Attendee Checklist
The following suggestions are designed to help the trade show
attendee get the most out of their time spent on the trade show floor.
Preparation:
• Before attending a show, review the promotional materials and find out who will be exhibiting.
• Create a map for navigating the show based on where relevant vendors are located on the trade show floor.
• Make a list of goals, whether it’s for making a pur- chase, a contact or a sale for you and your company prior to attending a trade show. Keep those goals top of mind as you walk the show floor.
Networking:
• Trade shows are flush with industry bigwigs. Meet as many as you can by being a social butterfly or attend- ing seminars and educational sessions. Talk with peo- ple while in line for lunch, at their booth or in the lobby of your hotel.
• Time on the trade show floor is precious, so don’t feel pressured to stop by every booth or listen to every sales pitch. Skip irrelevant booths for those that interest you the most.
• When you return to the office with a collection of flyers, business cards and brochures, don’t throw them away. Instead, put them away. Organize a library of show materials for you and your staff.
• Develop a lead form for every show you attend. It should contain vendors’ names, products and con- tact information, as well as follow-up notes to consult after the show.
Education:
• Schedule time to attend at least a few seminars while you’re in town to get the most from your trade show investment.
Comfort:
• You want to look your professional best, but be sure you’re also dressed for comfort. Walking the show floor all day might mean giving up a favorite pair of shoes for something that will allow you to be in top form by show’s end.
30 May June 2012
tive option for a variety of industries. Wilmington “pulls” from three sur- rounding states, as well as southern Delaware, making it ideal for attracting both a wide market of attendees as well as very niche mar- kets.
“There is no sales tax in Delaware, which offers the organizer savings,” said Van Horn. “Riverfront Wilmington is a convenient location, right off of I-95, with ample parking, nearby restaurants, family activities and outdoor attractions.”
Chase Center offers easy, ground floor load-in for exhibitors and in- house, state-of-the-art audio-visual services that can customize any specialized technology, lighting, sound and connectivity as required. The facility’s ease of use and flexibility allow for customized exhibits and events.
Chase Center on the Riverfront hosts about 475 events annually that together attract more than 160,000 attendees.
Getting the Most Out of the Trade Show Experience
Attendees at trade shows have so much to see on the exhibit hall floor, opportunities to network with key professionals, along with the chance to glean valuable information during a variety of educational opportunities.
To make the most of the event and use their time wisely, industry pro- fessionals shared some tips and offered suggestions in order to help attendees make the most of their experience.
For those who make the effort to be a smart shopper, they will find the trade show experience to be time well spent. Under one roof, the attendee can find fresh ideas, buy new products, research the compe- tition and network within their industry.
Brady Lutsko of Destination Marketing Association International sug- gested a visit to
www.destinationsshowcase.com, where prospective attendees can subscribe for email updates. After registering for the show, they can view the session descriptions and speaker biographies online and decide in advance which topics are of the greatest interest to them.
For Destinations Showcase, one of the most important steps happens before even getting to the show. Attendees can use the “Destination Finder” feature of the website to determine which exhibiting destina- tions best meet their needs, as well. They can then print a list of those destinations and their booth numbers and visit them during the show.
Lutsko further suggested that attendees bring requests for proposal (RFPs) to Destinations Showcase and distribute them to any DMOs of interest.
Ron Tanner of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) also advised that attendees come to their trade show with a plan as to what products and exhibitors they want to see so that they can best maximize their show experience.
Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy has extensive public relations experience in the hospi- tality industry, having worked for the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority and with Morton's The Steakhouse.
lmullanaphy@gmail.com
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