What to do when your trade show booth is missing?

You’ve made all the plans. You created the best marketing plan. You designed your exhibit around your new product introductions and invited your top clients to the trade show to see what you have been up to. You and your team are excited to hit the exhibit floor and create a buzz that people will talk about for days. Then the unthinkable happens, you get to the convention center and your trade show booth is no where to be found. What are you going to do? After your moments of complete panic, you need to pull yourself together, the trade show must go on, and your team is looking to you to get them through this. Deep breath, ok, here we go.

First thing you need to do is gather what you do have. Did you and your staff carry certain items for the show; graphics, products, brochures, anything that you can create a new display around? Once you gather everything together, your new foundation is set. The next steps are hectic but all doable. Someone needs to contact your main office and have them ship overnight any additional products or brochures to you right away for the show opening. Then have them email you your artwork for your graphics. There are many printers that can expedite your printing (at a higher cost) so you can create an atmosphere for your booth space. It is better to always have a digital copy of your graphics, just in case, and to always carry some supplies with you instead of packing everything with your display booth, (this could help with those last minute unexpected costs). The show manager should have tables and chairs that you can rent to furnish your space and with a touch of creativity (and a local craft store) you can have a great space. In other words, always have a plan B and maybe even a plan C, this will help to relieve any stress that could arise.

For many exhibitors, this scenario is not only scary but their nightmare in the making. There are, however, ways to avoid such a situation. The foremost best way is to have a full service exhibit company as your partner for your trade shows. The staff, like at Nationwide Displays, will be fully trained to get your trade show display to the show and set up and ready for the start of the show. Since their business is trade shows, they have long standing relationships with the shows management and know all the regulations for the labor unions at the convention halls. The staff is then on-site to be sure that everything is there and put together as planned. While overseeing the progress they have access to their office staff should anything come up. A good exhibit company is also available to you 24/7 so if you have any last minute issues, they are there is assist you.

So what do you do when the unthinkable happens? After the panic has passed, go to your plan B and know you will have a great show. Or better yet, don’t worry, because you have an exhibit company as your partner and everything is all taken care of and you will have a great show.