Author: Kimberly Green

I’ve always had a thing for trade shows and conventions. It’s been way too long since I’ve been to one—about two years ago for the golf show in Long Beach—and I really miss ‘em. I particularly liked the golf one because as many of you know, I’m a golfing fiend! Since there are so many innovations out there, having them all under one roof throws me into a state of sensory overload. I think after meandering six or seven of the larger, custom booths, my psyche was reduced to that of a small toddler at a rock concert. My friends found me later that day in fetal position in the corner of the building with drool on my cheeks, mumbling to myself…

However, I will be there the next time a convention rolls around! Seriously, I love these things even if I have no interest in what the trade show is all about, like fishing. When I was young, my father and grandfather were avid fishermen. I… was not. It was just too boring for me… I’d sit there, cold and wet, waiting for hours for a fish to bite. However, I can see how it would be relaxing, and I suppose I haven’t really given it a fair shake in my adult years, but as a boy I really loathed fishing. Nevertheless, my grandfather would go to the fishing expo at the Long Beach Convention Center each year, and I would always join him.

Again, I think it’s my fascination with innovation that keeps me interested at trade shows. I love seeing new technologies and ideas, gimmicky or not, being displayed and talked about in wonderfully decorated booths… the custom booths are really what catches my attention! If a booth looks boring at a glance, I probably will continue wandering through the aisles… but if it looks visually impressive, regardless of what they are selling, I’ll definitely check it out! Oh, and all the free stuff they give out at these things never hurts either! I remember coming home with my grandpa and a bag full of free goodies… little fishing lures, stickers all sizes, pamphlets, leaflets, those sorts of things… then spreading them out all over the floor for my grandma to see. Funny sidebar—my late grandfather was a truly unique individual. He loved traveling to exotic places to hunt and fish, and most of the time, if he was considering buying a new fishing rod or reel or something like that, he’d research it for MONTHS, talking to different people, reading about different manufacturers at the various fishing shops (this was pre-internet!) and when he finally made his decision, it was only after he’d exhausted all of his options for the item that he wanted to buy. But every year at that trade show, he’d spend three or four hundred dollars on some piece of fishing gear, just on a whim! I guess that the products and technologies also mesmerized him, so maybe my lust for conventions runs in my blood!

When I see a truly artful and well put together as well as functional Custom Tradeshow Exhibit. It makes me curious enough to take a deeper look with hope that their work is as organized as their exhibit. Seeking out truly excellent Exhibit Manufacturer will be the best source for attaining a booth that truly speaks your language and can get your point across. At a tradeshow where there is so much to take in, setting yourself apart from the rest is really necessary for maximum exposure.

About the Author:

Kim Green shares her husband’s story and his fascination with elaborate trade show exhibits as well as the impressive trade show assistance Expo3 offers!

With the consumer dollar getting hard to obtain it’s vital that every company serious about being a viable commodity on the open market look for ways to complete with every other company looking to hedge a little piece of the almighty consumer dollar. Whether is be SEO optimization, seeking out specialized help from an exhibit company or improving product desirability it’s clear that those companies looking to the future will benefit from changes made now.

Every chief operating officer in the world is feeling the growing pinch of a shrinking economy. Smaller work forces, tighter research and development budgets and a finicky consumer base have done its share to provide sleepless nights to many a corporate executive. Unfortunately for those who have chosen not to adapt to the growing changes that have been sweeping through the world of business they will likely not be in business in the next five years. If they don’t put their ear to the railroad track they will surely miss the train that’s bearing down on them right now.

Although times are tough not only for business and consumers there are companies out there redefining the way they do business because they are listening to those who pay the bills; the consumers. Companies have been looking to SEO optimization over traditional methods of advertising. If you’ve paid attention over the last few years you would have noticed that Satellite radio and DVR have taken the world by storm. The traditional hard copy newspapers and magazines have given way to soft copy, news as you want it internet that’s faster then the speed of light. What does this mean for business? The revenue streams and conversion rates once contributed to these long traditional outlets are no longer productive ways to communicate your business to the masses. Search Engine Optimization or SEO has become one of the most have ways of being found on the fasted growing most powerful medium in history; the internet! That’s right, if you are not accessible and able to be found on the web, you’re existence in the world of business will be rather short.

Although just about everything has changed for the way businesses communicate with the consumer many things have stayed the same with how businesses communicate with vendors and partners. Ensuring that you are prepared to impress vendors will mean that you put forward the best face of your company. The old adage “you have to spend money to make money” will always be true and trade shows will always remain a productive way to build bridges so making sure that you focus on professional exhibit company will help you with putting that best face forward. Take a look around, flashy sets that get people excited to do business are all the rage these days. With vendors offering tighter credit it’s important to get connected with the right people that will work to put you into the best position to succeed. If you want to succeed you need to look like you’ve already succeeded!

Having the correct vendors in place is an excellent thing unless those excellent vendors are not needed. This is why knowing what your company stands for is the most important item of company success. What are you selling and why is it important. Take a look around, if no one is at your door looking to buy it could simply be because you can’t be found or it could be that once you are found, no one likes your product. In times like these, it’s more important then ever that the product you are putting out is of need and of value to your customers. Otherwise you are sunk in the water before ever beginning.

Success is around the corner for any business that wants to embrace the changes that the world of digital has brought and to anyone who is willing to understand the economic situation that they not only find themselves in but their customer’s as well. In these trying times, keeping your eyes open to the changes before you will help you with being a successful business owner.

K. Green’s business uses an exhibit company when participating at trade shows.

It can be next to impossible to grab new market share in an economic down turn. You constantly struggle with customer churn while you look for ways to entice new customers to your products or services. However, a recession is where the strong thrive!

