Client: CIT      

Exhibit Size: 20X30

The Booth Details:

This was a rental design for CIT, truly maximizes its trade show booth space.  It utilizes the company’s corporate colors for branding at the trade show.  This exhibit has two work stations at both corners of the booth, as well as the a sitting area.  The large circular CIT sign is attached to the tower as are the two blue half circles.

The Strategy:

This exhibit lead retrieval systems are located at both work stations.  Each system printed out the qualified leads information for CIT sales representatives to take detailed notes to help with the trade show follow-up process.  The exhibit design focused on being open and inviting, while standing out from other exhibits at the trade show.  The sitting area is for sales representatives to sit down with existing and potential customers at the show.  This allowed for relationships to be created and strengthened while showing these leads any of the new products CIT offers.

No gimmicks are to be used in the exhibit, instead the focus was using a pre-show marketing/sales strategy to increase exhibit booth traffic.  Also, after the show an effective follow-up strategy will maximize their results by increasing conversions of the shows leads to sales.

People Placement Strategy:

Additional sales reps are located on the corners that had the most show traffic flow.  This will all depend on where the entrance of the show floor is, and where the presentation halls are, amongst other things.

Exhibit Marketing/Sales Strategy Consulting:

Marketing Strategy:

The creation of an effective pre–show through post-show marketing strategy makes the difference between maximizing the trade show ROI and having an exhibit be a giant waste of marketing dollars.

Exhibit Staff Training & Strategy:

Working a trade show exhibit is different than normal sales procedures.  In order to maximize a trade show’s potential, it is essential to have a well trained staff.  TMG Exhibits trained exhibit booth staff on:

• The best techniques to stop traffic.
• Staff members are then provided with objectives and assigned roles.
• Secrets of how to interacting with qualified leads at a trade show in a way that provides the sales representatives with their full attention while having a sense of comfort.
• Creating an effective follow-up process that the sales representatives approve of and feel will get the best results.
• Providing results that can be tracked and quantified to show the real trade show ROI.

Recently Exhibitor Magazine put out a Social Media Marketing survey, which surveyed almost 8,000 trade show exhibitors.  This survey was conducted because of the large social media boom in the business world.  In fact, facebook alone grew by 42 million people from January and July of 2009.  With this large growth, the trade show and event world is keeping a close eye on social media marketing and deciding what it means to them.

Although a few companies that have utilized social media in the exhibit and event world, many of them are waiting to see if social media is just a fad or if it will result in a revolutionary change to trade show and event world.  The survey showed that over two-thirds of the respondents have used social media sites as part of their marketing strategies for trade shows and events.  Those who have utilized social media have reported an increase in brand awareness and enriched the relationships with their clients, increased booth traffic and even an increase in sales.  In fact, 58% of respondents of the survey believe that social media has moderate potential for exhibit and event marketing.  90% of the respondents insisted that social media has unlimited potential in the face-to-face marketing events.  Of the different types of social media, the two channels that show the most potential with trade shows and events are
Facebook and Twitter.  Even with exhibit and event professionals admitting that social media could be very beneficial, only 31% of the respondents claimed that they have effectively used social media with exhibit marketing and only 24% of them have used it effectively with event marketing.

What is the biggest hurdle for companies when it comes to using social media with their events and trade show exhibits?  In one word, TIME!  The companies lack the time that is needed to effectively use social media as part of their event and exhibit marketing campaigns.  This is why so many companies are starting to outsource this service to agencies that specialize in how to use social media in the trade show and event world.  This will most likely continue to be the trend until it is determined if social media is here to stay.

Do you think social media is here to stay?  If so, how will it affect the trade show exhibit and event world?

If you want to view the results of the survey visit: www.ExhibitorWebLinks.com.

Recently I was at the Adtech trade show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City with “Idea Launch,” one of our new clients.  While walking the show floor I noticed two very important things that all exhibitors should know!

1^st
There were quite a few people in the isles.  It was easy to notice that attendance was up!  This is a good sign to exhibitors as it shows that companies are starting to spend money and allowing their staff to attend trade shows.  Also, it is a positive sign to the economy because the companies are loosening their money belts to not only attend trade shows, but are looking to start buying again.

2^nd
When walking the isles checking out the different booths not only to see what the companies did, but also what their trade show strategies entailed.  While doing this I ran into quite a few exhibit booth models.
Companies’ will uses these trade show booth models to attract attendees to their booth, with hope that an increase of booth traffic leads to more leads and in turn more business.  This is also a good sign in the exhibit world as it shows that companies are also spending additional marketing dollars on these trade show booth models.

Has anyone else started to see this at any other trade shows?