Skyline Exhibits

What do show managers - the people who own and run shows - say about how their exhibitors have changed over the last 12 months? Below are their verbatim responses to a survey from Tradeshow Week.

Perhaps you can use some of these ideas to spark positive changes to your own 2006 trade show program.

How have exhibitors changed their approach at your shows over the past 12 months?

• Becoming more involved, demos, giveaways, presentations & sponsorships
• Better designed booths
• Better pre-show and on-site marketing
• Big exhibitors are getting even bigger in size. Small exhibitors continue to look for savings
• Focus on value - Return on Investment
• Gone from PR to selling
• Identifying opportunities to measure ROI
• Incorporating games and themes
• Less equipment - alternative exhibiting - more content
• Link to corporate web site - more onsite sales
• Looking for additional exposure to their booth space
• More advanced marketing. More use of Internet
• More competition for exposure - banners, sponsors
• More interactive, generating their own traffic
• More interactive; Offered value added experiences
• More marketing ideas to draw people to their booth
• More participation in events off the exhibit floor
• More sponsorships and more parties/events hosted on their own
• Most are looking for value, justification of stated or implied ROI claims
• Pro-active & great deals during show
• Reducing shows attended & increase exposure at the quality shows
• Smaller booths, but more visibility (i.e. advertising/sponsorships)
• Spending again; and looking at more integrated approaches (space sponsorships, advertising)