The shutdowns of covid-19 may have more people working from home at, next trade show, but it also reinforced an unexpected fact. 57% of North Americans believe that virtual events won’t replace the value provided by in-person events like trade shows.
Trade shows help drive your business in three ways, introduce new product offerings, attract new buyers, and develop sales of existing customers.
Don’t forget to include these five show essentials when creating your packing list.
Table of Contents
Swag
People love free stuff, and you’ll have a popular booth if you give away something desirable. The best swag items are useful, conversation starters, and related to your business.
Whatever you choose, your swag needs to have branding. That way, your company gets associated with the item, further building your brand reputation. Consider some of these popular swag items.
- Portable power banks
- Lip balm
- Blankets
- USB drives
- T-shirts
- Selfie sticks
Consider the location, weather, and budget when choosing your swag item.
Office Supplies
Nothing is more frustrating than needing to do something and not having the basic tools to get the task done. Create a trade show supply box that has everything you need. That way, you have a mobile office with everything you need to look professional and prepared.
Consider adding these items to your supplies box:
- Note pad
- Pens
- Whiteout
- Paper clips
- Binder clips
- Scissors
- Packing Tape
- Box cutter
- Power strip
- Extension cord
- Business cards
Make sure to include basic office supplies and a few additional items.
Collateral
One of the essential materials everyone needs is collateral. This could be a brochure with all of the specs for your new product. Or it could be an information sheet about your company.
Make highly visual materials, such as an infographic. Then make data-driven materials that summarize the key data that potential customers want. These are pieces that visitors to your booth can take with them and review later.
Sign Up Sheets
People forget or run out of business cards all of the time. This can lead you to miss opportunities. Have a signup sheet that people can write their contact information down on.
Your sheet doesn’t have to be fancy. There are plenty of templates online that provides a table with columns for basic information. Be sure to include the basics like name, email, and phone number.
Signage
It isn’t enough to simply have a booth. You also need signage that is large enough for visitors to easily see. It should stand out and catch someone’s eye. That way, more people are likely to notice your booth and want to check it out.
A banner template makes it simple to create your first banner or give your old one an update. The pre-designed templates make it simple to customize a design with your company’s colors and logo.
Get Ready for Your Next Trade Show
Having a packing list makes it easier to get everything together for your trade show. That way, you are less likely to forget something. You can make the most of your time at the show with branding efforts and lead gathering.
Check out our article on lifestyle and health so that you can be ready for when tradeshows start up again.
