How to Prepare a Trade Show Exhibit

Trade shows accommodate industry associations, business or non-profit associations and other promotional groups. These events range in size, varying from a small group of exhibitors in a hotel ballroom to large-scale affairs in a convention center. Regardless of the size of your event, follow these steps to prepare for a trade show exhibit.

Instructions

1. Contact the event sponsor or organizer. This person can assist you with selecting exhibit space, payment information and event services.

2. Select your exhibit space, goals for the show, size of your exhibit booth, and exhibition location. If you do not own a booth, you may rent booth materials from event service companies.

3. Determine your booth requirements for electricity, audiovisual, telephone and Internet connections, carpeting and padding, labor for booth set up, porter services, floral arrangements, catering and lead recording. The event services company provides order forms.

4. Consider additional services such as hanging signage over your booth, labor for set up and tear down, and material handling for transporting your products or equipment from the shipping warehouse or loading dock to your booth.

5. Advertise your trade show to customers through direct or email campaigns, and publicize the show in appropriate publications through press releases. If you have a website, include information about your show.

6. Prepare product or service brochures, or similar marketing collateral, to promote your company during the trade show.

7. Purchase inexpensive giveaway items to attract passersby to your booth. Consider hosting a drawing to obtain business cards from your customers.