Tips for getting results from sales shows and trade fairs

Have you ever been in charge of a booth at a trade or sales show? Have you ever been an exhibitor at a craft fair or flea market? There are a multiple of proven strategies which can make your time invested at these public sales functions more worth your while. The trick is to begin thinking beyond the boundaries of the show floor itself, long before the show even opens it's doors to the public.

Always network at trade shows: Use this tremendous opportunity to do some behind the scenes networking with your suppliers and co-sellers. You will encounter people at these shows whom you may not have any other opportunity to ever meet. Don't let the opportunity slip past you. Take some time to comparison shop your competition and canvas wholesalers for extra special buying opportunities. Seek out vendors who are in your field but may have been previously unknown to you. Try to get a feel for trending in your market sector. Hone your skills for recognizing the best new products.

Weeks before the show, you should begin planning what promotional materials you'll be taking with you. Everything from business cards to wall posters are fair game. Determine if any special materials will be produced specifically for the event and make arrangements for those things. Be certain that all promotional materials have your accurate business vitals, such as where your business / shop is located, the phone number and Internet addresses as well.

Determine what inventory is going with you. Nothing ruins a trade show experience more than not having the right products with you. Make lists of needed items and take along photos and descriptions of other items you have available. Determine which items will be showcased and have displays prepared. Spend time pre-packing and organizing so you're ready to go when show time arrives. It's better having extra items along than not having an item that someone is looking for. Telling a potential customer, " I have one of those back at the shop..." usually doesn't go over too well.

Consider the appearance of everything. Take a good hard look at what your offering looks like. A sharp presentation draws attention. Repair and replace things which need replacing. Clean polish and paint as needed. Get a haircut if you need one and give some consideration to your clothing. Consider everything in the light of visual appeal. Sales is a profession, make yourself ready for it.

For some additional tips for a successful trade show experience, you may find some of these ideas from Washington City Paper about promotional materials beneficial. You can also look at this "Anatomy of a successful trade show exhibit. from the dyanna is serious blog. This link to Corra's Daily Planet, discusses a bit about having the right personnel for your sales booth. Some additional ideas for generating sales leads can be found at the sandrine wenzel, which does a fine job of addressing the subject.

So whether you're attending a professional trade show or just setting up a booth at a local flea market, give some extra time and consideration to planning and appearance. The more effort you put forth in preparation, the better the results you can expect. Even if you have the best product offering in the world, don't let yourself fall prey to the idea that your product will sell itself. Over the top performance requires over the top effort every time and salesmanship is still very much in style.