exhibitor express

The best way to come up with a killer exhibit is to avoid exhibit killers - practices that keep your exhibit from ever succeeding. Following are eight problems to avoid with your next exhibit.

1. Lacking lead time - designing an exhibit is a complex process. Do not leave it until the last minute. Co-ordinating stand construction under time constraints can increase costs 50 - 75%

2. Fixed design - dont make a design decision until you know your options. Keep your objectives tight but your options loose until you see what is out there. An exhibit you hadnt thought of may do the job better than what you are considering.

3. Inflexible budgets - dont determine the budget until after you've shopped around. Get an idea of what an exhibit that will meet your needs will cost.

4. Flat thinking - remember, an exhibit is going to be a three-dimensional representation of your company. When outsourcing design responsibilities, make sure your supplier understands 3-D design

5. Convoluted graphics - the considerations for graphics are numerous. A rule of thumb; less is more. Remember that the stand is just bait - it only exists to get visitors to step on your carpet.

6. Overload - you're designing an exhibit, not a catalogue. All you want to do is open a dialogue with visitors about your company's product or service. You don't have to exhibit your company's entire product line.

7. Scrimping - remember than an exhibit is an investment. Cutting elements out of an exhibit design proposal so that it will fit into your budget may cost you money in the long run.

8. Gimmicks - at the same time, dont spend money unnecessarily. Don't blow the budget on bells and whistles that won't contribute to your bottom line - the show

This article was taken from the huge archive of exhibitor tips and advice at www.exhibitornet.com, the home of Exhibitor Magazine

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QUESTION: 'do you have a suggestion for building a database of pre-registered exhibition visitors, if the Organisers wont supply'

ANSWER: any Direct Mail house will be able to supply address labels or a CD of your prospects - the people that you want and need to see on your exhibition stand. Create a really good reason for them to visit your stand; when they do you can add their contact information to your lead management system.

Dont forget, 'MARKEX' the Marketing Services exhibition, will be taking place 3 - 5 June, next Tuesday - Thursday at Sandton Convention Centre. Visit www.markex.co.za to pre-register and arrange free admittance and parking. If you are visiting 'MARKEX', do stop at stand H10 Trade Show Training, and say 'hello'

'Spotlight on Africa & South Africa Travel Workshops' are currently being held as a road-show, featuring 40 companies in a table-top exhibition - literally small displays, on the top of conference tables. Table-top exhibitions have been very popular in America, for many years and it will be interesting to see if they catch on here as they could be a highly cost-effective option for a highly specialised niche market.

If you would like to find out how to maximise your exhibition results then diarise to attend the 3-hour exhibitor workshops that EXSA Exhibition Association of Southern Africa will be hosting in Johannesburg on :

for more information on attending these workshops, please click on the date of interest. EXSA is in the process of being accredited as a training provider, therefore the cost of the workshop can be reclaimed from Skills Levies paid. To see what delegates to previous workshops thought, please click here. Visit EXSA for complete exhibition calendar at www.exsa.co.za

The purpose of this newsletter is to help you achieve maximum results from trade exhibitions. There will be regular free tips and advice that will pep up your performance and help you gain the best return on your exhibition investment. If you have specific questions on exhibiting, please e-mail them to: joy@donovan.co.za or phone 011-326-0900. More free help and advice is available at www.exhibitor.co.za Please feel free to pass this newsletter onto friends and colleagues, who can arrange their own free subscription at joy@donovan.co.za

The workshops and this e-mail is presented by Joy Donovan M.D. of South Africa’s first Trade Show Training company. Joy’s 30 + years in the exhibition industry, well equipped her to identify the need in the exhibition market and produce training that significantly improves results. If you require information on in-house exhibitor training, coaching or mentoring, please e-mail joy@donovan.co.za phone 011-326-0900 or fax 011-787-4254..