Posts Tagged ‘trade show advice’
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
The next time you find yourself at a trade show event do yourself a favor and step back. After all the merchandise is placed just like you like it and the crowd starts making their way through the conference center, step back for a moment and look at the overall presentation you have laid out. As you scan over the display ask yourself these questions:
Is the setup exactly what you had in mind for the event?
Is there enough space for people to look around and see all that you are offering?
Does it encourage conversation?
How does it compare to the other displays at the trade show?
Does it look the same?
Does it stand out?
Too many times we get in our minds what a trade show display should look like and more often than not that image is based on what we have seen others do or what is considered to be the current norm. A fear of looking like everyone else is a problem all companies must deal with. While it’s extremely important to present the consumer something they are familiar with, there’s a very real danger of becoming so much like your competition that any differences that could help you stand out become background noise.
So the real question is how do you stand out from the rest of the pack while at the same time keeping that connection with your target market? The answer is by being rebellious without going to extremes simply for the sake of looking different. Think about your current display again and ask yourself what would make a customer choose your booth over all the other vendors in attendance. Don’t be afraid to take chances and mix things up a bit. Focus in on those things that make you different and bring them to the forefront. Give your target market something to get excited about, something that will create a buzz among the crowd.
If you are tired of your trade show display looking like everyone else’s and are ready to stretch the boundaries of what is considered the norm, then maybe it’s time you spoke with one of our personal project managers. Experts in trade show design, we believe that no idea is too wild and no suggestion is too small. Dare to be a rebel!
Tags: custom designs, Custom displays, marketing advice, trade show advice, trade show design, trade show experts
Posted in marketing tips | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
When someone leaves your exhibit they may not be able to quote what was shared with them word for word or tell recite the names of the people they met, but for the most part people do pay attention to the details. Ask any recent visitor to your booth and more than likely you’d receive info on what promotions were being offered, how polite the staff was, and what their thoughts on the layout of the exhibit were. Sure they may miss some of the larger things that were being promoted, but sometimes it’s the little touches that tell people whether or not they would be happy doing business with a vendor. Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth once gave a classic example of how not paying attention to detail can lead to larger issues. The discussion revolved around a liner in the bands contract that specifically called for a bowl of M&M’s free of any brown colored chocolates, “So, when I would walk backstage, if I saw a brown M&M in that bowl . . . well, line-check the entire production. Guaranteed you’re going to arrive at a technical error. They didn’t read the contract. Guaranteed you’d run into a problem. Sometimes it would threaten to just destroy the whole show. Something like, literally, life-threatening.”
Godfrey practically specializes in minor details that are sure to make a big impact on trade show sales and among the best are a couple of items that are guaranteed to light a fire under any customer:
It may not seem like much at first, but an Earth Frame is the perfect addition to any trade show exhibit. There’s just something about the shape of our planet that when used as a logo or prop gives a company a sense of trust and wisdom. When they see a Earth Frame encircled by the shape of the continents the consumer gets an idea that the company they are looking at is a global presences and cares about the world it operates in.
Fire is something else that evokes a specific emotion in all of us. A flame represents hope, a new life, a victory, and a new idea. Nestled atop a fabric column, a fire bowl can often appear so real that many would swear they felt the heat coming off of itand if the vendor isn’t careful that heat might just be enough to set the entire display on fire. As an added bonus the fabric column easily converts to a product pedestal and even supports a conference tabletop.
Trade shows are often far too hectic to allow vendors to do more than make a quick first impression. By designing an exhibit full of small details that tell the customer they are meeting a vendor that truly cares about them, a company has the power to take that first impression and turn it into a lasting relationship. For more information on how to make that perfect first impression, contact Godfrey today and get on the path to higher trade show sales!!
Tags: booth, booths, custom designed displays, Custom displays, Custom graphics, customer service, Display Booths, exhibit tips, Exhibitors, fabric structures, high impact displays, increased sales, portable trade show display, potential customer, potential customers, Trade Show, trade show advice, trade show booth, Trade Show Booths, Trade Show Displays, trade show sales, tradeshow display, unique trade show display
Posted in Custom displays, Custom graphics, marketing tips, Trade Show Booths, Trade Show Displays, Trade Show Exhibits, Trade Show Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, July 5th, 2010
Did you know many companies will borrow from the bank each month based on projected receivables? Furthermore supplies, production schedules, material costs, and labor all require a certain amount of forecasting in order to know what to expect from the coming month so that the company is not caught off guard by an expense or decrease in business that may change the shape of the budget. Projecting what is about to happen next requires a certain amount of looking back at recent trends and looking forward in an attempt to identify upcoming obstacles or new opportunities. Trade shows in particular offer some special challenges when it comes to forecasting, but the process is just as important. One way to accurately predict the expenses, visitor turnout, revenue, and overall success of an event is to keep a diary.
For most people the word diary probably brings to mind thoughts of little girls writing in pink notebooks they keep under their mattresses, but in fact everyone keeps a diary of some sort. Every time you balance your checkbook you are making an entry into a diary. Whenever you log how much mileage you put on your car so you can be reimbursed by your company you are keeping a diary. Even this blog could be considered a diary all about trade show tips, events, and custom displays. Keeping a trade show diary of your own may just the key to success you have been looking for. The next time you’re at a trade show take a moment to step back from your exhibit and write down what you see. What has been your biggest selling item so far? How many people have come by and what was their demographic? Was there anything about your kiosk that did flow right with the rest your setup? Were you a good fit with the vendors around you? Could you have done anything better? At the end of the event make notes about the number of contacts you made and be sure to follow-up with them at a later time. By answering these questions not only are you gaining insight into how well you are operating, but more to the point you are keepping a log that can be used at other events to help determine what works and what doesn’t.
