5. Train your booth staff

The best way to maximize your success at any event is to have a fully trained and engaged booth staff. Attendees have expectations when they come to your booth. Below are some tips to get started:

 Be memorable & enthusiastic

•  Professional
•  Knowledgeable
•  Friendly
•  Courteous to your "guests"
•  SMILE! Have a positive attitude. How often do potential customers make a special trip to see you?
• Carry and use breath freshener spray or small mints (Tic Tacs vs. large, bulky mints). Shy away from spicy or garlicky food and alcoholic beverages
• Avoid chewing gum, eating, and drinking while in your exhibit
• Keep your booth neat & tidy!
  
• While working the exhibit, don't sit in your booth or lean on the exhibit counters
• Don't spend time talking or texting on your cell phone, chatting with booth neighbors, or other booth staff
• Make eye contact; never ignore a prospect, even if you're with another prospect. (Give them a nod and "just a minute" sign). Include them into your conversation
• Greet attendees by name. If you can't pronounce it, ask!
• Shake hands; match the strength of the other person's handshake and only "pump" twice

6. Put together a trade show survival kit

Include the kit in your freight or checked bag including:

• Copies of all orders and tracking number
• Small tool kit
• Staples, scissors and tape
• Pens and markers for labels
• First Aid kit
• Bottled Water

7. Plan for move out

Move out is often one of these most confusing and overlooked parts of trade show management. Each facility, contractor, and show comes with their own unique move out challenges. Here are a few notes to get you started:

• Pre-arrange your outbound shipping with a carrier who is familiar with tradeshows.
• Plan Ahead! Contact your Client Services Specialist 6-8 weeks PRIOR to the event to discuss the move out process if you have any questions.
•  After emptying crates, place empty labels on all sides of your crates and cases. Remember to remove old empty labels. Additionally, the empty labels are sometimes color coded, so make sure you get the correct color and be sure your booth number is on each label. This will ensure no crates are lost or separated and will speed up move-out. Don’t forget to label your pallets if you need them back for return shipping. If they are not labeled they will not be returned to your booth.
• Large shows take time for the crates, pallets and empty boxes to be returned to the booths for load-out packing. It can take 6 hours or more for empty crates to be returned to the booth, please plan your departing flights appropriately. Loose cartons and fiber cases will be returned first so you can start packing. Wooden crates and skids will be next. Material return is random, and holding your empty crates during set up will not get your crates back to you any earlier. If you hold your empties, the Floor Manager will warn you at first and then have your empties removed.

Be sure to read through the Move-Out information located in your Exhibitor Service Kit for more tips on move out.

8. Additional Tips

• Keep the total square footage of your booth space in mind when you order decorating items. Do not order more than will comfortably fit in your booth and allow you to do business.
•  If you have multiple locations, please complete a new and separate order for each location (booth, meeting room, etc.).
• Take a company credit card to pay all balances due on show site and for deposits on rental equipment.
• Work Zone - You should know that the show site and surrounding areas are active work zones. You need to be careful, and agents and representatives are present at their own risk.