Exhibitors

Effective Booth Displays

“Top Ten Tips” for maximizing your impact at an invention expo!

“I have been actively involved with the Minnesota Inventors Congress for over 25 years, and I love working with independent inventors when they start their business. For 52 years we have held an annual inventor expo, and as the event approaches I typically get questions from new inventors who are anxious to display their invention. What we have done at the MIC is come up with a Top 10 list to give inventors something of a best practices guide to prepare for an expo and to engage attendees while at their booth. One of the things I appreciate most about working with successful inventors is how willing they are to share what they know with aspiring inventors. So this Top 10 list has been compiled little by little over the years and includes information experienced inventors have shared with us about how they improved their ability to connect with people who stop by their booth while exhibiting at the Minnesota Inventors Congress expo." said Deb Hess, Executive Director, Minnesota Inventors Congress. Our top ten tips:

Presentation is important - remember - company representatives whether they are a manufacturer or a product scout; a competition judge; or the general public all want to feel welcomed, informed, and positive about your invention. Write down your story and tell it well and with enthusiasm! Then design a welcoming space!

Have two well-informed people in your booth at all times, if possible. You want to have one person who is the demonstrator that will showcase the invention. The other is the salesperson who meets, greets and distributes literature, while pointing out the important features and benefits of the product. Practice, practice, and then practice your pitch some more.

Be ready to exchange contact information, discuss the advantages of your invention compared to the competition and its importance to the market and be prepared to answer questions.

Make a good impression – 88% of the viewer’s memory of the booth is based on how you behaved in the interaction!

Prepare your booth design. Know what you are paying for: size, table, chairs, electricity, etc. Know exactly what comes with your booth space rental! What is the floor made of – standing on concrete all day can be challenging. Do you need to purchase a product that would make it more comfortable for you to stand on your feet all day? Do you need to order an additional space? How large is your invention and are there safety features you need to address? Do you have other special needs?

Dress in a manner that appropriately highlights your invention and decorate the space with complimentary accessories. If you have a hunting product, wear camouflage clothing and add outdoor features to the space.

Design a banner/sign for your booth. Make it eye catching and include at least the invention name and it’s most prominent benefits. Have at least one form of contact information, like your web address or a phone number. There are also specialty stores in virtually every county in the US, so check your local Yellow Pages, particularly if you like to buy local and support other small businesses.

Take food breaks outside the exhibit area to maintain a professional image.

Create your one page sell sheet. It should tell enough about your idea that it can also be used to send to companies that you want to consider working with to further develop your idea. It should include your one sentence benefit statement; a few photos or graphics; the major benefits of the product and contact information. If offered, consider advertising in the show guide so everyone that comes through the gate has your information.

Conduct a survey to determine the consumers’ interest in your idea; hold a drawing to build a database, or take orders for your product (if allowed.) Find out if you can sell market ready products.

This is just a quick list and there are many examples of trade show booth tips available online. Review the options and you will get a sense of what approach will work best for you. Take time to educate yourself about the event you are participating in and don’t be afraid to contact the event organizers. Their goal and yours should be to make the experience a worthwhile venture. Take time to ask questions so you can come prepared to gain the most positive experience possible. Effective booth displays should say: “Please come in!”