Trade Show Contractor Issues

A good trade show contractor can make your day. A bad one can ruin your week.

In reality, it's not the contractor or its people that are the issue. It is often how you deal with them that is or becomes the issue.

Before and during a trade show it can be hectic and managing this relationship can be a new or daunting task.

In the larger shows at the major convention centers the event manager will direct you to use their trade show contractor for services.

Often, they are the only place you can recieve these services. Take the time to review your exhibiting agreement and know what is allowed in the building and what must go through the trade show contractor.

Here is a sampling of services you may be offered.Booth rental
Graphics design and signage
Carpet and furnishings
Exhibit transportation and cartage
Set up and break down of booth labor
Daily Cleaning and maintenance
Carpet, furniture and electrical
Utilities and internet connection

You may also see services designated like photography, flowers, catering, computer rentals and other related items.

You are not obligated to use ALL the services offered but some a manditory and you will just work with it.

Others you have already in-house or may consiter the convenience of dealing with the on-site trade show contractor.

You will be more succesful if you treat this as a key vendor relationship to manage and not as an adversarial relationship which causes you heartburn.

Remember, contractors are people too, and they won't always be in the mood to handle your heightened level of stress (should you be in that state).

You may get better results with Mrs. Fields cookies than with evil glares!

Trade Show Marketing Tip

From here on in you are reading an excerpt from The World's Most Powerful Trade Show Marketing Guide.

Get a Trade Show Swiss Army Knife

Bring a survival kit with the booth. That means duct tape, paper, pens, phone numbers, spare parts, light bulbs, fasteners, holders, and anything that can be used to solve a last minute breakage problem.

Bring a small office worth of supplies.

Generally you will find that on set up day things don't quite go as planned. Small things break, last minute ideas crop up and you will be in a convention center far from a Staples.

Make sure you also map out where the closest Staples is so you can cab over there on Sunday afternoon and find the missing "insert last minute forgotten item here."

Fishing tackle boxes and tool boxes make good carrying cases for your Trade Show Swiss Army Knife items.

Plan for small annoying missing items and bring a supply with you.