How to Avoid Common Trade Show Mishaps

Most marketers know there is no such thing as a “perfect” or “stress-free” trade show. Business conventions seem to have an unnatural tendency to fall victim to Murphy’s law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

You may often find yourself with pre-convention anxiety, wondering how you can possibly find the time and energy to connect with clients, welcome trade show attendees, and make sure your booth is set up for success. If this sounds all too familiar to you, this guide will help you ease your nerves and equip you with the tools you need to tackle any issues that arise during the event.

Trade Show Checklist

The most important step is to begin planning early. When you become interested in a marketing event, you need to come up with a list of actionable goals you want to strive towards, a few back-up plans in case of an unexpected road bump, and a reliable team. Proactively checking off these essential items will leave you well-rested and ready to market your brand:

• Choose the right team members. Having a poor team is one of the most common, and the most easily preventable, issues that people face during trade shows. You want to ensure that you choose outgoing, knowledgeable people who will be available to cover the booth throughout the entire event. They should be able to answer common questions, attract customers towards the booth, and most importantly, sell your brand.

• Identify your goals. Going to a trade show without any goals in mind won’t help you accomplish anything. Whether you want to expand your company’s visibility, gain more social media followers, or generate more sales, you need a way to collect and verify this data.

• Don’t forget about the I&D plans. I&D plans, or installation and dismantle plans, involve the process of building your booth and displays prior to the convention and properly cleaning up the area once the exhibition is over. However, you don’t even need to worry about this process if you delegate a union to take care of these aspects for you! The right team will handle your materials, set up your booth, and make sure everything is ready to go when the doors open for the attendees.

How Optimal Station Can Help

Our clients get much more than just a vending machine for their marketing needs. We’re dedicated to providing the best possible experiences for both marketers and convention attendees. Our services include setting up your booth, transporting materials, handling logistics, restocking your supplies throughout the event, attracting people towards your booth, and cleaning up after the trade show closes. If you’re currently planning for an upcoming exhibition, connect with us to see how we can help you create the optimal experience!

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