In this video, Storage.com’s Karl Bieber and Nick Bilava share some valuable tips to help you and your company get the most out of your next industry trade show or expo.
Attending these expos can get overwhelming with so many speakers, special events, booths and fellow attendees. Karl recommends taking some time to meet with your co-workers and form a plan of action: who will attend what, which companies you want to visit specifically, etc. As an experienced trade show veteran, Nick advises that you contact companies or speakers in advance to set up an individual meeting time, to make sure that you’ll get to talk with them and ask your questions.
Nick and Karl also say that you should take plenty of notes to reference later, when sharing information with your company. You should also have extra business cards to hand out when making new contacts.
For more storage industry and marketing tips, visit Storage.com’s Storage Operator TV section.
Full Video Transcript
Karl: Hi, I’m Karl from Storage.com, today I’m joined by Nick Bilava, also of Storage.com, And the backdrop we’ve chosen today may look familiar to you if you’ve ever been to any storage trade shows. This is the backdrop that we use at our booths. And Nick may also look familiar. Nick has been to a ton of trade shows, and he’s seen a lot over the years.
Nick: That’s right, Karl– I have been to a lot of trade shows. and there are a few tips that we’d like to pass along today, to help you get the most out of attending your next trade show.
Karl: Start off with: do your homework and have a plan. Once you register for a show, you’ll start getting more specific information on the event.
Nick: Most shows will send you promotional materials, either in an email with a link to their website, or in the mail. This, for example, is an expo booklet I have from the Inside Self Storage World Expo in Las Vegas.
Karl: Go through the materials, and make notes on those materials. Nick’s ISS booklet also provided a color-coded agenda– it was very helpful when he was at the show. Large shows and expos may have presentations running at the same time– it’s not uncommon. So, if you’re going with co-workers, have a meeting before the event, to decide who will attend what. By splitting up and comparing notes later, you’ll make sure to get your company’s information that they need, and that you don’t miss out on any important events.
Nick: If you see any names of companies that you’re interested in specifically talking to, it’s a good idea to send them an email, or call them before the show and set up a meeting time. That way, they can be sure to be at the booth when you’re gonna stop by, or you can arrange to talk in a quieter area. I know that helps me a lot when I know ahead of time that somebody will be stopping by– I make sure to be at my booth and have the information that they need.
Karl: I know I’ve been to shows before, not having gotten ahold of anyone beforehand, only to find out they either didn’t attend the show, or they’ve already been to the booth and moved on. That can be frustrating.
Nick: Absolutely. When you get to the show, pick up a trade show directory that they have at registration, and check to make sure your plans are still OK. Sometimes, agendas will alter slightly, and you won’t know until you get to the show.
Karl: You don’t need a surprise when you show up like that. As you walk through the expo, grab a pen and paper for notetaking. Even just jotting down a few notes on the program or a brochure you get from a booth can help a lot later on, when you’re trying to remember everything from the show. There’s a lot to take in, and having good notes will help when following up with people you’ve met, or remind you of some good information that you can use when you get back to your company.
Nick: You’re right– there is a lot of information at these shows. You also want to make sure you have plenty of business cards to hand out. If you want to follow up with someone, it’s much easier to give them a business card, than fumbling for a pen and paper. Also, nothing can be more frustrating than trying to read someone’s handwriting.
Karl: We’ve had a lot of information for you in the show– a lot of good information, Nick.
Nick: Absolutely. We have covered a lot here, so let’s wrap up with one last important tip: enjoy yourself! Storage.com likes to have a lot of fun at these trade shows. We’ve done interesting things in the past: we’ve had cigar rollers at our booth, we’ve had zombies roaming around, they’ve really made for some interesting selfies.
Karl: There’s always something to check out when you stop by our booth. Sponsors and show organizers want everyone to get the most out of these expos, so doing a little homework beforehand and having a plan for when you hit the ground can make the event much more enjoyable and worth the investment.
Nick: Storage.com attends storage trade shows all around the country, so make sure when you’re at the next trade show, you stop by and say “hello.”
Karl: Thanks for stopping by today and watching our video, if you have any questions, of course you can send us a note at info@storage.com or call us anytime at 800-757-0459.
