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5 Things Your Staff Should Be Doing During Trade Shows


As with any kind of business activity, there’s an etiquette to what your staff should and shouldn’t be doing when you attend a trade show. If you’ve got people on the floor who are trying to engage with potential new clients or customers, here are a few of the things they keep in mind as they interact with people.


Presentation Matters


While it’s true that it should be the product or service that matters the most, your staff are the welcome mat, door, and face of your company during a trade show. Professional presentation is key here, and the staff should always be presentable and, perhaps most importantly, well-rested. Being up all night and showing it on the trade show floor is going to make some potential clients and customers steer away from your exhibit before anyone can even greet them.


Name Tags On The Chest


There might be some preference for putting name tags on the waist or some other less prominent part of the body due to comfort or sometimes even modesty. However, placing a name tag on the chest eases that crucial moment of first interaction, as the person’s eye line is direct to the chest and face of the staff member, during a handshake, instead of down at hip level.


Always Be On At The Exhibit


If a staff member needs to take a phone call, check email, eat, or take a break, it’s best to leave the exhibit and undertake these activities elsewhere. Staff should be behaving professionally and engaged with the people who visit the exhibit.


Know The Objectives


Different people will have different roles. Make sure the staff has properly sorted out duties and responsibilities. This way, the right staff can be referred to the potential client or customer at the appropriate stage of introductions or negotiations for business.


Maintain Sociability


Different people have different strengths. A trade show is not where you want to subject your talented but introverted staff member to a trial by fire of having to meet and greet people. The staff members you have that can break the ice, easily interact with people and engage them are the ones you want for an event of this scale.


If you’re thinking of taking part in a trade show and want to plan your exhibit and get your staff ready, we can help. Contact Lighthouse Exhibits, and we can assist you with designing and constructing your trade show exhibit, as well as advising you on how to conduct your show.

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