13 Common Trade Show Mistakes

Mistakes happen whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned trade show veteran, but you can avoid the 13 Most Common Trade Show Mistakes by following this advice. So, let’s take a few minutes, while your competitors are reading about Lindsey Lohan or watching reruns of Jersey Shore, to super-size your trade show marketing skills. Read more.

Event holders talk serious numbers

Event organisers in the Middle East are undertaking professional audits of visitor numbers amid accusations of practices such as exaggerated attendance reports and inclusion of catering staff in official figures.

So far, only a handful of exhibitions among the hundreds hosted in the region every year undergo audits from professional bodies such as BPA Worldwide. But the need for sponsors and exhibitors to justify the expense is providing an increasing impetus to change, said Aspen Aman, the Middle East business development manager for auditing BPA.

Organisers “are realising that the events industry is having the same squeeze on it as the rest of the media industry,”, Ms Aman said.

“They’re trying to establish some kind of differentiation between themselves and other shows. It’s that lack of accountability that makes it hard for any sponsor or exhibitor to arrive at any ROI [return on investment] on what they put into a show. More.

Going to a trade show in China: Selecting the Right Show for Your Needs

Picking the Correct Show

Probably the most important decision that you will make prior to coming to China is what tradeshow you will attend while here. In China alone there are thousands of shows every year. There are hundreds of lists of shows on the Internet separated by country, industry and date. A nice searchable example for worldwide shows is Global Sources Tradeshow Center.

From the huge bi-annual fairs in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong to smaller regional and industry specific fairs that are held all over the country, the options are almost endless. How to choose between so many? Base your decision on a few key factors. First what vendors are going to be showing at the fair; and second, who attends the fair (who is the target audience).

Which vendors will you be able to meet when you get there? This is the most important question because if you wind up at the wrong fair it doesn’t matter how well prepared you are. Going to the wrong show in your own country can cost you hundreds of dollars and a few days of wasted time. But going to the wrong show in China can cost you thousands of dollars and more than a week of wasted time. You need to be sure that the people you want to meet are exhibiting—manufacturers, factory reps, traders, distributors, professionals. Who are you looking for? Full Article.

URL: http://able2know.org/topic/159512-1

“Tradeshows and ROO/ROI it is not that big a mystery.”

How do YOU measure the effectiveness of the tradeshows you exhibit at today?

Have you written a list of the established goals for each event and each booth staff worker?

What is the cost per lead for each of these shows?

Do you know the answers to these questions? – If not, how do you know you are exhibiting at the correct shows and receiving the proper the return on your investment? Full Article.

Tradeshow Training Justification

From Exhibit City News:

Hello Class, it’s great to be back to share another lesson with you! Today we will be focusing on how to gain support and obtain approval for training activities that will help you and/or your teams improve results, and return on investment (ROI) for your tradeshow programs. As a general rule, there is no such thing as too much knowledge or too much training. There are plenty of options to choose from. One option is a custom program, delivered by a consultant such as myself. This type of program is designed specifically to address and improve a company’s specific sales and marketing goals via tradeshows. Another option is attending tradeshow industry events such as the EXHIBITOR Show and TS2. These shows offer a variety of general educational sessions focused on helping exhibitors improve tradeshow results.

However, obtaining approval for training is often overlooked or dismissed in many companies due to tight budgets, or simply being focused on current projects without thinking of how tradeshow training can directly impact and improve those efforts. This leaves it up to you to take the initiative of explaining to management the value such a program can deliver to the company’s bottom line. Just like anything else in the business world, there is a ROI to communicate to your decision makers. More.

Does the Exhibition Industry Need a Makeover?

Aug 4, 2010 2:44 PM, By Dave Kovaleski

The exhibition model isn’t broken, but panelists at a session at the International Association of Exhibitions and Events Mid-Year Meeting in Boston said there is room for improvement. Pre-show marketing, co-location, labor relations, and virtual events were just some of the topics discussed at the session titled, “Exhibition and Event Industry Makeover.” The hybrid session, held on July 12, was attended by 60 industry executives in Boston and watched live by about 40 people online .

Marketing was a particularly hot topic. Not enough exhibitors do pre-show marketing, said panelist Beate Halligan, president, H+A International, a Chicago-based marketing company. Event organizers can’t afford to stand idly anymore, she added, they have to help exhibitors market. “The days of build it and they will come are over,” said Halligan. “It’s a new world.” Event organizers have a good story to tell, but they need to do a better job of telling it, she said. Full article from Association Meetings.

New Labor Rules Take Effect in Chicago

Beginning Aug. 1, Phase 1 of sweeping new labor rules that were voted through the Illinois General Assembly will take place at Chicago’s McCormick Place and Navy Pier.

• Standardized straight time, overtime and double time provisions for all show work completed by workers represented by the following labor unions: Electricians, Plumbers, Carpenters, Decorators, Riggers and Teamsters.
  

• Expanded exhibitor rights that will allow exhibitors or their full-time employees to complete a wide range of tasks which were previously prohibited. The rights will be extended to all exhibitors, regardless of the size of their booth.

• Significant changes to Focus One operations, including a new name (Exhibitor and Technical Services) and changes to pricing and service delivery.

• New pricing plans for banquet services, and cash sales provided by Chicago Restaurant Partners.

• A new automobile and small utility vehicle policy that will allow exhibitors to deliver, unload and reload certain exhibits, equipment, and materials without paid assistance.
  
• Full article from TSNN