May 2, 2013

Tradeshow Lead Retrieval

One of the most fundamental reasons why we invest so much time, money, and energy on tradeshows is to network in a face to face environment and receive beneficial leads that in time will turn into sales.

Lead retrieval and lead follow up is the key to this outcome.   It is important to find the right lead retrieval system that will best suit your company. There is nothing worse than doing an inspection for a booth that has returned from a show and we find pages worth of leads tucked away somewhere in the client’s crates. This is not where those important leads you have gathered belong. They belong with your sales team and in your CRM program, in order to make post-show follow up calls and e-mails.

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Lead retrieval seems to be seen as an afterthought to some exhibitors or an additional expense that may not be needed, and that mentality needs to change.  Currently, most exhibitors think you have to use the “show provider” for the actual lead retrieval unit, but that is definitely not the case anymore.  Lead retrieval that is provided by show management is very limited in the information and platforms you receive and can also add up to be quite expensive for what you actually get in return. We have gathered a list of unique and convenient lead retrieval options for you.

For those of you who are tired of always having to deal with a different lead retrieval system at each show – we have discovered some other options worth the investment.

  • NewLeads can increase your tradeshow ROI on several levels, from increased interactions to higher quality leads to fulfilling literature.  The iPads operate on a wireless cloud network in the booth (no internet required) and are organized with sales literature and videos that are tied to a custom sales survey.  Attendee badges are scanned from anywhere in the booth and the network make the lead available to every iPad. Requested literature links are merged and sent in an instant email and a hot leads feature allows the hot ones to be sent out to reps with a personal note.  All leads are downloaded as CRM-ready, eliminating delays in processing.  Because this is a system you can use at every show globally, you also benefit from consistency and in the increased speed of leads processing. www.newleads.com
  • Lead Wizard is a lead retrieval system exhibitors may purchase and use at various trade shows throughout the year. Lead Wizard offers 3 different types of systems thus making the Lead Wizard affordable for any size and type of company.The Lead Wizard software is very user friendly even for the novice user and can be used on laptops, iPods, iPhones 4(4s) and iPads version 2, making the Lead Wizard very versatile.  There is an easy process to ensure compatibility prior to exhibiting at each show.  Lead Wizard has been in business since 2004 and customers who purchased a system at that time are still being used today! For more information please visit www.leadwizard.com or call 877-526-1192.
  • ExpoTools specializes in the design, manufacture, and rental of handheld lead retrieval scanning, attendee tracking, and survey equipment for the trade show and event industry.  ExpoTools will design a customized offering with the best products and experiences available for your respective attendees.  Check out their mobile app – ExpoLeads Mobile as well.  http://www.expotools.biz

Most tradeshow lead retrieval systems are moving away from the old fashioned scanners and enabling you to use iPads, touchscreens, and iPhones (as well as other smart phones).

Studio Displays provides iPads that can be rented for any given tradeshow. We are running a special for the next three months where iPad rentals are 50% off (This offer is good for clients of Studio Displays only from May 1 – August 1, 2013. Enter Promo Code: iNeediPad here now: http://studiotradeshows.com/contact/contact.html)

Posted by on May 2, 2013 in Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , .

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April 1, 2013

Show Supervision

time is moneyWhen you have a trade show property of any complexity – whether it is a small inline or a large island structure, proper show supervision is the key to longevity of the property and successful implementation on the show floor.  There are a few different types of show supervision available and the operational budget that has been set for each show will determine which solution is the best fit for your program.

1. Client supplied supervision

The least expensive option to ensure a successful show set up and dismantle is where the client will manage the entire process and run the crews themselves.  Although this is less of an expense when you simply look at the bottom line on a proposal, it also puts a lot of responsibility on the client to ensure all details are met – all vendors are pulled together and orders handled – etc.  One of the biggest benefits for clients utilizing local I&D or sending a lead installer from Studio is the amount of time the client has to be on the road.  By reducing the clients’ time needed to be on site for set up and dismantle, it provides an enormous value add and is seen as an asset. 

2. Local onsite supervision from a trusted I&D partner

Typically, when we set a booth structure at the show we will hire a team of trusted installers to partner with.  There are a few main vendors we choose to work with currently and most frequently and they have a much better labor pool for the crews they provide to set up and dismantle the booth versus the general decorators.  In many cases when there is not a representative of the exhibiting company onsite to act as a supervisor you can pay a 25-30% fee of the labor order that will ensure there is a dedicated supervisor on that project which will allow them to be held responsible for a complete and successful installation and dismantle of all aspects of the booth.

3. Studio Displays on Site Lead Installer

Naturally, this is going to be the most expensive option, but it is an investment in many ways.  By sending a lead installer that set up and dismantled the booth many times – knows everything about the property – and can work with our local I&D partner it simply makes everything that much easier for the entire I&D process.  In most cities where our installer can perform the work the labor costs are a wash – it is the travel fees that most people shy away from.  However, if you think about not having to have any company representative on site for the set up and dismantle it really evens out.  The security of knowing your property is in the trusted hands of your lead installer is priceless…….

Our supervisors treat your exhibit as though it is their own property.  They will go above and beyond to ensure your entire show experience is the best that it can be.  By sending an installer or investing in a valued onsite I&D partner you are extending the longevity of your booth property and it will ensure everything returns to us in perfect shape with only normal wear and tear. 

You hear so many horror stories from being on the show floor, but it is our priority to make sure things are perfect for our clients.  Investing in proper show site supervision is one way to alleviate all of your show “anxiety” so the focus can be on generating leads and making some long lasting relationships on the show floor.

Posted by on April 1, 2013 in Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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February 27, 2013

Inventory Management

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Properly storing and servicing your trade show exhibit is the most fundamental aspect that leads to the longevity of your trade show booth.  Let’s face it – trade show exhibits are expensive and to protect your investment you need to appropriately manage the property.  You can easily extend the life of your booth if you let a professional exhibit house help take care of your investment.

 If your booth travels from show to show several times a year, it is beneficial to store your exhibit at your designated exhibit house.  By doing so, it is much easier to reconfigure the booth for various booth sizes and make any additional updates.  You will be able to accomplish more in less time and without the hassle of having to ship the exhibit from your warehouse to your exhibit house and then to the show site.  You will most likely find that the costs of hauling the booth back and forth compared to monthly storage rates will generally offset each other throughout the calendar year.  

Studio Displays has over 20,000 square feet of designated trade show exhibit and display storage space. When you store your exhibit with us, it is our responsibility to ensure it arrives safely and is accounted for.  We have various levels of service programs that we provide where based on the operational budget provided we can ensure the booth is show ready.  It is our goal to provide detailed inventory reports to our clients so you are always informed on the condition of your property and you don’t have to deal with last minute repairs or headaches.

In addition to our detailed team of exhibit technicians Studio Displays uses an internal trade show exhibit management system called ExhibitForce.  This system allows you to virtually access your inventory 24-7 for ease of scheduling shows when it is convenient for you.  ExhibitForce has images for each inventory item to make it very easy to pick what booth and graphics you may need for a particular show.  There is not a better system on the market that will allow you such a user friendly platform to keep track of all of your trade shows.

It is our goal to ensure that our clients get the most use out of their exhibits.  By allocating funds in your trade show marketing budget each year for inventory management you will be saving your company time and money down the road.  Trade shows can be very time consuming, but by allowing Studio Displays ownership over your trade show program logistics, etc. we will guarantee that you have the tools you need to create a dynamic show experience where you can focus on generating leads…..not shipping labels.

Posted by on February 27, 2013 in Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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