Trade Shows: Working It On & Off the Show Floor

Having attended an average of 5 shows a year for the last 4 years I have seen a variety of businesses do a variety of behaviors on the show floor. I’m sure you know what I mean: there’s the bashful betty that sits in a back corner of the booth waiting for you to come talk to her, the pals that are too busy talking to eachother to talk to you, and (everyone’s favorite) the hawker – standing in the aisle waiting to jump on anyone with a pulse that walks by their booth. As much as I hate to say it the hawker is actually working the show more than anyone else… but they’re still missing so many more opportunities.

Walking the Show Floor

In addition to checking out the competition, walking the floor is a great practice for a multitude of reasons. Booth Setup. No matter how many years or how much money you spent in developing the perfect booth,  times change. Cruising the aisles is a great way to stay current. What booths are the busiest? How does the layout encourage people to hang out in the booth? What colors and styles are showing up more and more? Many people forget to also look for what doesn’t work. Read more