A high-functioning Trade Show Program is integral to a company’s growth, accessibility, and, ultimately, profitability. Unfortunately, this often becomes convoluted, expensive and a drain on resources. At Studio Displays we work hard to make the process clean and efficient, and we’ve learned a few things along the way.
Successful exhibiting is, for us, common sense — as long as you mind your P’s and Q’s.
Plan – Get the dates on your calendar, plan your year in advance — plan early and plan completely.
Quorum –Get buy-in from your team early on; they are stakeholders in this important endeavor.
Process – Develop a process easy to execute and repeatable.
Quantify – As you develop your process, it is important to question everything — from show regulations to costs; consider also your objectives, goals, needs, etc. Do this early; the answers to these questions will provide the framework for your process.
Professional Help – A good exhibit house will save you money in the long run; get professional help — it’s worth it.
Quote – Always ask for a quote; get it in writing with supporting documents.
Proofs – You’ve hired a firm — good. As those proofs come, read carefully and approve quickly — don’t erode the production by procrastinating.
Production – Allow adequate time for fabrication of your portable display — waiting until the last minute to design and order is never a good idea.
Quality – Don’t sacrifice quality to save a few dollars. If you expect to use the exhibit more than once, buy quality! Believe me, you’ll save loads of money in the long run.
Pre-Wire – Have your exhibit professional pre-wire and install as much of the electrical as possible — ahead of time.
Protect Your Investment – Take care of the property; consider how it will be stored and how it will travel. Take extra time to do it right from the beginning.
Provide – Become the information source — details, schedules, etc. — anticipate what information is needed and be ready to provide it.
Play the Game – Don’t look for short-cuts. It’s best to abide by the regulations, be nice, and, always, be the first to buy the coffee.
Problem Solve – Every problem has a solution. Analyze the situation, plan your reaction and get to the resolution.
Much of this may seem like common sense, but — let’s be honest — common sense isn’t too common anymore.
If your Trade Show Program is an area of tension and a drain of resources, we can help. Take it from me, running graphics in ten hours and shipping air-freight to the show floor gets old very quickly. At Studio Designs we can work with you to analyze your current program and develop a one-of-a-kind solution that fits your budget and objective. This is what we love to do, and we do it well.
Cheers,
Captain Chaos
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