Southern Ideal Home Show

SOUTHERN SHOWS, INC.GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGNThis presentation includes an audio component. Please turn up the volume on your computer. Click your mouse or the space bar to advance to the next slide.

SOUTHERN SHOWS, INC.GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

2This presentation on Great Exhibit Design provides the basics for putting together an effective exhibit. GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGNPlan your exhibit.

The first step to creating a great exhibit is to plan it. Figure out what you want to include displays, fixtures, tables or anything else. Get out a piece of paper, scale it out, and figure out whats going to go where. That way, you can avoid being one of the exhibitors, who at each show, end up putting half of what they brought back in the truck. Laying your exhibit out on paper also helps you figure out if you have enough space to accomplish what you want to do3GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGNPlan your exhibit.Cover the floor.

The first element that should go into your exhibit is floor covering. Floor covering is required at all Southern Shows events and something needs cover the entire floor area of your exhibit. Think more than carpet. You can use tiles, linoleum or wood flooring. Whatever fits the look of your company. 4GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Your floor covering should help tell your story, just like the rest of your exhibit. Plus the impact of a new color, fiber, and feel will let guests know they have crossed the threshold into your space.6GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Theres nothing wrong with carpet thats what most people use. The show decorator will have standard carpet colors that you can rent, or you can bring your own. Make the carpet work for you and give the image you want. Fun, or perhaps funky, is the image seen here and it works.7GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGNPlan your exhibit.Cover the floor.Cover the curtain.

After you have covered the floor, the next thing you want to cover is the curtain. There are many reasons to do this.8GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Think about what show guests see as they walk down the aisle. They see what is at their eye level. What is at eye level in this exhibit is the same curtain everyone else has. If you want to be noticed, you have to use this vertical space.9GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

I do not consider this a good use of vertical space. While there are some decent looking banners to be found these days, in general they do not give a professional image. They give the appearance of a business thats temporary.10GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

The next couple of photos will demonstrate the difference a solid background can make. Heres a vacuum cleaner company without a solid background.11GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Here is one with a solid background. What an impact!

We grade every exhibit. The only people who will know your grade are you and us and we wont even tell you unless you want to know. We grade for three reasons. First, we find its a great way for exhibitors to look at their exhibit and think about what they can do better. Secondly, a stronger presentation that has great impact and is memorable will help you succeed at the show. Lastly, when were looking to fill a key space in the show, well look at prior years grades before making that decision.

In order to get an A grade, you must have a solid background.

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One more example. A flooring company. Great exhibit with interlocking puzzle pieces. But the curtain and banner do not do it justice.13GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Heres what happens when they added the solid backwall. A huge difference!14GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

When I say solid, that does not necessarily mean you have to get out the hammer and nails. Here is an example of a fabric backdrop.15GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Here is another. 16GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Here is a carpet company that used carpet.17GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Heres a cosmetic company that used their ad campaign to drive home their name and their image.GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

If you have the budget to invest in a designed exhibit, you can create powerful branding and impact to really accomplish your goals.19GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Here is a spa product that has strong lighting and color and that utilizes the corner space to ensure impact. 20GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Another reason to use a solid back wall is that you can use it to display your products, a natural for window fashions to really illustrate the impact their treatments make.

You can also use it as part of your sales presentation. It just makes sense.

21GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGNPlan your exhibit.Cover the floor.Cover the curtain.Let them in.

It is critically important to let the show guest into your exhibit space.22GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

23You want to let them into your exhibit so you can have that one-on-one conversation that establishes you as the expert.GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

24If you design your exhibit so people are welcome to come in, they will. You want to be able to use your entire exhibit to sell.GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

You do not let people into your exhibit by placing a table across the front of it.25GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

You let them in by creating an exhibit that allows flow and something that draws them in.26GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

27That does not mean you can not have a table. You most likely will need a table to work off. Thats why I recommend high tables or a counter like this one.GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

28High tables and counter tables are beneficial also because they allow you to bring your products to the show guests level. GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

If you do use a regular table, use covering that goes to the ground. That way youll have space to store product out of site.29GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

30And remember, your table should be a working area. Do not clutter it up. Leave yourself enough room to conduct business.GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGNPlan your exhibit.Cover the floor.Cover the curtain.Let them in.Stand up and greet.

The next part of the design of your exhibit is something you should not bring.31GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

32And those are chairs. This gets back to being approachable. Youre a show guest. Youre walking down the aisle. Youd love to take a vacation. You think to yourself, Well, those ladies seem pretty far away and look pretty comfortable. Ill leave them alone.

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The best solution is no chairs at all. That way, youre approachable and youre ready to greet someone walking into your exhibit.33

GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGN

Realistically, however, many of you are small business people. Theres just you and maybe a couple of other people, so you are going to be there long hours, and you will need to sit down.

If this is your situation, I would suggest you do what these ladies did and use a high stool. A stool gets you on eye level with everyone, and makes you more approachable. And, its a lot easier to get off of a stool than out of a chair.34GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGNTips from Exhibitors:

Read the Exhibitor KitSign up for dcor and power earlyThink about what you will need to set upSet up earlyPick up your badges during Move-InMake sure everything worksGet to know your neighbors

To wrap up the presentation on creating a Great Exhibit Design, here are some tips from experienced exhibitors35GREAT EXHIBIT DESIGNWhat to Pack:

StepstoolToolboxWater and SnacksHandcartBroomExtension Cord

And here are some items to bring along.

I hope this has given you some ideas on creating your exhibit for the show. To really make the most of your exhibit, presentation #5 will give you some ideas on how to make sure your exhibit has impact.36