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Shopping Trade Shows: Plan of Attack

In a virtual world, trade shows still exist and still do well. Thank God. They offer so much to retailers, which include the opportunity to connect with vendors, make personal relationships, learn from other buyers, gain insight on industry trends, experience something they didn’t plan for and so much more. Beyond buying for your store, many trade shows even offer educational seminars, networking opportunities, social opportunities and a chance to promote your own business. With so much to think about, it’s also important to consider how you will juggle it all. A few tips that Retail Minded likes to follow are highlighted below:

1. Come prepared to hand out business cards and collect business cards. Your pocket or purse will get cluttered if you keep tossing business cards in them, so instead have a designated area to neatly organize any cards you get. This will also help you when you return home and want to follow up with everyone.

2. Understand the general show exhibitors and their locations in advance. We don’t expect you to memorize a show map, but at least review it and identify exhibitors that are a must to visit and other spots on the show floor that you hope to visit. Knowing upfront how much you want to accomplish will help you manage your time.

3. Bring your walking shoes. Sure, style matters to many of us. But comfort is key when walking show floors. Our tip? Wear whatever shoes you want and bring a pair of comfort shoes in a bag for when you havea  long stretch of walking ahead of you. Switching your shoes actually helps provide relief to the different muscles used when walking.

4. Plan your fun nights in advance, and dedicate some down time, as well. Let’s face it – many shows take place in fun cities such as Vegas and NYC. Part of their location is a draw to attend, so we understand going out is part of the fun. Planning which nights you want to hit the town according to your morning and show agenda can help you accomplish all your show goals more successfully. The key is being realistic with yourself.

5. Know what you want to buy and how much you have to spend before walking on the show floor. If possible, include some extra buying dollars for your surprise finds that you don’t want to leave behind and know will sell well in your store. Whatever you do, though, don’t go into the show without a budget.

There are so many amazing shows to attend, and we’re confident you can enjoy many. But also planning for which show is best suited to cover all your store needs is a must. It’s possible you can only afford one or two a year, which means those shows have to be the best at what they offer for your store. Research shows well in advance to ensure you are going to a show best for your needs.

Finally, have fun. Let the show “speak” to you and inspire you to help achieve your retail goals!

 


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