New CEIR Report Helps Event Sales Teams Overcome Barriers to Exhibiting
July 17, 2019
Center for Exhibition Industry Research has released the third report in its Head of Marketing Insights Series, entitled Overcoming Non-Exhibitor Objections. The report provides insights and ideas for how B2B exhibition management and exhibit sales teams can not only overcome barriers when making the case for exhibiting at their trade shows, but also formulate strategies for gaining new exhibitors.
“Overcoming prospect objections is an ongoing challenge,” said Cathy Breden, CEO of CEIR. “This report identifies how to minimize objections through offering the right event content and deploying other tactics. It can also serve to launch a brainstorming session on refining event content and sales pitches that maximize sales conversions.”
In addition to sharing survey results gathered from marketing leadership at organizations throughout North America, the report provides a list of suggestions for effectively addressing each objection, a matrix exhibit sales teams can then use for strategic planning brainstorming sessions to help refine event content and cultivate more targeted sales approaches.
“Overcoming Non-Exhibitor Objections” provides results relating to:
- Reasons for not exhibiting
- What convinces non-exhibitors to exhibit
- Suggestions on how to counter objections
In addition to total results, differences in results are reported by:
- Organization size, by number of employees
- Average market share in primary target markets
- Heads of marketing by generation
“A surprise finding from this research is that a substantial percentage of marketing leadership at organizations not using [exhibitions as a marketing] channel are open to considering the opportunity,” Nancy Drapeau, CEIR’s vice president of research. “The challenge is to make a compelling offer [exhibitors] value.”
Designed to quantify the power of B2B exhibitions as an effective marketing medium, the multi-report Head of Marketing Insights Series uncovers areas of opportunity to expand awareness of the channel and what to address to enhance its value and relevance to brand marketers going forward, according to CEIR officials.
The series includes five reports:
- Part One: Overview of Marketing and Sales Approaches, Most Urgent Objectives, and Brand Image of the B2B Exhibition Channel to Support Needs
- Part Two: Aligning Exhibit Sales for Success
- Part Three: Overcoming Non-Exhibitor Objections
- Part Four: How B2B Exhibitions Are Judged, Where It Is Essential to Deliver Results
- Part Five: Future Plans for Use of the B2B Exhibition Channel
This new series has been made possible thanks to funding by the Society of Independent Show Organizers.
To learn more and download the report, go here.
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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.
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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.
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