If you’ve never been to a trade show before, or loathed it the last time you went, there are a few tricks to making it a comfortable experience. Whether you’re a consumer or are running a company booth, there are a few things you to need to plan for. I generally suggest making up a checklist to bounce off of prior to leaving for any trade show.
First, remember that hunger and thirst are never fun. However, don’t rely on restaurants! Eating out invariably costs too much and can really wreck waistlines. Pack a small cooler with fruit, sandwiches and bottled drinks instead. Avoid caffeinated drinks, caffeine makes the body lose water quickly. Additionally, electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade are only necessary for extreme sports. Drink plain water at regular intervals throughout the day, and you should be fine. Use a cooler that fits easily in a car trunk or under a table, and don’t leave it out in the sun all day.
While trade shows are not usually considered hazardous to one’s health, use simple, common sense safety precautions. Wear sensible shoes with cushioned soles to any convention. If the trade show is outside, remember to wear at least SPF 15 sunscreen. Pay attention to your body’s signals if getting overstressed.
Additionally, make sure you have somewhere decent to sit. If you’re representing your company, get a comfy recreational folding chair with your company’s logo emblazoned prominently. If you’re a browser, a camping chair that folds into a carry bag is probably a better bet, so you can have it conveniently to hand whenever you might need it. No matter what, a comfortable chair during a long trade show is a must.
Remember to bring along notepads and a pen or pencil, you’re guaranteed to need them no matter what. If in a booth, bring games to liven up the show! That’ll break up any long day and get attention (more…)
