Exhibiting at a trade show can be a major expense. When it is an important part of your business model, find ways to cut expenses and make the most out of your trade show exhibition is key. Here are eight excellent ways to reduce the quantity you spend at a trade show without sacrificing quality.
- Reduce Travel Expenses: When you make plane and hotel reservation in advance, you usually get much better prices the earlier you book. In addition, you can monitor the rates to see if they go down and request a refund.
- Share Hotel Rooms: When you plan ahead for travel, it also gives you the opportunity to find a roommate to share half of the hotel expense with.
- Plan out the Trade Show Staff’s Schedule: This seems like an “no brainer”, but planning out your schedule of employees ahead of time will ensure that you do not have any duplicate scheduling that would waste your money.
- Evaluate the Best Times for Booth Set up and Break Down: Check into any requirements or regulations that each trade show might have requiring you to use a certain company for set up and break down. Also try to plan that your set up and break down are during business hours. If it is after hours on on a weekend, it could cost you more.
- Save Time: Time is money and planning out your schedule for the entire show including specials and promotions, and lunches all will save you money.
- Get a Pattern Down: Once you have done a few trade shows, you can establish a pattern and learn which way is the easiest and best way to do things. You will learn where the best place is for lunches that get you a good value for your food and fast.
- Review What Could be Done Better: After each trade show, make a list of ideas that you can use for the next time around. Some ideas will apply to the next trade show and some can be specific to each venue.
- Local Deals: Plan ahead and connect with other exhibitors and local vendors at each trade show to see if you can trade out deals and get special offers for the employees and your customers too.
