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How to Get the Most out of a Trade Show

Trade shows are a wonderful opportunity to see products up-close and personal before buying. They give you a chance to ask questions in person, to see a variety of items all at once, and to find out if something will work for you. In addition, many exhibitors will offer special promotions available only during a show. If you're not prepared, however, a trade show can just be big, loud, and confusing. How do you get the most out of a trade show?

The first rule of all trade shows: wear comfortable shoes. Industrial trade shows are held in huge complexes and you will find yourself doing a lot of walking. A simple thing like good walking shoes will make your day a lot easier.

Our second tip: plan your day. If you've already got an idea of what you want to see, find those booths on the floor plan map ahead of time and plan your day accordingly. Floor plan maps are available on most trade show web sites and most exhibitors publicize their booth numbers, so it's fairly easy to highlight what you want to see and figure out the best path through the exhibit halls.

The next thing to remember: leave the kids at home. For safety reasons, trade shows prohibit children from the show floors. No one under 16 years of age will be admitted -- no exceptions.

Finally: pre-register to save time and money. Pre-registering will save you time when entering a trade show. Not only that, but we can give you pre-registration forms that double as free passes to many regional trade shows; all you have to do is ask. (Free passes are not available for the international trade shows, but discounted tickets sometimes are.) We look forward to seeing you.

This page last updated 12-May-2004.