In business forecasting is not an exact science, but whether you like doing it or not you can’t deny the results. Paying attention to recent trends and adjusting your finances accordingly could be one of the smartest business moves you will ever make. The next time you are walking out the door on your way to an event, grab a notebook and remember to make notes afterward. Trust me you’ll thank yourself later.
Tags: booths, Custom graphics, customer, customer service, customers, Display Booths, Exhibitors, Exhibits, kiosks, portable trade show display, Trade Show, trade show advice, Trade Show Booths
Posted in Custom graphics, Expert trade show advice, Kiosk placement, marketing tips, Trade Show Tips | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
No matter how much you want to or how hard you try at some point we all need a little help and that means depending on someone else to get the job done. Obviously not everyone is going to share your passion for the products or your desire to see sales soar through the roof, however there are a few traits to look for that can help when it comes to finding someone to represent your best interests at that next trade show event.
- Trust Worthy- Trust is the keystone of any relationship and it’s what everything else is built upon. I once worked for a company that regularly sent their drivers out to local neighborhoods to pass out flyers in hopes of drumming up business when things got slow. For some reason we never got any response from an area of the city that should have been a hot-spot. Turns out the same driver was in charge of passing out the literature to that same area every time. All it took was someone to go behind him to find the entire stack of flyers in a local dumpster. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and check them. If you are sending someone to a trade show in your place, call a few people you know will be there and ask them to casually drop by, then report back to you.
- Personable- Just like the custom displays you have invested in, a good employee is someone that is friendly, easy to talk to, and puts a good face to your company. A good employee can make or break a sale, will leave a lasting impression on the customer, and can often be the thing that tips the scales and sales in your favor. Good manners, a good attitude, and politeness goes a long way when dealing with the public.
- Well Dressed- This ties directly to being Personable. When it comes to selling anything packaging is extremely important. No matter how you dress it up, Fillet Mignon is still trash if it’s served out of a garbage can. A well dressed employee speaks volume about your company and things are handled.
- Able To Take Direction- Another thing all great employees have is the ability to take direction. The last thing you need is someone who thinks they know everything and listens to nothing. Not only do your employees need to be open to the needs of the customer, but to what you need from them as well.
- Good At Problem Solving- Along with the ability to take direction it’s also helpful if you can find someone who can make good decisions. If someone takes the time to stop by your booth then they are expressing interest in what you are offering. The person working your booth is then faced with the task of finding out what their concerns are and what is keeping them from purchasing your product. Sometimes it’s as simple as offering alternative methods of payment (credit card, cash, or check) or it could be more complex like answering their safety concerns.
Remember you are putting your trust in your employees to represent your company with the same respect, qualities, and passion that you yourself bring to each and every event. The best displays in the world won’t generate any kind of interest if they are being manned by an employee who appears dirty, clueless as to what it is he’s selling, and cannot relate to the customer’s needs.
Tags: customer service, marketing tips, trade show advice, trade shows
Posted in Trade Show Tips, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
What do you think about when you think of trade shows or conventions? Cool displays? I like to go to Bass Master shows because they always have those giant aquariums topped full of fish so you can see just what the latest must have bait is doing once it enters the water. Do you think about massive arenas the size of Disney? Some of the places where events are held are too big to cover in just one day; most of the time you have to make a weekend out of it. That’s why some places schedule their best demonstrations on seperate days so you’ll be more inclined to come back and pay to get in all over again or buy weekend passes. What comes to mind when I mention Comic-Con, the MacWorld Expo, the M3M Summit, and the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) ? I will tell you the first thing that pops into my head when asked all of the above…..crowds. People by the hundreds. Running, laughing, bumping into you as they try to make it to the next lecture on time. The CES show alone has over 2700 vendors that are planning to attend in 2011. Can you imagine the number of people planning on attending an event that size? Not to mention all the reporters sent to cover the event for TV, Print, and the Internet. In a room full of 2700 booths how do you not get lost in the crowd? How does vendor number 2699 get noticed? Maybe Godfrey can help you with that.
What if you could create a trail of bread crumbs that would actually lead people past all the other booths and straight to your location? A lighted path to where you await them patiently. That’s exactly what a light box is; a bright beam of light with a custom design that can either be used in conjunction with your existing display or as markers leading customers your way. Ranging in sizes from 16″ x 20″ all the way up to 48″ x 96″, light boxes can either be hung on walls or placed on a floor stand. Great for helping to generate and navigate the flow of traffic, Convex sign holders even offer you the opportunity to post two signs back to back on the same stand. This way you are sure to catch the audience’s eye both coming and going.
If you are considering attending one of the largest trades shows of the year or even if you only expect to see a couple hundred people, light boxes are a sure bet to help get you noticed and not get lost in the crowd!
Tags: booth, booths, CES, comic-con, consumers, conventions, event planning, Godfrey Group, graphic design, light boxes, M3M, MacWorld Expo, marketing tips, signs, stands, trade show advice, trade shows
Posted in Conferences & Venues, Custom displays, Expert trade show advice, marketing tips, Trade Show Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
