Laurie S. Moran, CCE

President & CEO

Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of

Commerce

Southside Show – Biz

October 10-11, 2016

Averett University’s North Campus

Outline for Today’s Webinar

• Schedule with details

• Theme and awards

• Set-up: What will be provided, what you need to provide

• Reminders

• Layout

• How the Chamber will promote

• How your business can help to promote

• Tips to ensure the success of the trade show

Trade Show Schedule

• Monday, October 10, 2016

– Booth set-up 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

– Booths staffed/ready 5:00 p.m.

– VIP Reception 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, October 11, 2016

– Booth ‘fresh-up’ 1 p.m.

– Booths staffed/ready 2:45 p.m.

– Ribbon Cutting 3 p.m.

– Open to the public 3 - 7 p.m.

– Take down/clean up 7 – 10 p.m.

The 2016 Trade Show

VIP Reception

Monday, October 10, 2016

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Who’s Invited?

•All Chamber Members

•Exhibitors, Sponsors will get tickets for your

guests

•Exhibitors do not need tickets for your

employees/booth workers

The 2016 Trade Show

VIP Reception

•The reception will be in the exhibit area with the

goal of ‘spreading out’ to maximize exposure

•This year’s reception will feature area caterers

and restaurants

Brewed

Awakening

The 2016 Trade Show

Open to the Public

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

3:00 -7:00 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting to Open the Event

3:00 p.m.

The 2016 Trade Show

Public Day

Attractions, Performances, Demonstrations:

‘Attractions’,

performances, and

demonstrations and the

schedule will be

included in the

Chamber’s marketing of

the trade show.

The 2016 Trade Show

Public Day

Special Mailing and Promotion to

Encourage Businesses to Attend

The 2016 Trade Show

Door Prizes

Chamber will announce your door prizes winners

(Schedule will be in your booth on Monday)

Winners will pick up their prizes at your booth

OR

Draw your winner(s) after the Trade Show, call

them, and have them pick up their prize at your

business

Trade Show Theme

Southside Show-Biz

Trade Show Theme

Southside Show-Biz

Trade Show Theme

Southside Show-Biz

Trade Show Theme

Southside Show-Biz

Show-Biz Awards

• People’s Choice Award (will be

voted on by the public on Tuesday)

• STAR Award (Show-Biz Theme

Award)

• Best in Show Award

• Best Supporting Role

The 2016 Trade Show • Set-Up

– Exhibitors can set up beginning at 8 a.m. on

Monday

– Loading dock on the side of the exhibit area

• Booths will have: – 10’ x 10’ exhibit space

– An 8’ high backdrop (blue and silver) with 3’ high

side rails

– One 6’ table and one chair

– A 110-v/15a duplex electrical outlet

– A 7” x 44” identification sign

– Access to wi-fi (Let us know if you need it)

The 2016 Trade Show • Exhibitors are responsible for:

– Any additional tables you want in your

space (one 6’ table provided)

– Any additional seating you want in your

space (one chair provided)

– Extension cords and/or power strips

– All supplies needed for the set-up and

takedown of your exhibit

*Hollins Exposition Services can rent tables and chairs

to exhibitors. They will be emailing information shortly.

The 2016 Trade Show

• Reminders

– Exhibitors may sell items or services

during the trade show, but prior approval

must be received from the Chamber.

– Food and/or beverage samples may be

offered by exhibitors with prior approval

from the Chamber.

– There will be a break area, with

refreshments, for exhibitors on the public

day.

What will the Chamber do

in advance to maximize

attendance?

• Promotion in Chamber newsletter, email

blasts, website, direct mailings to business

and community leaders, social media

• Media releases and public service

announcements

• $10,000+ in advertising (Print, radio, and

television)

Presenting Sponsor:

What We Need From You

• Any special offers, promotions,

giveaways, or fun ‘stuff’ you’re doing in

your booth (If you’re giving away a

prize valued at more than $1,000, we’ll

promote in our marketing!!)

• Any special needs you have, including

wi-fi

• Please read your emails

Making Our Trade Show Work

For Your Business

• What are your goals?

• What can you do in advance to

maximize your participation?

• What can you do at the Trade Show to

maximize your participation?

• What can you do after the Trade Show

to maximize your participation?

• Tell people you’re participating

– Tag your ads with “Visit my booth at

Southside Show-Biz on October 11th”

– Post flyers or posters at your place of

business promoting your participation in the

Trade Show

– Promote your participation on your website

and on social media

– Promote in your newsletter or email blasts

– Personally invite family, friends, customers

and prospective customers

What can you do in advance to

maximize your participation?

What can you do in advance to

maximize your participation?

• Give people a reason to visit your booth

– Promote drawings for door prizes (and let

us know if you’re giving away a prize

valued at more than $1,000)

– Promote demonstrations

– Promote the introduction of new product(s)

or service(s)

– Distribute coupons that can be redeemed

for a prize

What can you do in advance to

maximize your participation?

• Booth design and set-up

– Does your booth design and set-up allow

you to accomplish your trade show goals?

– Do you have the necessary resources for

your booth? Products? Handouts?

Giveaways?

– What staffing will be assigned to your

booth? Do they know and are they the

“right people” to help you accomplish your

goals?

What can you do at the Trade

Show to maximize your

participation?

• Hold a door prize drawing. (Make sure

you collect contact information for the

drawing.)

• Do product demonstrations. Let your

business shine!

• Give discount coupons or vouchers.

• Meet privately with “hot” prospects.

Working a Trade Show:

The Do’s • Smile

• Make eye contact

• Initiate conversation

• Shake hands

• Wear a name tag

• Introduce yourself

Working a Trade Show:

The Don’ts • Don’t sit

• Don’t eat or drink in booth

• Don’t read in booth

• Don’t smoke

• Don’t chew gum

• Don’t talk on the cell phone

• Don’t be late or ‘no show’ for booth duty

(including reception!)

• Don’t let the booth get cluttered and untidy

• Don’t spend all of your time talking to your co-

workers/booth workers

Working a Trade Show:

Other Tips • Have plenty of business cards

• Keep a ‘leads sheet’ or log book

• Wear comfortable shoes

• Bring breath mints, aspirin, pain relievers, water-free hand wash, tissues

• Bring replacement bulbs, batteries, etc.

• Get a good night’s sleep the night before

• Eat a good breakfast

• Take regular breaks (5 min. per hr.)

• Drink water

• Cover home/office BEFORE you get to the Trade Show

What can you do after the

Trade Show to maximize your

participation?

• Follow up with prospective customers who

visited your booth. (Use the cards from

your door prize drawing for their contact

information!)

• Follow up

• Follow up

• Follow up

• Follow up

Which Exhibitors Will

Succeed? • The exhibitor that….

– Has clearly defined goals

– Prepares for the show

– Maximizes his/her participation in the

show

– Follows up after the show

QUESTIONS???