How To: Get the Most of Your Trade Show Experience
by Christina Lee on March 13th, 2009
Within merchandise trade shows are a vast number of ways to enhance your product line – certainly enough to daunt any first-time buyer, absolutely.
But no one should have to face thousands of exhibitors – try more than 2,900 at this year’s ASD/AMD Las Vegas – without knowing how to get the most of your time spent. And after our own trips to trade shows, goWholesale has figured out how:
Planning
A no-brainer way to plan ahead: scouring through the trade show’s preview guide, then figuring out which exhibitors to see. What the next step should be: reaching out to those exhibitors. Taking care of formalities ahead of time could mean more time for business once on the floor.
Also, much like at the airport you are likely visiting, what you tote now may have to meet regulations. ASD/AMD requires that wheeled bags be no larger than 18 inches by 12 inches.
Shopping
Given today’s retailing environment, exhibitors could be a bit more assertive this year. Even the biggest ones may find more time to talk to a smaller buyer.
Regardless, keep in mind how their products and service could best accommodate your business, with either one or a few key questions:
- How does the exhibitor get and/or create the product?
- What unique quality does this product have, which would give my business a competitive edge?
- What are its shipping rates? If I buy a certain amount of product, will I qualify for free shipping?
- How much product is available? If I buy this, will I be able to buy it again in six months if I create demand?
And as a note of caution, also remember to never purchase a display product from exhibitors – it is prohibited.
Navigating
For hours of shopping and networking, try to keep a load as light and hands as free as possible. Some buyers may use fanny packs or backpacks, though to stow business cards, they could even use the plastic sleeve that covers your nametag – a tried-and-true tactic by goWholesale staff.
Once they receive their show guides, buyers also often highlight which booths they want to visit – though they may also want to have handy the reasons why. Try consolidating your research into a spreadsheet, which you can easily keep with you while walking up and down the rows.
Buyers, what other tips can you offer on how to get the best trade show experience?