Portable trade show booths – What About the Staff ? 5 Trade Show Tips

September 23, 2008 at 7:15 am · Filed under Trade Show Booths

Tip! Introduce yourself before the show. If at all possible, get a postal mail or email list (or both) of attendees from the trade show host.

I have said this before – so says Julia O’Connor of Trade Show Training, inc. – A trade show is a job interview for your company.

The exhibit is the resume. It’s the first glance, the initial impression. Just as a paper resume may be on heavy-weight Crane’s stationery or torn from a notebook, or an online resume is formatted or not, so too can the exhibit attract attention, be negative or just neutral.

But you do not hire unless you interview, and an experienced HR or GM pro often conducts the interview.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM – At a trade show, many companies spend thousands on the resume and nothing on the interview.

The staff is not prepared, may feel it is an imposition to their regular work schedule, or is unaware of the entire marketing and sales process with the trade show in the middle.

Tip! Select a trade show freight company that has first class communication capability. Check to see if they offer 24/7 contact with a live person, since trade shows are not a 9 to 5 business.

Here are 5 quick tips for improving staff understanding of a show -

1. WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION – Outline duties for time on and off the floor. Goals and expectations. Requirements and nice-to-have, like a second language.

2. ASK FOR VOLUNTEERS – The more open the process, the better the chance for having people who are enthusiastic about being part of the show staff. Enthusiastic beats Grumpy every time.

3. TRAIN TO LISTEN – And to think faster on the show floor. Today’s reality is that visitors spend less time on the floor and often pre-select the firms they visit. The questions will be more detailed. The information requested will be more advanced in the sales process. Your staff must be ready.

4. EVERYBODY IS AN EXPERT – Select a trend and bring everyone up to speed. Talk about it in every conversation before, during and after the show – on and off the floor. It positions your firm as the expert firm and your staff as being astute.

Tip! Look for a transportation company that handles a large volume of trade show business. You can get price breaks if your cargo company has multiple or less than truck load shipments to a convention site.

5. EVALUATE STAFF – Staff should be evaluated as a representative of your firm – not just on leads and dollars. Are they knowledgeable about your products and services? Are they articulate? Do they listen well? How do they interact with strangers, prospects and competitors? A show is a great time to evaluate behavior. Do they make you proud or anxious?

The trade show staff is the first line in trade show marketing. The more they know, the better the exhibit experience.

Julia O’Connor – Speaker, Author, Consultant – writes about practical aspects of trade shows. As president of Trade Show Training, inc,, now celebrating its 11th year, she works with companies in a variety of industries to improve their bottom line and marketing opportunities at trade shows.

Julia is an expert in the psychology of the trade show environment and uses this expertise in sales training and management seminars. Contact her at 804-355-7800 or check the site http://www.TradeShowTraining.com

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