Tradeshows and exhibitions have been running for years and years and there’s no sign of them slowing down. Other than the dip we had during COVID-19, exhibitions are well on the way to getting back to normal, with more people attending than ever.
We understand the hesitation of attending events as there’s some risk and of course the matter of spending large amounts of money. But aside from the obvious budget concerns, why are tradeshows important and what can they do for your business?
Especially if you’re a new business and the brand and product isn’t known yet, putting yourself in a space where hundreds and thousands of people will be is a good start. It’s a great step to getting the name out there and speaking to people face to face. Having these conversations with new people gives you the opportunity to talk about your business and paint the right picture of what you have to offer.
As well as the large number of visitors, there will be just as many companies exhibiting. Putting yourself in a room with competitors and like minded businesses, is a great place to get ideas and see what’s going on. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new or experienced exhibitor, it’s never too late to get new ideas and see what’s going on in the market. Being aware of what’s popular in your field and seeing how companies have chosen to exhibit will be priceless information. You won’t be the only one taking inspiration from other stands and businesses.
Building the business requires a customer base, and having conversations face to face to take contact details is a great place to start. If you promise to make contact the following day, be sure to follow through on these commitments and show how dedicated you are to business a business relationship with other companies and working together long term.
If you’re product is something you can sample, e.g. food and drink, being in front of all those people provides a wide platform to hand out samples and give them a taste of what you have to offer. Use this opportunity to pull together future orders and start with the return on investment.
The main benefit is being face to face and being able to connect with the audience in a more intimate way than social media and email contact.
