Moreover, that something is entertainment.
For a trade show, you could opt for:
- Music
- Keynote speakers
- Motivational speakers
Usually, your trade show entertainment would address the businesses exhibiting at the trade.
A keynote speakers lineup is always tempting for organizations in search of growing their brand.
Not only will participants gain exposure from your trade fair, but they also get valuable expert input and advice.
Keeping a Clear Head
Organizing trade show booth ideas is no child’s play. There are lots of participants and lots of pieces to put together.
To stay on top of your game and put together the best action course, try to make each aspect clear in your mind after devising the plan.
4 Ways to Make Your Business Stand Out at a Trade Show Using Entertainment
Trade shows and products exhibitions are all about the eye-catching business. However, let’s face not all products are focused on entertainment and design.
Your product might be useful, time-saving and solve a real problem for your clients, but just might not be trade show material.
So what can you do to get real clients out of these types of events? Make the experience memorable!
Here are 4 ways to make your own business stand out at the next event you are attending:
1. Bring Your Marketing to Life
Copywriting in your marketing strategy is one important aspect. Why not transform it into a custom experience?
Let’s say you promise users your product will magically make their problems disappear. Then, get an illusionist to your boot. You can even choose one which can create a story connecting the entertainment with your product. Like Mat Franco with this number:
Not only will get people to stop and watch the entertainment, but also connect the experience with your brand.
2. Make Them Laugh
When you are a trade show, one sure way to make your business stay in people’s memories is by making them laugh. So, give people the opportunity to sit down and listen to a comedian making fun of the problems in their life’s your product solves.
The Panic Squad is an excellent example of improv comedian. They integrate pop culture elements, crowd noises and even the audience’s SMS messages into their show.
A good laugh will also get people to be more open and inclined to discuss further how your product can help them. It is a great strategy to get in the door.
3. Help Them Grow at the Trade Show
If your brand’s voice is more serious, you can help people develop themselves at the trade show. There are numerous ways you can implement this; here are just a few:
- Short 10-15 Workshop exercises
- Open group discussion on the subject you want to bring awareness to
- Getting the audience involved in crafting an object they get to keep
- Motivational Speakers who engage them in making a change in their lives.
All of these can be great ways you shine a light on your business and have a gain for the audience as well. It is a win-win situation.
4. Celebrity Endorsement
Having famous performers the trade show attendees admire and who are interested in your business is a great advantage. There is a key requirement here.
They need to have real interactions with your products or services. You can try reaching out to America’s Got Talent celebrities weeks in advance to try out your product. If they have a great experience, seek to include them in the tradeshow.
It is one thing when a regular user talks about their great experience with the product, but it is even more convincing when people you feel you know recommend a brand.
What are you waiting for?
Whatever entertainment idea you choose, we will find the perfect person for your trade show booth ideas.
However, if you want to see more alternatives before you make a decision, we encourage you to take a look at some of the other entertainment choices available on our site.
We are sure we can help your business stand out at your next event.
For more tips on event planning and entertainment, follow the Grable Group blog. You can book any of the artists mentioned in this article by simply giving us a call at 615-283-0039.
