Valley Box is a national leader when it comes to manufacturing durable trade show crates. Our mission is for your booth to arrive at the show in perfect condition, despite any rough handling the crate may encounter along the way. Our superior building techniques, high-quality materials, and exceptional designs have led to many happy customers who no longer suffer from damaged trade show displays.
But let's face it, the hardest part about attending a trade show may be getting permission in the first place!
This year your company may be buckling down on marketing expenses and trade shows may very well be on the chopping block. Your boss will probably look at past successes in order to gauge the effectiveness of attending trade shows.
Follow Valley Box's guide and you should be able to put together a compelling argument to attend.
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Step 1: Justify
First things first, do your research! Download Valley Box's this word doc helpful Trade Show Qualifications Check List and this should get the ball rolling in making your case to attend.
Step 2: Budget
You'll need to find out how much attending the trade show or convention will cost your company. Illustrate to your boss that you know how to live within a budget and properly allocate the funds.
Download this excel spreadsheet Valley Box's helpful Trade Show Budget Spreadsheet to see how much attending may cost your company. All you'll need is the:
- Cost to exhibit at the trade show
- Employee labor cost to attend
Step 3: Get Permission
Now that you've organized your case to exhibit and how much it will cost - brush up on the reasons to exhibit. Valley Box took the liberty of creating a concise list of the Top 10 Reasons to Exhibit at a Trade Show to remind you of the benefits.
Step 4: Get your booth & trade show crates ready!
Now that you've gotten the go-ahead, the clock is ticking. Is your booth & display ready to go? What condition is it in? Does it need repairs or improvements? Once you've answered all these questions you'll want to read Valley Box's 8 Tips to Capture People's Attention with Your Trade Show Booth.
Don't forget about shipping!
How are you getting your display to the event? Purchasing high-quality trade show crates intended to endure long-term use or multiple shipments may cost more upfront, but opting for the wrong packaging will inevitably cost you more in the long term when your display gets damaged by rough handling.
Keep in mind the average lead time when ordering a custom trade show crate is a minimum of 30 days.
The cost to attend the show isn't the only fee that may send a shock through your boss's system! Racking up expensive drayage fees can be a real surprise! With each shipment, most trade show contractors will charge high minimums. Think about reducing unnecessary drayage costs by consolidating your trade show display into fewer crates. As a bonus, you will reduce freight costs because you've eliminated the weight of an extra crate. Fewer crates packed more efficiently = reduced handling & freight charges.
Step 5: Be Prepared
Luckily, there is an article dedicated entirely to the 10 Things to do Before Attending a Trade Show. But you also need to remember your etiquette − just in case you've forgotten here's a link to a helpful list of Trade Show Day-Of Do's and Don'ts.
Otherwise, to continue impressing your boss don't get caught by the unexpected. Below is Valley Box's Trade Show Check-off list giving you plenty of time to catch any problems before they occur.
ONE - TWO MONTHS BEFORE
- Get your ideas about themes and products down on paper
- Create deadlines and milestones. Reverse engineer your timeline, if the trade show is out of your state you need to make arrangements for your booth and supplies to be shipped well in advance.
- Practice setting up exhibits at home or in your office – then ask for evaluations from neighbors, business associates, salespersons, etc.
ONE - THREE WEEKS BEFORE
- Get all printing and signs prepared at least one week in advance.
- Take samples of products – not all you have.
- Get all your supplies together and consolidate: Decorated box or basket for contest/drawing, with a sign describing the prize, stapler, tape, signs, paper clips, pens/pencils, brochures & plastic holders, display items to draw potential clients to your table, business cards, writing pads for lead information, visual aids, tablecloth, easels, and display stands.
Step 6: Follow Up
The last step to getting your boss excited to send you next year is to follow up with prospects after the event. This is a surefire way to prove a return on investment when you can tie orders to contacts made at the event. Check out the Valley Box article 10 Things To Do After Attending a Trade Show for some tips on managing prospects & leads.
About Us
Valley Box is a premiere industrial-grade packaging company protecting manufacturers' products inside custom wood crates and made-to-order material handling equipment since 1965.
Valley Box's packaging experts develop specialized solutions for trade show crates which require additional planning to design the interior so that display components can be conveniently removed and loaded on location while maintaining proper protection during transit.
Valley Box helps you maximize your trade show display investment by incorporating protective details such as; foam or carpet-lined surfaces, metal-edged corners, vibrant painted exteriors, loading ramps, pedestals on casters, and more.