It can seem like the world is against you! You work hard, sometimes 15 hours a day to make your small business survive to only feel like your customer’s hate you, banks don’t trust you and the economy is out to get you.  If you’re one of the countless small business owners you need to refocus your energy on a few key factors that make owning a business during a recession as successful venture.

There are several key factors that must be looked at when positioning your self to gain market share. Keep in mind that many of the customer’s that you are looking to gain will not be loyal to the company that currently services them and in most cases they will be willing to go to anyone who can provide them with a few key things like, better price and customer service. However, one of the most overlook keys to success in a recession is advertising. It’s usually the firs thing in a budget that goes but it should be the last! The Internet is the biggest advertising boom of this century and SEO companies can help your company be found on the Internet. However, don’t be afraid to attend trade shows where the CCPPC (cash cost per possible client) is minimal. Even springing for a custom exhibit builder can do wonders for product placement and design. If your potential customer’s don’t know you’re out there the game is already over!

Second only to letting people know you are actually in business is the customer service you offer. If you are in business to sell a service or a product you are absolutely not the only company selling the same service or product. In reality, you are likely charging within a 10% margin of your closest competitor and neither of you are willing or can afford to change that so the most important and the most key factor is your customer service. Depending on your employee base it may be best for you to go outside your doors for quality control and find a reputable third party for your quality. However, personal hands on (straight from your leadership) approach will always be successful.

Most people think this next item should be first but it’s really the least important. The product or service that you offer. Quality is important. If you competitor can offer a better product at a lesser cost you are done so likely you’ve caught onto that concept and have already ensured you are offering the best product you can. Honestly, the type of product is unimportant. A man once called a rock a pet and made a million dollars that spanned several recessions. It’s possible to sell anything that remotely has a market.  Although large-scale success in the market you are in is dependent on the size of the market you’ll be successful if you keep focused on being found, customer service and making sure you are competitive with your product.

K. Green’s business uses a custom exhibit builder when participating at trade shows.

Despite the fact that economy is in bad shape right now, this is not the time to skimp on marketing.

Trade shows are an excellent way to not only advertise your business but network with your peers and meet potential customers.  The key to being successful at a trade show is to stand out.  Of course, your business and the services or products you supply should be what makes you stand out from the rest, but that is not what is going to catch someone’s eye at first glance.

Your goal, when being displayed at a trade show, is to attract leads and customers.  One way to do that is to make sure you have an exhibit display that is aesthetically pleasing and which showcases exactly what your business offers.  You can find exhibit manufacturers worldwide and locally, who will do an exceptional job at making your business the talk of the trade show. If you’re in the California area, Los Angeles exhibit manufacturers come to mind as one of the leading exhibit manufacturers today.

There are other key factors that play a huge part in making you and your business successful at any trade show.  Remember these key points:

Eye Contact – always make sure you look people in the eye.  People will feel as though you genuinely want to speak with them.

Stay at your booth – Being at a trade show can sometimes be a bit frustrating.  There are times when it is slow and not many people are even near your booth. These are the times you’d love to walk around and break away from the boredom you might be feeling.  Don’t!  Always stay at your booth.  You never know when someone will pop over and what if it’s the time you’re not there?

Contact Your Leads – You will probably get a lot of leads at a trade show.  Always follow up with each and every one of them.  Make it personal too.  When you gain a lead or contact, jot down some notes about them.  Then, when you contact them, they will feel important if you speak to them as though you remember them.

In conclusion, trade shows are an excellent way to market yourself and your company.  Your exhibit speaks volumes about your business.  If you hire an insightful exhibit company to customize your booth you will be well on your way to making your display stand out which will bring you plenty of visitors!  This is the first step to being successful at any trade show you appear at.

K. Green’s business has used Los Angeles exhibit manufacturers when participating at trade shows.

You want to show off what your business has to offer in an eye-catching display. Having a custom exhibit design is an excellent way to do just that and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

First of all, when an exhibit is created, that means it will also be used as a temporary workspace for your booth staffers. Keep their needs in mind. Do you need to create an area for demos, presentations, conferences, and storage? You most probably will need an exhibit to allow for all that was mentioned plus you will need it to be easily accessible to customers.

Booth sizes are important. Many companies use island exhibits for national shows, and then inline exhibits for regional or vertical market shows. With the proper planning, exhibitors can design one large exhibit that can be reconfigured for smaller booth spaces. Not only will that save money but it will also present a more consistent look at all the shows. This will brand the company and consumers will recognize the company just by seeing the design of the exhibit.

Your objectives can dictate the actual shape of your exhibit. If you want to generate a lot of leads or sales, you then need an open, inviting space that allows easy entry for customers. However, if you’re only looking to build relationships with a select number of key individuals, then you need an area that is more enclosed, or perhaps an exhibit with conference rooms where you can spend quality time closing sales. This is prime example of how two different objectives can bring about two radically different exhibit designs.

Once you know who your target audience is, it is much easier to begin the process of designing a custom exhibit to suit your needs. You’ll get to what matters by determining the benefits your clients are seeking and then what your key advantages are. Once you have that part decided upon, you then need to focus on what your products are, moving to their features, then the benefits of these features, until you distill the message down to the key benefits that drive your buyers’ purchasing decisions.

First impressions are key. Consider what you want your customers to remember. Do you want them to remember your new products? Your company’s brand image? It is usually best to keep it simple. Think billboard, not bulletin board. It’s better to go for impact — less is definitely more at trade show.

Remember that your exhibit conveys your company’s personality. The shapes, materials, surface treatments, colors, images, and even typography you choose help convey your company image. Make sure you have a solid idea of the image you want for your company’s custom exhibit design before you begin.

K. Green’s business uses a custom exhibit design when participating at trade shows.