How to achieve success during an industry trade show

After months of preparation our team has packed their bags and are ready to head to Las Vegas, but you won’t find us gambling away precious time and resources. With backup phone chargers and media guides in hand, our team will head to the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Builders’ Show (IBS) during Design and Construction Week 2016, the largest event in the world for home and building products. We are excited to represent five of our national clients; Dacor, Eldorado Stone, NanaWall, True Residential and Walker Zanger.

Our agency has represented clients in the home design industry for more than 15 years and have been fortunate to be known as a leader in home design trends and an innovator in the public relations sphere. Our signature PR.0™ process combines digital strategies in social media with proven PR practices to provide a streamlined approach that yields unparalleled results for our clients. After years of hands-on experience at trade shows, we’ve developed a few key tips to help your team succeed during the hustle and bustle of what we have come to fondly refer to as “trade show season.”

1. Create one cohesive team that combines PR and social media efforts. These two entities often exist separately (sometimes, with separate agencies), which can lead to a communication disconnect and disjointed communication and strategy. The whole team doesn’t have to be present at the show to make an impact, but everyone should be kept up-to-date about communication strategies.
2. “Trade show season” doesn’t start on the first day of the show. A successful trade show strategy requires months of preparation and adaptability. Our team is all hands on deck leading up to and during trade shows, facilitating client needs including uploading last-minute files, coordinating editorial appointments, attending to the media and in some cases, doing anything from making dinner reservations for our clients to getting up at 5 a.m. to prep for client TV interviews.
3. Make your brand memorable. Showcase new products and innovations from your company with pride. Often times, a trade show can establish trends and set the tone for both your brand and your industry. If executed effectively, the media attention garnered at the show can generate phenomenal coverage for the next 12 months.

TWEET THIS: Three tips to achieve trade show success during #DCW2016 by @MerlotMarketing #marketing blog: http://bit.ly/1ZwpMI0