Trade shows, events and conferences can be incredibly useful for organisations and give them chance to get out into the public and showcase their business to its full extent. No matter what area of business you are in, it can be a great tool to help you meet sales and marketing goals, and bring in a wider audience to your brand.
Networking
When you attend an event or trade show, the major advantage you have immediately is that you can talk to professionals within the field and network with the public. Talking to the people you aim to sell to face-to-face is one of the best ways you can make a good impression and increase your reputation within the business world. You’ll be able to explain the business to people who may never have heard of you before, and grow your image as a company.
Branding
Event Sponsorship is a popular way of brands getting their name out into the world- for example companies who sponsor sport’s teams as long as they wear a shirt with the brand name on. The same applies to attending events and trade shows. The face you put out to the world and the people you choose to represent your company can make a huge difference to people’s reactions and allow them to always remember you. You can increase your brand awareness by decorating your booth with bright banners, merchandise and items from your store. You could even make a walk-in room with your items on display like you would see in IKEA.
Training
One of the key reasons companies will attend trade shows is to offer their staff some training. People skills are a crucial part of being in business- especially if you in the buying, selling or marketing departments of the business. Attending trade shows can give you the chance to train your employees on the best way to talk to clients and employees- by networking face to face.
Negotiations and Order Taking
If you are a company selling products, you can use trade shows as a great tool for selling your product to the public or other businesses. The way you present you plot of land in the hall is up to you- so you could turn it into a pop up shop to display your items or make it into something much more creative to pull people in. Kitchen companies such as Franke create whole kitchens which people can walk around in, and they also hand out free chocolate and cakes along with flyers to anyone who walks past. This a clever way to make people remember you by enticing them with a reward. For buyers, it can also provide the perfect opportunity to arrange meetings with clients and talk about deals.
Research
What better place than a trade show or industry event to check out the competition? Most companies will use these events to plug their new ranges and designs to the public, so you can make the most of this and see what your competitors are bringing out next.