Trade show advice, please

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Permalink Reply by Bonnie Annis/Will Roderick on November 29, 2009 at 12:19pm

We designed an entirely new trade show booth this year - a 10 x20. We used Google Sketchup, and it was quite neat.

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Permalink Reply by Pamela Ernst on November 29, 2009 at 5:27pm

wHAT IS GOOGLE SKETCH UP?

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Kirkwood on November 29, 2009 at 9:11pm

There are lots of things to think about when designing your booth. There is not one right way to do it. The best advice I can give you is to try and get to a Trade Show in your category and check out how others have set up.
If that is not possible to do within the time frame you have... then here are few things to think about.

1. You have some really nice pictures on your website and it has a good vibe. Be sure your booth reflects this. A lot of buyers go back to their hotels and check out your site online. You want to be sure it looks like the same place or has the same feeling as your booth- for continuity.
2. I like the red you use in your site pics. I also like the dark wood. You might think about having a similar look in your booth.
3. Be sure to have a lot of signage with pictures of your products or complimenting graphics.
4. Utilize texture and dimension. The grass in your spa gift sets and maybe some vases with bamboo stalks would be nice. Have some sort of live flowers or greenery in your booth. It makes it seem alive.
5. Flooring is important. Perhaps straw square mats that you buy by the yard at World Plus Market or some carpet tiles would be good.
6. Don't forget the walls or curtains. Most marts will install hard walls for a fee. You could paint these or even apply wallpaper. Or just regular curtains. Bring or arrange for something. The curtains that come with the booth package are tacky.
7. Be sure you plan for a place to store you purse, coats and office supplies. Either under a covered table or some type of enclosed space.

I hope some of these thoughts help you. Good Luck!

You can check my original booth set up here: http://www.indiebeauty.com/profile/LaDolceDiva
It has gone through some changes since then.

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Permalink Reply by Alyssa Middleton on November 29, 2009 at 9:20pm

Wow, Jennifer, thank you so much! I loved seeing your pictures to help give me an idea of the layout. Thanks for all the great suggestions - it's sparking some ideas. I really appreciate it!

Bonnie, I've not heard of Google Sketchup, but I'm off to find out about it now. Thanks!

Alyssa

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Permalink Reply by Merilyn Thompson on December 2, 2009 at 9:30pm

Your tradeshow pictures are great!!

Do you have a contact # or website for the banners/signage? The ones that I found were overpriced.

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Permalink Reply by IBN Member Jim DeBetta on November 30, 2009 at 8:54am

Hey...I posted an article about trade shows on this site months ago. Email me at jim@jimdebetta.com and I will email you something I wrote that will give you all the basic info......Jim

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Permalink Reply by ellice on November 30, 2009 at 11:42pm

Your product has very clean and crisp look to it. i recently went to a trade show ..for ideas and i noticed that white, well lite booths attracted coustomers..also pictures of the products displayed whether via digital or vertical banners..with whatever the catch phrase they used

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Permalink Reply by IBN Member Jim DeBetta on December 3, 2009 at 3:16pm

some general trade show rules - always be standing up and be greeting everyone that walks by if possible, don't eat in your booth, don't talk on your cell or use your laptop in the booth, treat everyone that walks in the same as many big retail buyers do not use their normal badges so they don't get mobbed by everyone, and be at your booth on time and don't leave until the show is over. All common sense stuff that makes a huge difference!!

Jim

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Permalink Reply by IBN Member Liana Spiegel on December 22, 2010 at 12:58pm

Good day everyone!

I am getting ready for my first trade show, working with SketchUp and will be making trips to Ikea for the furniture. My problem right now is the flooring. I definitely want something that's easy to install, light weight but looking like a real wood. 

I found these mats on the internet but concerned about their durability. Called the company and the sales person gave me a very vague answer. Has anyone used these? http://www.xpressmats.com/mats/prices.aspx?dept=27671

What have you used and were you happy about your choice of flooring? 

 

Thanks so much,

Liana.

http://www.MarmaladeHills.com

 

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Permalink Reply by IBN Member Candance Sweeney - NaKee' Natural on December 23, 2010 at 3:13pm

I also have a question about trade shows.  I am going to Orlando next month for a trade show, and because I just found out a month ago that I had the opportunity to do so, my head is spinning a bit.  My holiday season has been NUTS, which is a good thing, but has not allowed me time to do what I need to do to get ready for this thing.  I need a crash course and quickly.  I am sharing the booth with 2 other soapmakers from the Guild, so have 1/3 of a booth and am using a tall, skinny display.  It is not cash and carry, so this is good....do not need much room.  I am really anxious about the shipping of my items down there.  Where do I go to do this?  I have no clue and do not want to worry about my things getting there on time.  Since the holiday orders have almost come to a short halt, I need to get this show on the road and get cracking.  Please, if anyone has any suggestions or tips I would appreciate it.  I am not so worried about decorating the booth for this one since I am sharing it.  We are going to stick with the curtains and flooring that come with the booth to save money at this point.  The next show I do on my own, I will do much more.  We are each planning on having a small, tall display and maybe rent a table and chair to put in the back for customer orders, etc.  HELP!  Please...  :)

Candy Sweeney

www.nakeenatural.com

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