It’s trade show season soon, and we want to help you plan your best exhibit ever! Here are the top tips taken from our friend and trade show expert Joanne Ruston, with Speedpro Signs (Calgary NE):

Before the Show:

• Book your booth ahead of time. Booth space can be limited, so plan ahead, book the booth and advertise like crazy.
• Get awesome signage. Anything from portable booth displays, wall banners, table top signs, to sandwich boards – choose your signage that best fits your space. When designing your content/graphics, make sure your message comes across clearly and use key words and graphics to capture people’s attention and stand out amongst the crowd.
• Supe-up your supplies. Make sure your marketing materials are up-to-date. Include a fun giveaway or contest. Small promotional items to hand out can be very effective as well!
• Grab ‘em with technology. Utilize videos, demos, power-point presentations and more to lure people in and help them learn more about your business.
• Train your staff. Prepare your staff ahead of time on presentation, new products, how to run demos, programs and basic troubleshooting. Don’t forget to communicate a dress code as well so that they all look uniform and professional!

During the Show:

• Rotate the staff schedule. Plan your staff’s schedule so that they (and you) get proper breaks. That way, you’ll all be more alert and cheerful!
• Record all prospect information. Encourage your staff to dig deep in their conversations and record everything they learn about each prospect’s needs, including contact info for further follow-up.
• Smile! Remind your staff to be warm, welcoming, and smile. This inviting attitude can give you a valuable first impression.

After the Show:

• Send requested material immediately. Don’t wait to send requested material. Aim to send within 24 hrs if possible, and include your company name on the email subject line so that the person receiving it doesn’t think it’s junk.
• Keep track of your prospects. Follow up accordingly, and keep track of sales conversions. Keep tab on the results and see what kind of return on investment this show provided you!
• Evaluate what went well and what didn’t. Take time after the show to analyze what worked, what could be improved, what to note for next time. The good news is that you can make each trade show experience better with each opportunity!

To see Joanne’s full article of tips on Tradeshow Exhibiting, and get a BONUS general checklist of General Planning Tips, go to http://www.calgarycorporateevents.com/trade-shows.html. And DID YOU KNOW… that The Gift Designers sources promotional items for businesses? Take a look at our hot summer promotional items here: - The Gift Designers Team