Attend Trade Shows to Grow Your Business

 

Trade shows are events where businesses in a particular industry come together to showcase their products and services to potential customers, suppliers, and partners. Attending trade shows is essential for businesses, as they provide an opportunity to network, learn about industry trends, and gain new customers.

 

In this blog post about the trade show industry, we will discuss the importance and costs of attending trade shows, provide trade show resources and statistics, and highlight the top venues for trade shows in North America.

Importance of attending trade shows.

Trade shows provide a unique opportunity for businesses to connect with potential customers, partners, distributors and suppliers. These conferences are usually industry-specific and attract people interested in a particular product or service. For businesses, attending trade shows can help them to:

1. Generate leads: Trade shows provide businesses with an opportunity to connect with potential customers and generate leads. Exhibitors can demonstrate and showcase their new products and services to attendees and collect contact information of booth visitors for future follow-up.
2. Network: Trade shows provide a platform for businesses to network with other industry professionals, build relationships, identify potential partners and access to established suppliers.
3. Learn about industry trends: Trade shows are a great place to learn about industry trends, new technologies, and emerging markets. Attendees can attend seminars, workshops, and keynote speeches to gain insights from industry leaders and experts.
4. Increase brand visibility: Trade shows provide businesses with an opportunity to showcase their brand and increase their visibility in the industry. Exhibitors can create custom displays and promotional materials to attract attendees to their booth.
5. Close deals: Trade shows provide a unique opportunity for businesses to close deals with potential customers and partners. Exhibitors can showcase their products and services and negotiate deals on the spot.

Trade show resources and statistics

There are several resources available to businesses looking to attend a trade fair. The following are some of the most popular resources:

1. Trade show directories: Trade show directories provide a comprehensive list of trade shows by market sectors, industry, location, and date. Exhibitors can search for trade fairs based on their specific needs and preferences.
2. Trade show organizers: Trade show organizers are companies that specialize in organizing these eventss. They can provide exhibitors with logistical support, such as booth design, shipping, and storage.
3. Trade show apps: Trade show apps provide attendees with real-time information about trade fairs, including schedules, maps, and exhibitor information. These apps can be downloaded on smartphones and tablets.
4. Business financing resources: If you plan correctly and have a successful trade show experience then your working capital needs will change. As you start to receive larger purchase orders from potential buyers and bring on more customers, you will need the working capital to support it. Many businesses turn to financing solutions like purchase order financing, factoring, and business lines of credit.

According to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), trade shows are a $14 billion industry in the United States. There are over 9,400 trade fairs and exhibitions held in the US, attracting over 113 million attendees. These events generated $101 billion in direct spending, supporting over 738,000 jobs.

The top venues for trade shows in North America

North America is home to several world-class venues for trade fairs. The following are some of the most popular venues:

1. McCormick Place, Chicago: McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America, spanning over 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. It has hosted several high-profile events, including the National Restaurant Association Show and the International Manufacturing Technology Show.
2. Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas: The Las Vegas Convention Center is the second-largest convention center in the US, with over 1.9 million square feet of exhibit space. It has hosted several major events, including CES, the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show production.
3. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando: The Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention center in the US, with over 2.1 million square feet of exhibit space. It has hosted several major trade shows, including the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo.
4. The Jacob K Javits Convention Center: Often referred to as the Javits Center, it is located in Hells Kitchen, Manhattan on 38th street. The Javits Center is over 3,300,000 square feet and is considered one of the busiest convention centers in North America.

Top trade shows and trade fairs to attend in North America

While there are 1000s of trade events hosted in North America, Several trade fairs come to mind when thinking of the most popular few.

1. Outdoor Retailer
2. Magic Fashion Trade Show
3. Retail Supply Chain Conference
4. Natural Products Expo West
5. Automotive Retail Show
6. Licensing Expo
7. National Hardware Show
8. The Light Fair

Watch your industry closely to make sure you are attending shows that have the most action. Sometimes smaller shows are easy to attend and less costly, but they might provide the same return on investment as a larger more well attended show does. You can look at resources like 10 Times to find the best shows in your industry week by week.

In conclusion, investing in a trade show is similar to any other investment your company can make. Work with the top trade show resources in order to guarantee a successful show. Star Funding attends many trade shows to speak with business owners that are looking for working capital. Feel free to reach out to a Star Funding representative for more information.