10 Tips to Check Off for Your Next Trade Show

July 14, 2012

Lisa Apolinski

Lisa Apolinski is a professional speaker, blogger, and digital strategist. With her company, 3DogWrite.com, she works with event managers to get their message to attendees, particularly through digital channels, on and off the show floor.

As you do your final checklist of your trade show, there is a list of 10 items I highly recommend you check off so you can say you are complete.

1.  Light it.  Lighting is your friend.  Don’t make it seem like a prison – have illumination to set the scene.  Bright is not always better.

2. Connect it.  Have connection in your booth, both with abundant technology and each demonstration tying into your overall message of your booth.

3.  Pick a star.  You need to have a single point of focus in your booth, either in a display, demonstration or product.

4.  Choose the back up.  You also need to have ‘back up’ to your star so that it gives a sense of completion and containment in the booth.

5.  Size matters.  Do not stuff too much or have too little in your booth.  Be aware of the space and use it appropriately.

6.  Give the personal experience.  If your attendee comes into the booth, they should be rewarded by a good experience.

7.  Start low and work up.  Review your booth from the ground up and make sure each section ties into the next and guides your attendee through the booth experience.

8.  Focus on other angles.  Your attendee may come into your booth a different way, like from the back.  Don’t have everything only engaging in one direction.

9.  Use modern technology.  This goes without saying.  Keep your booth technology up to date and appropriate for the demo.

10.  Make it fun.  If there is a lot of extra work involved, the attendee will get turned off.  Make the demo fun and engaging.

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MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.