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 show exhibitions may very well be on the chopping block. CMOs, CEOs, and Managers are going to look at past successes to gauge the effectiveness of attending trade shows.
Follow this guide and you should be able to put together a compelling argument to exhibit at Pack Expo this Nov 3-6th in Chicago!
PACK EXPO is the world’s largest packaging and processing event that delivers innovations to advance your business objectives. PACK EXPO is a production of PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, which is a trade association representing 600+ packaging and processing supply chain companies that provide a full range of packaging and processing machinery, materials, components, and containers. PMMI actively brings buyers and sellers together through its various programs including The PACK EXPO family of trade shows, packexpo.com, PMT Magazine, PACK EXPO Show Daily, networking events, educational programs and more.
Step 1: Justify
First things first, do your research! Download our helpful Trade Show Qualifications Check List and this should get the ball rolling in making your case to attend or exhibit at PACK EXPO.
Step 2: Budget
You'll need to find out how much attending the trade show will cost your company. Illustrate to your boss that you know how to - not only live within a budget - but properly allocate the funds. Download our 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. We've taken the liberty of creating a concise list of the top 10 Reasons to Exhibit at a Trade Show to help you remind your manager of the benefits.
Step 4: Get your trade show booth ready!
Now that you've gotten approval from your boss the clock is ticking! Do you even have a trade show display, what about a trade show crate? What condition is it in? Who do you need to work with within your company to get started on creating a display? Once you've answered all those questions you'll want to read Valley Box's 8 Tips to Capture People's Attention with Your Trade Show Booth.
Oh! Don't forget about shipping! How are you getting your display to the event? Purchasing a high-quality trade show crate 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.
Step 5: Be Prepared
You 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. Here is Valley Box's Trade Show Check-off list giving you plenty of time to catch any problems before they occur.
One to 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 to 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 our blog 10 Things To Do After Attending PACK EXPO for some tips on managing prospects & leads.
About Us
Valley Box is a premiere industrial-grade packaging company protecting manufacturer's products inside custom wood crates and made-to-order material handling equipment since 1965.
Valley Box 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.
