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How to Take Advantage of Tradeshows & Make Them Worth It

How to Take Advantage of Tradeshows & Make Them Worth It

Connecting with the right target audience is as important goal when picking out tradeshows and events to exhibit at. Tradeshows help build a strong contact email database and boost sales for your company because everyone who is at the trade show is there to seek out services your business offers. You just need to know how to take full advantage of tradeshows and make them worth your time. Here are a handful of suggestions. 

Do Your Research
Most importantly, do your research. Look at the different tradeshows throughout the year, and make sure you’re selecting the right ones for your business. Understand what the tradeshow is, which companies are attending or have attended in the past (oftentimes, big names in your industry will increase the turnout) and whether those in attendance are your major target audience. If the event doesn’t check off all your requirements, look for another event that does. 

Consider Using Associated Hotels
While associated hotels may cost more, it may be beneficial to stay at one for the various networking benefits, as many attendees will book a room closest to the tradeshow venue. You’ll find you’re more likely to mingle and sell products during the after-event cocktail hour than on the busy tradeshow floor. 

Dress for the Event 

If you’re selling custom toys at a comic convention, you probably don’t want to show up in a tuxedo (unless, of course, it’s a custom tuxedo designed after a popular comic book character). That being said, we recommend dressing appropriately for the particular event and industry.

Register Early
There are two advantages of registering early. First, you will have a better selection of booth locations. Select a booth that is clearly visible, has high foot traffic and is large enough (or small enough) for your signs and presentation materials. This way, you won’t need to settle for a booth that doesn’t fit your needs. Second, it is typically less expensive if you register early. Early bird specials can save you hundreds of dollars.

Each of these points will help you maximize your tradeshow potential. However, you need to make sure your tradeshow displays and presentation material arrives at the correct location on time and in one piece. This is where AMR Group comes in. As a trusted event logistics & global freight forwarder, we work with you to make sure all of your tradeshow materials arrive on time and within budget. Contact us at +1-702-800-6385 to learn more.

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Trust in an uncertain world. Finding a qualified event logistics forwarder is key

Global shipping can be a minefield of red tape and corruption not to mention the time factor involved when shipping to an event or tradeshow.  Someone’s job could depend on it (literally).  Imagine for a moment you are a marketing manager tasked with getting the company’s latest gizmo to a tradeshow in Dubai.  Your company is counting on you to make sure the “star of the show” arrives on time and within budget.  By the way this event just became much more high profile since the CEO will be there along with 50 of your top company sales people will be on hand to witness the unveiling.  Better get to work, right?

The first step is to go to your corporate logistics department, right?  Wrong!  In our experience shipping for events and tradeshows is very different from most company’s corporate, day to day logistics process.  The hurdles are not only higher but they are altogether different.  The right answer is to reach out to someone who knows events and knows tradeshows.  Not only that but also knows how they work outside the US and Canada.

Shipping to events and tradeshows overseas is very different from shipping to shows in the US and Canada.  There is no such thing as a general service contractor like GES or Freeman and most of the time there is no “advanced warehouse”.  The other problem is customs clearance.  Your general cargo forwarder is not usually in tune with who the appointed onsite freight forwarder is and therefore they will not have inside knowledge about the requirements including all deadlines and specific types of import customs regulations for that specific country.  ATA Carnet, Temporary import bond, permanent vs. temporary import are all foreign to most general cargo forwarders and you most likely don’t have the time for them to “go to school” on these subjects.  So, what to do, what to do?

The answer is to reach out to an event logistics expert like AMR Group.  If you don’t know anyone in the field its best to rely on your trusted colleagues from the industry to provide referrals.  If you don’t have access to a network of colleagues then it may be of benefit to ask the show organizer for a referral or visit the website of the professional trade association for exhibition logistics professionals called IELA (International Exhibition Logistics Association) at www.iela.org.  There you will find a list of professionals who can help you.

Trust is important because someone’s job may be on the line.  Trust is important because your company reputation could be damaged and the outcome may affect future sales.  Trust is important because it helps relieve some of your fears of the unknown.

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