Participating in trade shows can be very overwhelming. Whether you’re doing your first or hundred and first, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier.
First and foremost, read the correspondence from your show manager and the general contractor! If any information is incorrect, please them know as soon as possible. Receiving the show information and forgetting to pass it on until the week before move-in is a bit stressful for most.
Please pay attention to deadlines printed in the exhibitor manual. Yes, there are so many pages to read through, but if you know what to look for, it can be so much easier.
Start with the table of contents. It is usually page two. It has all the information in the manual and the pages are linked. Check out the show information page first. It will have deadline dates, move-in/out dates and time, and all the shipping information. This is also where you can find what materials are included in the booth package you purchased from show management.
Armed with this information, you can then begin to plan what materials you will need in your space. Do you need different tables? Stools rather than chairs? Carpet if the hall is not carpeted? Electrical for a monitor, laptop, or to charge phones?
What about shipping? Should you ship to the advance warehouse or show site? Check the move-in date and times. If the materials are going to show site, do you have enough time to have them delivered and then set up the booth?
What about outbound shipping after the show? Will you have a carrier checking in? Will you be shipping via FedEx or UPS?
But most importantly, if you have questions, do not hesitate to ask. The exhibitor services staff is here to assist you. The sooner you reach out, the more time you can plan and not miss those deadline dates!
By: Dan Weitendorf
