TRADE SHOWS

• What are trade shows?

  Trade shows are industry events where companies display products/services, network, and do business. Their main purposes are marketing/brand exposure, lead generation and sales, product launches, competitor research, and industry education through seminars and panels. Attendees include suppliers, buyers, media, and professionals; formats can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid.

• What is our main measurable goal for the show?

  Example: Collect 20 qualified leads and book 5–10 sales meetings.

• Who exactly are we trying to meet (titles, company size, industry, location)?

  Decision makers such as owners and managers of small to mid-size businesses.

• What is our total budget and the amounts for space, booth, shipping, travel, giveaways, marketing, and contingency?

  Example: Convention space/booth $2,000–$5,000, shipping/installation $500–$1,000, travel $500–$1,000, giveaways/marketing $500–$1,000, contingency $500. Total $5,000–$10,000

• What booth size, type, and exact location do we need?

  10x10 or 8x10 inline booth near a main aisle or food/registration area for steady traffic.

• What are the expected attendance and key attendee demographics?

  Several hundred to a few thousand attendees, mostly local small‑business owners, managers, and service buyers in related industries.

• What are the move‑in/out dates, shipping windows, and insurance requirements?

  Typical: move‑in day before show, move‑out immediately after close; order electric/Wi‑Fi and submit booth details 2–4 weeks before; shipping window opens a few days before move‑in; general liability insurance required (confirm organizer)

• Who will staff the booth, what will each person do, and what are their exact shift times?

  Two staff: greeter/lead taker (9:00–1:00) and demo/sales lead (12:00–5:00), with one person covering manager duties all day and breaks rotated.

• What specific pre‑show promotion will we run and when

  Email to existing contacts 4 weeks and 1 week before, 4–6 social posts starting 3 weeks prior, and reach out to 10–15 high‑priority prospects to prebook meetings.

• How will we capture and qualify leads on site and what fields will we collect?

  Use a tablet or lead‑scan app capturing name, company, title, email, phone, budget range, and purchase timeline; mark leads as Hot/Warm/Cold.

• What is our follow‑up plan, who owns each step, and what are the timelines?

  Send personalized thank‑you email within 24 hours (owner: marketing); account executive calls Hot leads within 3 business days; schedule meetings within 2 weeks; run a 6‑email nurture for Warm/Cold over 6–8 weeks (owner: sales/marketing).