A promotional product says “Welcome” and “Thanks” at the same time.
Trade Show and Exhibition Programs for Business, Institutions, Associations, and Organizations
Emphasis for these programs first targets potential attendees of the exhibition or trade show. The names of these attendees are drawn from existing internal lists or from a list available through the event organizers. An invitation may be sent to bolster pre-event awareness and to invite the attendee to visit the exhibitor’s booth. Secondly, emphasis is directed toward the activities at the exhibition – at-booth events, presentations and support activities such as hospitality rooms, conference presentations and seminars, and break-out sessions. Giving brand awareness and product-service gifts provide reinforcement that can lead to after-the-event recognition at follow-up contact. Lastly, a post-event item may be delivered to confirmed booth attendees that displayed interest in the exhibitor’s products or services. Key promotional and incentive items may include several reinforcement items or encompass a multi-item, multi-tier program such as:
This program may be based on an overall theme that reinforces the exhibitor’s brand and its benefits and advantages and be comprised of –
A pre-qualifying, interactive, three-dimensional invitation featuring a motivational component that requires the attendee to visit their booth in order to redeem, play, or enter the inducement to receive a gift or prize. An at-booth theme-related activity that reinforces product/service attributes and provides the exhibitor an opportunity to qualify the attendee and then give them the chance to win a prize and be successful or to attempt and leave with a message reinforcing gift. Theme-linked promotional items are also offered during conference seminars and break-out sessions, and at hospitality suites that also support the program. The objective may be to qualify and gift visitors according to their tier – and that all qualified or interested visitors leave with a brand awareness memento. As mentioned above, afterward, a post-event reinforcement item may be delivered to a booth visitor to enhance the exhibitor recognition and personal connection when performing follow-up contacts.
Program Examples
Simple Program
Objective: Gain the greatest impact from a single inducement item that attracts booth visitors and combines with at-booth awards that visitors retain upon leaving the booth. Allows enhanced follow-up after-the-show contact and increases traffic of targeted attendees to facilitate in-booth orders.
Program Type: A single Trade Show inducement and awareness specialty item combined with prize items are used by a software company to promote its software application that finds, sorts and organizes data from different locations. The inducement item, illuminated branded and numbered puzzle pieces that feature an RFID tag. The puzzle pieces are mailed to key show attendees prior to the event and distributed to attendees as they enter the exhibition hall and directed to the booth. Once there, the player matches their puzzle shape to one on an overall puzzle board. Visitors are awarded from a selection of supporting promotional items according to their RFID imbedded number plus they have the chance to win an installed copy of the software. Several supplemental, PDA and USB Memory Stick prizes are also awarded to registered visitors randomly selected via their RFID identification.
Theme: Helping companies meet the challenges of growth and performance by uniting, organizing, and presenting business driving data from locations throughout the world.
Slogan/Memory Hook: All Locations in One Place
Materials: Direct mail invitation, collateral brochure describing the software, puzzel piece holder/invitation with booth location and instructions on how to play.
Branded Promotional Items: Puzzle game piece plus items for desktop sorters, mini daytimers, post-it notes, and supplemental PDA and USB memory stick items.
Extended Program
Objective: Over a three month period, introduce, generate awareness and invite key upscale track-home and mid-price custom home builders to attend a detailed demonstration of a new less expensive, easy-to-install wireless lighting system for homes at the NHBA Convention. Then, secure model home installations agreements to demonstrate and sell-though their new approach to custom home lighting systems.
Program Type: A multi-part Trade Show program focuses on attracting targeted home builders who are attending National Home Builders Association Convention to view a demonstration of the company’s new lighting system at their trade show booth. A three-part direct mail invitation is sent to the potential home builder customer on the first of each of three months preceding the trade show. The initial invitation features a box which contains branded sunglasses with the message, “Look for a bright idea, at NHBA.” The second mailing features a branded coffin-like black box containing neatly coiled black wires, and reads, “Shed new light on an old problem at NHBA,” The third and final mailing features a small, easily-carrying light with the message, “Turn-on to a brilliant idea, wirelessly at our NHBA booth.” And, requests that the attendee bring the light to their booth for an opportunity to receive the free installation of a custom home lighting system. Additional branded reinforcing promotional products are distributed to attendees.
As part of a Business-to-Business Program, additional follow-though to builders will be implemented.
Theme:
Slogan/Memory Hook: Bright Ideas for Homes
Materials: Custom packaging, printed invitation, lighting concept preview brochure, 3-D home demonstration, web site information, imprinted specialty items
Branded Promotional Items: Sunglasses, blink badge, custom lights, wire arrangements, model home key flash lights, battery operated mini-light bulb.
Note: Branded items are also available for purchase.
Program Templates — Use a template as a guide and a means to help you define your incentive, award, or reinforcement program. It is a convenient way to record your theme and item options, and to calculate your budget and pricing options. Find out more under
“Setting Your Goals” and
Planning Template.
Personalized Service for Specialty Products
Take advantage of quick turn-around on custom silk screening and dye sublimation printing and imprinting of your specialty products.
Call or email David Merton to promote your image and build your brand. Image!Mart Dallas 972.754.5992 david@imagemartdallas.com
