Doing Nothing is NOT a Strategy

Ugggh. Seriously. UGGGGHHHHH.  No I am not reverting to cave woman status I am so frustrated with people that are just doing NOTHING for trade shows or events. I talk to multiple people every day. Customers, prospects, suppliers and there is a recent theme with a few of the people.

Lori:  "What are your plans for the remainder of 2021? What shows are you planning on exhibiting at?"

Customer/Prospect: "None!" (said rather incredulously) "We may be walk a show but we aren't planning on exhibiting at any shows until 2022."

YIKES!

So let's look at some feedback we are getting from our customers and prospects.

Here are some things I have been told recently.

"I really wish we had exhibited."

"Attendance was down, but decent."

"The time we got to spend and the people that were there were much higher quality than normal."

"We didn't exhibit and our email and phone's were going crazy with people wondering if we were ok, were we still in business. They missed us!"

"We picked up some business from our competitors that did NOT exhibit. It was GREAT!"

Trade Show News Network reports that over 85% of exhibitors and attendees plan on being at live events.  How can you afford to not exhibit?  Live Events Are Back! Read Here.

Let me just tell you, NOT being at a show that you have exhibited at for years sends a message that you may not want.  Here are some suggestions if you really feel you shouldn't go to the show.

1.  GO.  Exhibit.  Period.  End of discussion.

2.  Get a smaller booth space and use a smaller exhibit.

3.  Don't have an exhibit?  Rent one, but EXHIBIT.

You may think this is a very self serving post. I promise you it is not. I don't care if you buy or rent an exhibit from me (well, I would love if you did, but that is really not my point). Don't be short sided and lose market, business and have people wonder about you. 

Trade show venues have been and are ready to host safe events!  Need help?  Email:  sales@totaldisplays.com or call 952-941-4511.

If you like what you read, please share it!

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Lori Hanken has been in sales and marketing for over 30 years. She is passionate about service and providing value to her vendors, prospects and clients. Lori is currently co-owner of Total Displays with her husband David. They help people look great at events, trade shows, in retail, museums and develop long partnerships with customers and suppliers. If you would like to learn more, email her at lori@totaldisplays.com. She is an open networker, connect with her on LinkedIn here.

Read other Total Displays Blog posts at http://totaldisplays.blogspot.com/ or check out our website at www.totaldisplays.com    

Oh Crap! Our First Trade Show is When?

It is August.  Marketing and event managers all over the country are saying,

"Oh crap, I have so much to do for our first show!  I am NOT  ready for our fall shows!"

Or are you different?  Do you use the summer months to prepare yourself for the busy fall show season?  Are you completely prepared?  Are your plans all done?    

It is not too late to make sure you are prepared and avoiding any last minute emergencies when it gets crazy busy.

Here are a couple of tips for you.


1.  Check your schedule.  Do you have enough booth properties for all your shows?

2.  If you are exhibiting in an island, do you have a floor plan and configuration that fits the booth materials you have?

3.  Have you checked all your graphics?  Are they in good shape, do they need cleaning, are the logos and messages current and up to date?

4.  Have you checked all your hardware?  Is it in good working order, any repairs needed?


5.  Have you tested any electronics?  Computers?  Monitors?  iPads?

6.  Do you know what furniture you will need for what show?  Have you priced rental from show services vs. owning?

7.  Do you have a full logistics plan mapped out?  Do your booth materials go from one show to the next?

8.  Are your staff trained on set-up, tear-down and/or supervision of the installation of your booth?

9.  Have you trained your staff on appropriate booth etiquette and/or product knowledge?

10.  Literature, promotional items, give away items?  Are they all ordered?

11.  Have you ordered all your booth services and/or accessories?  Flooring, electrical, lead retrieval etc.?


I talk a lot about partnerships in our blog.  We value our customers and don't just provide them product.   We offer booth staff training services and much more.  Total Displays is always willing to sit down and help you plan for your upcoming show season.  Our goal is to help your exhibit schedule be as painless and stress free as possible.

If you like what you read, please share it!

====================================================
Lori Hanken has been in sales and marketing for over 30 years. She is passionate about service and providing value to her vendors, prospects and clients. Lori is currently co-owner of Total Displays with her husband David. They help people look great at events, trade shows, in retail, museums and develop long partnerships with customers and suppliers. If you would like to learn more, email her at lori@totaldisplays.com. She is an open networker, connect with her on LinkedIn here.

Read other Total Displays Blog posts at http://totaldisplays.blogspot.com/

Money Back Guarantee or Buyer's Remorse? You Choose.

Have you ever bought a trade show exhibit and were disappointed after you purchased it?  Maybe it was difficult to set up.  Maybe it didn't fit in your space.   Maybe you purchased it online and it didn't look like the picture when you got it?  Maybe you went for CHEAP, used it once and it was damaged?

Buyers remorse can be quite common in trade show exhibits.  Here is the reality people.

QUALITY MATTERS!

Honestly I have never seen an industry with so much variation in quality.  You can walk into your local print shop and buy a cheap pull up banner stand or pop-up display.  It is really a consumable item, it is not built to last.  Remember the old economic term, planned obsolescence?  It is cheap because you will need to replace it multiple times!

Here are some questions to ask:

1. What kind of warranty is there on the product?
2. Is it manufactured in the United States?
3. Will the company train you on set-up?
4. Do they charge for that set-up?
5. How long has the manufacturer/distributor been in business?
6. Do they have a physical location and actual showroom you can visit?

Here is the reality in this industry.  There are a lot of people trying to sell exhibit products to customers. You need to pick your partner and your product wisely.  Partnerships matter.

Total Displays is proud to represent Classic Exhibits products.  Through Classic Exhibits we are able to offer you A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!  

Yup.  There it is.  For real.  Believe it.  

100's of configurations with a 100-Day "Love It" Guarantee - How can you go wrong?

Contact:  lori@totaldisplays.com or call 952-941-4511 to find out how to get your "Love It" trade show exhibit.

Contact sales@totaldisplays.com to schedule your appointment to take a look at these great products!

If you like what you see, please share it!

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Lori Hanken has been in sales and marketing for over 30 years. She is passionate about service and providing value to her vendors, prospects and clients. Lori is currently co-owner of Total Displays with her husband David. They help people look great at events, trade shows, in retail, museums and develop long partnerships with customers and suppliers. If you would like to learn more, email her at lori@totaldisplays.com. She is an open networker, connect with her on LinkedIn here.

Read other Total Displays Blog posts at http://totaldisplays.blogspot.com/