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Bring Your Table Top Displays To Austin: Preparing For A Trade Show

By December 16, 2015August 21st, 2017Trade Show Displays

Bring Your Table Top Displays To Austin: Preparing For A Trade Show

The team at Xtreme Xhibits knows that, just like with any presentation, when it comes to trade shows, preparation is everything. The last thing you want is to be scrambling at the eleventh hour to get everything done or, worse, showing up at the convention with no real plan. Start preparing well in advance so you have plenty of time to get all of your ducks in a row!

Budgeting For A Convention

The first step is to decide how much you can afford to spend on a convention. In addition to the registration fee for the show itself, the costs will include travel and accommodation for your staff, extra labor to help set up and take down your booth, and designing your table top displays. Austin conventions also may require you to have insurance coverage, so be sure to budget for that as well. It’s a good idea to set aside more money than you think you’ll need in case of unexpected expenses.

Designing A Table Top Display In Austin

When you’re first starting out in the trade show arena, it’s best to start small. Table top displays at Austin conventions are a great way to get started without spending too much. Lightweight and easy to pack, they also save you a bundle on shipping costs. Also, bigger is not always better, some convention halls won’t be able to accommodate larger displays, but a table top display at Austin trade shows will always fit.

Researching The Options

Once you have your display squared away and you know how much more you can spend, do some careful research on what conventions are appropriate for your business and work with your budget. Especially for a first-time exhibitor, you should consider attending a show that you’ve already been to as a customer so you’ll have some firsthand experience of what the convention will be like. Also, take a good look at the target market of each convention you’re researching and make sure you’ll fit in well. A large, elaborate booth will stick out like a sore thumb in a hall full of smaller companies with simple table top displays in Austin, and vice-versa. You also stand a much better chance of making some sales if you choose an expo that’s appropriate for your market.

table top displays AustinFilling Out The Paperwork

After you’ve chosen a convention, the first thing to do is to completely fill in the contract and send it in. Make sure you read it thoroughly so you know exactly what you’re agreeing to. You’ll also need to send your deposit to reserve your space at the show. At this point, you should also decide whether you’d like to use sponsorship or advertising to promote your presence at the convention. Sometimes the convention manual will include sponsorship opportunities. If it doesn’t, talk to your trade show rep to find out what is available.

Setting Goals

It’s pointless to exhibit at a convention without having some clear goals in place. Avoid spinning your wheels and come up with a strategy in advance. Are you demonstrating a new product line? Are you finding new sales leads and making connections? Make a plan and choose your staff accordingly. Make sure you send people who know the product thoroughly and know how to land a sale.

Pack Up And Go

Once you have all the advance work done, it’s time to pack your things and leave! Be sure to take plenty of promotional materials such as brochures and business cards so you don’t run out halfway through the show, as well as your booth decorations and any promotional products you’ll be using. Choose your clothing carefully, since you’ll want to be both appropriate and comfortable.

After you’ve finished all of the prep work, enjoy the show! When you’re fully prepared, the convention will be a breeze. Demonstrate your product, make some connections, and be sure to keep careful records so you can follow up later. But there’s no need to do all that preparation yourself, contact Xtreme Xhibits and let us help you!