14 Savvy Ways to Spend Leftover Trade Show Budgets

Trade shows thrill me. I always have fun going to places all across the country. At the end of the year, there are can be leftover trade show funds that I have not spent. Here are some ways that I spend the money appropriately.

Each trade show I am part of, I try to have fun freebies that people actually want. Pens and candy with the company name are great publicity. Therefore, I make sure I have a lot on hand.

While candy and pens are good things, I like to spend a little more on other stuff that can at least draw people to my table. A zip drive or a bottle of water is a nice start to brining people in.

An outdated logo can look quite old and seem like I am from a previous generation. I try to update my logo every few years to make it look fresh and current.

I hate being out of fashion. Spending some leftover funds on creating a new wardrobe is a way I can look stylish and attractive. It makes a big difference for me.

I used to think that displays last the test of time. I was wrong. I like to purchase new displays because the newer models are easier to lift. Not only that, but new displays are easier to set up and take down.

Clients are what make my business thrive. When I have extra revenue, I like to send clients a thank you gift, which expresses my appreciation for their business. Some clients are completely surprised, but they like the gesture.

Although I may not need to make a big purchase for the current year, I may need to make one in a couple years. I can put some cash away in savings that can help reduce the amount I need for a future purchase.

Being the busy person I am, I do not have time to update my social media networks very often. When I can, I hire someone to write a couple of blogs and keep my networks updated and looking great.

As both of us know, we cannot do everything by ourselves. When I have the extra cash, I like to treat my team and hired help out to a nice dinner and a show. I want to show them that I care.

If I have the extra funds, I like to book another trade show. It can be worth it even though I may be going out of state and drink tons of cheap coffee.

As much as I like to be on the road, I need my beauty sleep. Therefore, I like to take a day off and go to the spa with my girlfriends. It gives me the relaxation I need before another big day at the office.

Getting the perspective of an outsider is important. I like to bring in a consultant to take a look at where I am and how I can be doing things in a more efficient way.

Expanding inventory can be a scary thing, but I like to try new brands. Although there are some risks, it is good for you and me to branch out every so often.

The latest technology can give me an edge when I am connecting with others. I like to have the best technology that is available. It keeps me current and impresses visitors who stop by my booth.

Spending money wisely makes all the difference in my business. It enables me to enjoy life and visit with you. Although it takes time to be intentional, it is worth it.

How to Sell Your Trade Show Exhibits to a Skeptical Prospect

If you’re concerned about how to sell to a skeptical prospect, it is possible, but it’s not always easy. You must consider some selling tips to help you sell to these types of prospects. Here are some of our suggestions that may help you if you’re in one of these difficult selling situations.

Identify Needs

When you identify the needs of your customers, you know what problem you can solve for your customer. When you speak of the advantages of your product that will solve a particular need, you’ll be in a better position to sell your product to a skeptical client. Your pitch will be tailored to your customer’s needs, and you’ll have the leverage you need to sell the product.

Identify Objections

When you identify objections early in the process, you’ll know how you need to tailor your pitch to convince your skeptical prospect that your trade show exhibits are superior to the competition. Not all people recognize how good a product is until they know how it can benefit their lives. Show them why their objections are not really objections at all. They may not fully understand the benefits, which will eliminate the objections. Whether the objections are price, fit, or timing, you should have an answer to each objection once they are identified.

Listen

Listen to your prospects. If you just pitch to your prospect without listening, they will be less likely to buy your trade show exhibits. What are their concerns? How can your product address their concerns? You should always listen to you customers to ensure that you can do whatever it takes to provide them with a quality product that will meet all of their needs. Listening is an important skill to have when selling trade show exhibits.

Find Out Who Your Competitor Is

Always find out whom your customer considers your competitor and what they like and dislike about the product. Indicate how your product can meet some of the preferences that they like and how it’s not like the preferences they don’t like. Is your product superior to the competitor’s product? How can you prove that you stand out above and beyond your competitor? With these questions answered, you’ll be better poised to handle your customers.

Adhere to Providing the Best Customer Service

Always provide the best customer service. When you’re busy making the sell, your prospects are also evaluating how you treat them as customers. When you treat them well and your trade show exhibit is equal to the competitor’s, they are more likely to choose you over the competitor because you gave them good customer service. Many salespeople think good customer service is under-rated, but it’s simply not true.

How to Sell Your Trade Show Exhibits to a Skeptical Prospect

When you keep these tips in mind, you’re more likely to sell your trade show exhibits to a skeptical prospect. While it’s not always a “slam dunk,” it will put you one step closer to selling your product or service. Try incorporating some of these tips to improve your chances of selling to a skeptical prospect. You’ll be surprised at the outcome.

The Biggest Problem With Trade Shows, And How You Can Fix It

If you are like many other business professionals, you head out to trade shows for one main purpose. You want to meet and greet new customers and forge new relationships. While your main goal may be to collect business cards or contact information from prospective clients, you ultimately want to boost profits from the time, effort and money you spend hosting a booth.

When you have a great booth design and a friendly presence at the show, you generally can expect at least a decent return on your investment. Nonetheless, some people absolutely dread hosting a booth at a trade show for one reason. That reason is that setting up and tearing down booths can be a major hassle.

The Burden of Hauling Heavy Equipment and Gear

Some professionals will host a tiny booth simply because they lack the desire or financial resources to set up a huge booth. Of course, small booths may easily be passed over by attendees, so this can work against you.

With a large booth, however, you typically need to fill the space with large gear and heavy equipment. You may need strong, sturdy braces and frames to hold your lights, displays and posters or banners. Many trade shows and exhibits are held in large convention centers in urban areas, and loading and unloading the equipment in a busy area with limited parking can be a drag. In some cases, you may be forced to haul your gear several city blocks or more before you reach the trade show site.

The Time and Effort to Set Up and Tear Down a Booth

Of course, once you get all your gear to your booth site, the real work begins. Your gear likely will be packed up in storage containers, bins and boxes. You will need to unload it, assemble it and make it look attractive.

This all needs to be accomplished in record-breaking time before the attendees begin to arrive. Setting up a booth can be stressful and exhausting, but so can tearing it down. After all, you often have a short period of time to break down your booth and pack your gear up.

This must be accomplished just after you spent long hours or days hosting your booth. You may already be exhausted, but the work continues.

Simplifying Your Efforts

There are clear and obvious reasons why trade shows can be beneficial to your company, but there are just as many reasons why many people simply dread having to attend them and host a booth. If you can relate to these common complaints about hosting a booth at trade shows, the problem may actually lie with your gear. Booth design is a prime concern when you host a booth. After all, you want your booth to get noticed by passersby.

Otherwise, there simply is no reason for you to waste your time standing at the booth at all. However, you do not need to have the heaviest gear or even the largest gear in order to get recognized. The fact is that simplifying your efforts and finding enjoyment in hosting a booth may be as easy as upgrading your equipment.

For example, rather than use heavy-duty steel frames, you may be able to find a more affordable and equally as durable material that is lightweight and that meets your needs.

You may not want to sacrifice the benefits associated with hosting a trade show booth, but that does not mean you have to make the process more exhausting than it needs to be. You can upgrade your equipment and gear today with some of the most innovative materials on the market. This simple step can make your next booth a true pleasure to host.