Is your business prepared for the next trade show?

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I have attended probably over 30 trade shows in my career, In Europe, USA and Asia. What do I see every time? Well, its really what I don't see, I guess but hey we all have our own opinion. Mine is that I always start with the stands where the signage has a clear message of what the business does. Simple and clear messages always give a good effective first impression.

My next expectation is to see how informative the sales people are and what always surprises me is that after talking for 10 or even 20 minutes, I can walk away from the stand and the sales person didn't ask me who I was... Another point is many of the stands don't have any forms to leave contact details nor do they have enough reading material etc...

The stands that get it right, generally get all the key points right. Great signage, lots of reading material, great ideas to get contact details with competitions and giveaways etc. More importantly, they always have very good promotional products like bags and pens.

Speedy Signs supply the full range of display signs from Jenrite.

• Jenrite KODA Textile Displays,
• Jenrite L Banner,
• Jenrite Portable Counters,
• Jenrite Outdoor Displays,
• Jenrite Revolving,
• Jenrite Roll-up/Retractable,
• Jenrite Slimline Light Boxes,
• Jenrite POP-UP Display,
• Jenrite X-Banners,
• Jenrite Other Displays,
• Jenrite Flag stands, brochure holders, snap frames and more.

Speedy Signs can provide exactly what your business needs for your next trade fair.

Call us today or visit a website, for the month of June and July you can go into the draw to win an HP laptop Probook! Free phone 0800 773 339 www.speedysigns.co.nz

We supply and install a very wide range of products such as:

• 10ft Displays, 20ft Displays, 8ft Displays, Alumalite, Banner Stands, Cases, Counters & Podiums
  Easy Fabric Displays, Graphic Replacements, Graphics, Literature Racks, One Fabric Displays
  Photo mural Display Packages, Pop-Up Display Accessories, Pop-Up Display Hardware Packages
  Pop-Up Display Packages, Pop-Up Display Parts, Table Throws, Table Top Displays
  Tru-Fit Displays, Truss Displays, Digital Printing, Plinths and Tables,Brochure Holders, Marquees, Flags...

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Making Trade Shows Work For Your Brand

To some people, trade shows are a necessary evil, while others believe by ignoring them it will make them go away. The reality is that trade shows are not going away. Just the opposite is occurring right in front of our eyes: They are becoming more important.

Because there are fewer of them, they have a higher value. Face-to-face is always going to be the best way to build relationships and sell products or services, and so trade shows will always be a part of our business.


The question really is, Are you and your company "all in" on trade shows or half-baked? Do you go through the motions? Are you there just to show others that you are there, or are you there to promote, sell, and get business, but just have not seen the results? If the latter is you, then let's talk.

Start with your goal from the show. In order to make an investment, you need to have a goal for how much you want to sell. Obviously funds are limited, unless you are Microsoft, so based on what you are investing in flights, booth space, people, meals, etc., you then should have a goal on how much revenue you need to bring in to break even, and of course make money. Doing a show without a goal is the first mistake a lot of companies make.

Next are the preparations to succeed at the show. Who is in charge? Someone must be responsible for choosing who attends, where you stay, having a pre-meeting, and putting organization to the whole process. How does your booth look? What do you want to get across to the visitors? How will your presenters dress?

Obviously we are biased, for all signs and apparel should be supplied by Speedy Signs and EmbroidMe!

Do you "work" the show, or are you there babysitting it? No food in the booth. No chairs in the booth. You need to be there ready to work. You need to have nice collateral material, and answers to questions from prospects. Never badmouth competition, it will only come back to haunt you. Follow the laws within the franchising community. Don't be an "information dump" to all the visitors. People can take in only so much on a trade show floor. Positively and professionally represent your company.

After the show, follow-up is key, and having a clear next step for your visitors is also. Do you want them to go to your website? Read your brochure? Fill out an application? Visit a franchisee? Come in for a meeting? Attend a webinar? Whatever you deem your next step should be is what you are promoting at the show.

At a recent show, one of the exhibitors was complaining about the attendance. Now this was an owner of a franchise company, and he was very negative. It was in front of his employees, which was uncomfortable. I had just come from our booth meeting where our director of sales was saying this was one of the best shows we have been at in years! Same show, in fact same aisle of the show. Why such a totally different opinion of the show?

We all need to be very careful on how we spend our advertising money, and that also goes to choosing the right shows. For some of our brands, trade shows are not the best way to build, but somewhere along the road they all end up at a show.

Whether it's an industry show, franchise show, or local Chamber of Commerce show, shows have been and will continue to be, an important part of our diverse sales and marketing approach in 2011. Trade Shows are one of the best ways to target an area and meet people face to face.

Trade shows work, it's people that don't sometimes. Attitudes will have a lot to do with success.

Article source: embroidme.com

SPEEDY SIGNS

FREEPHONE: 0800 773 339
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE
CONTACT US BY EMAIL