New Obstacles Make Planning Ahead Vital for Your Next Trade Show

Demand for exhibits has slowly been ramping up in 2021. Many companies have truly missed the leads they typically earn from exhibiting at trade shows. Now that the vaccines have been rolling out, we anticipate a Fall with attended trade shows. Finally!

Over the past year, trade shows have gone through significant evaluation and updates to ensure they reopen safely. Since many events were cancelled and postponed, most shows are not scheduled during their “normal” season. Some Fall shows are now in the Spring, and some even-numbered year shows, are now being held during an odd-numbered year. It is important to be aware of the status of the show you plan to exhibit at, and to understand the deadlines so you can plan ahead. Several shows allow you to sign up for email notifications to ensure you receive the most up-to-date information on the status for that particular event.

Also pay attention to the show’s rules and regulations to understand if your exhibit space will need to follow any socially distant criteria. Whether the show requires this, or because you want to be sure your staffers and attendees are comfortable, you may need to add partitions, sneeze guards, or other creative ways to make more space in your booth.

Exhibit companies will certainly be working hard to satisfy all requests and orders as efficiently as possible. Unfortunately, supply chain delays and daily lead time fluctuation are new challenges we must all consider due to the pandemic. This means that if you are thinking of exhibiting in the Fall, it is important to begin the planning process sooner than later. Here are some points to consider:

• Will the exhibit you own fit into the booth size you have decided upon for your Fall show? If not, consider rental. It will save you money, but still provide you with a well-branded space. Plus, if you rent a custom-modular exhibit, you can reconfigure it show-to-show as needed.
• Has your company pivoted during the pandemic and now you need to reorganize your exhibit? Take the time to list out what space you need for your booth activities, so your booth can be re-structured to meet your needs.
• Are you concerned about putting money down for a trade show that may be cancelled? Working with Skyline is transparent. Over the last year, we have worked with many of our clients to be prepared and to stay ahead of the return to trade shows. We are saving our clients’ money by reserving rental materials and labor resources before the surge begins. There will be shortages out in the marketplace in many cases, and we want our clients to be at the front of the line! If your show postpones or cancels prior to any production work, your company can certainly use those funds for your next event!

We anticipate a growing demand over the next few months. If you want to ensure that your next trade show reflects who you are, conveys the messaging you want attendees to remember, and provides the socially distanced space needed to provide demos, launch a new product, or have meetings, be sure to reach out to your exhibit partner TODAY. It is increasingly important to begin having the conversations now to help ensure that your next trade show provides you with the return and the leads that you have been missing. So, what are you waiting for? The time to plan is NOW.

PLAN with confidence. SECURE now. EXHIBIT with Skyline.