www.toynews-online.biz
NEIL BANDTOCK MD, VIVID
MARIAN DAVIS
MARKETING MANAGER, MGA ENTERTAINMENT
• This might be an obvious one but make sure you wear flat shoes or those with a small heel
• Most importantly – ensure you have a permanent smile throughout the day. I remember how my face always aches at the end of the day
• Have a fully charged phone and a charger to hand
My tips for show survival, both as an attendee and as an exhibitor: • Make appointments wherever possible
• Plan your diary as geographically as possible – some halls/fairs are huge and a half-mile walk
• Add in some spare time – meetings generally overrun, and you also need to build in time for ad hoc meetings
• Wear comfortable shoes. I know ladies who have their heels for getting to and from the venue and for the evenings, but have more comfy shoes for walking the halls
• Take a fairly empty, easy to carry bag • Never pass a loo without visiting! They can be few and far between
• Make plenty of pit stops to refuel on food and drinks – vital to keep that caffeine level up
• Finally…. Others have advised me that making sure you take plenty of paracetamol and aspirin for morning headaches is important, but I’m not sure what they mean.
HELEN DAVIS MARKETING MANAGER, JOHN CRANE
• Have a face spritzer to keep yourself refreshed and alert
• Travel light – there is nothing worse than lugging around a heavy bag during the day
• Make friends with fellow stands, you never know when you may need to borrow something
CLARE LUCAS DIRECTOR, LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME
The most obvious one for me – limit your alcohol intake! While it enlivens the evenings, there’s nothing worse than working through a hangover on the stand. Not quite the tip people want to take on board though!
HEATHER CORBETT,
MARKETING MANAGER, INNOVATION FIRST LABS UK & EUROPE
Oceans of energy – you're going to need it Reams of order forms, hopefully you'll need these too Create an impression that your customers will remember – it's tough out there Have your comfy shoes on, not the six- inch stilettos A welcoming smile for every customer, however big or small Remember the paracetamol – an absolute must Drink lots of water – exhibition halls are notoriously 'dry' Time to listen to your customers needs and expectations Open and welcoming stands, no appointments necessary Yes, they're long days and even longer nights, but Somehow we'll get through, and it will all be worth it
TWITTER TIPS
@JonSalisbury – Jon Salisbury, ToyNews’ Toy Industry Survivor An open mind and thick skin
• Allowing your body to run on adrenalin most show mornings
• Having an extremely high alcohol tolerance (using Christmas to practice is perfect timing)
I realise I sound a little like my mother now but the words COMFY SHOES just ring in my ears. And – it pains me to admit – I’ve had a trip to Hotter Shoes to get a really comfy pair to wear... Oh God, I feel really bloody old now.
ROGER MARTIN DIRECTOR, COILEDSPRING
My tips are: • Huge breakfast (so you don’t have to stop to eat again until the evening) • Lots of caffeine
• An understanding wife
• Don’t wear your platform heels • Always paint on a smile and have eye drops to avoid the nasty red eye look
• A nice warm winter coat (especially for Nuremberg)
CATHERINE WARRILOW, DIRECTOR, PUBLICITY OXFORD
Accept that you are going to be two inches shorter for the duration of the show and wear flat shoes. Accept that if you put freebies on
your reception desk you’ll attract a fair number of sweetie fiends and people with stationery fetishes, as well as prospective customers.
@bloodyrecruiter – Amanda Holder, Director, Birchwood Recruitment Red 3” heels – would not be without them!!! Unless the trade thinks I should wear ‘comfortable shoes’
@lisafosteruk – Lisa Carter, Managing Editor, ToyNews A winning smile!
@samloveday77 – Samantha Loveday, Editor, ToyNews I just wouldn’t feel right without my trade show heels. Many years of practice is the trick!
@Mr_Rob_Willis – Rob Willis, Publisher, Max Publishing Apples and cereal bars in your bag – with either no time or long queues at café’s, nibbles are a must for between meetings.
@loveukmade – Online Retailer Knowledge of meditation for when the going gets tough and you can’t get going!
@toyshopuk – Toy Directory Get a press pass and save on coffee expenses. If anyone tells you a world record is about to be broken, go and get a [free] coffee and imagine it instead.
FEBRUARY 2012
My tip is to regularly visit that restaurant at the back of Hall 5, the one by the lake with the fountain (oh, wait a minute, that might be another trade show...)
RAY HODGES PR CONSULTANT, DRUMOND PARK
SHOW GUIDE TOY FAIR 2012 139 MARY WATSON,
EXPORT SALES MANAGER, ORCHARD TOYS
MAX ARGUILE LICENSING MANAGER, GB EYE
Keep a bottle of water under the reception desk – it’s easy to get dehydrated when you’re constantly smiling and talking about the new range non-stop.
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