10 Things That Could Go Wrong for Exhibitors at a Trade Show (and How to Stop Them)

Exhibiting at a trade show is an exciting opportunity to display your brand and make valuable connections. However, things may not always go as planned. Even the best-laid preparations can face unexpected hurdles. As an exhibitor, it’s essential to be prepared for any situation that may arise at trade shows.

Also, there are a few things that you, as an exhibitor, should avoid doing at trade shows. Combining all of these, we’ll let you know in this blog about 10 things that could go wrong at a trade show for exhibitors. More importantly, you’ll know how to stop them before they happen. 

Late arrival

You’ve worked hard to get everything ready for the show, but a late arrival can throw everything off. There's nothing worse than having to rush to get your booth ready and reach your own booth while people are already coming in.

How to prevent it:

• Plan to arrive at the trade show a day early if you commute from a distance. Or at least reach several hours before the show starts.
• Ask your trade show booth builder to confirm your booth’s setup time and logistics with the trade show organizers ahead of time.
• Always have a backup plan for potential delays. It's also helpful to have your team ready to jump in and assist if needed.

Technical issues with AV or interactive displays

Sometimes, it may happen that you are ready to use a live display or presentation to display your product, but your equipment stops working. Technical glitches in AV can leave your trade show booth looking unprofessional and cause frustration for both your team and your visitors.

How to prevent it:

• Hire a reliable trade show booth contractor like Connect Exhibit, who has experience in delivering booths at trade shows and also provides complete AV support.
• Test all of your equipment multiple times before the trade show starts.
• Have backup devices like laptops or cables, and bring extra batteries for wireless tools. 

Poor lead Management

One of the main goals of exhibiting at trade shows is to gather valuable leads. But poor lead management can make the process more difficult. You might forget to capture important information or not follow up quickly enough.

How to prevent it:

• Use lead management software or a digital lead capture tool to make sure every lead is tracked and organized.
• Have a clear system in place for collecting information. It can be through scanning badges or using a tablet to input details.
• Make sure your team is trained on how to use these tools efficiently.

Not enough staff at the booth

Having too few staff members at your trade show booth can be a big issue. Especially if there are a lot of people visiting your booth. Spreading your team too thin puts you at risk of losing valuable interactions or not engaging with attendees properly.

How to prevent it:

• Plan ahead by checking you have enough staff at your booth to handle the traffic.
• Make sure you have a mix of people. Get staff who are knowledgeable about your products and services, as well as those who are great at engaging with visitors.
• Rotate your staff regularly to avoid fatigue.

Lack of promotional materials

When exhibiting at trade shows, you need to have a range of materials, like business cards and brochures, so attendees can take something from your booth. Without the right marketing or promotional materials at your trade show booth, visitors may walk away without knowing exactly what you offer. They won’t even have an idea of how to get in touch with you later.

How to prevent it:

• Order enough marketing and promotional materials well in advance.
• Make sure your branding is consistent and that the materials clearly explain your products or services.
• You can also consider having a digital version of your marketing materials so that you can email information to visitors directly.

Unclear or ineffective Booth Design

A trade show booth that isn’t visually appealing or easy to navigate can turn people away. This is true even if you have the best product on display. A confusing or overly complicated booth design and setup could make visitors feel less likely to engage with your brand.

How to prevent it:

• Focus on clear, simple, and engaging trade show booth design.
• Keep it open and welcoming with a clean layout that highlights your key products.
• Use readable signage and attractive graphics to guide visitors through your booth.
• Hire a professional trade show booth designer, like Connect Exhibit, to create a booth design that invites people from far away.

Unexpected costs

Trade shows can be expensive, and unexpected costs may arise. This can be possible for extra booth space, shipping fees, technical support, or anything else. These costs can throw off your budget and cause unnecessary stress.

How to prevent it:

• Be thoughtful when choosing your trade show booth contractor. Hire a trade show booth builder company that has a fair pricing policy and doesn't keep any hidden charges.
• Review your trade show contract and pricing breakdown carefully.
• Consider all potential expenses while planning. Also think about travel and accommodations.
• With Connect Exhibit, you can build a contingency budget with the help of a dedicated project manager.

Inadequate storage for Booth materials

Without enough storage space, your booth at the trade show could become cluttered with extra equipment and materials. This can make your booth look disorganized and unprofessional, and it can lead to destroying your visitors experience.

How to prevent it:

• Plan your booth layout to include hidden storage areas for your extra materials.
• As your trade show booth designer and constructor company, we use shelving or boxes that are easily accessible for your staff.
• Keep your booth neat and free of clutter to make a polished appearance.

Not engaging enough with attendees

Visitors come to trade shows with one goal, which is to explore and learn. If you don’t engage with them or make an effort to connect, you could be overlooked. Visitors may wander past without interacting with you, which can lead to many missed opportunities.

How to prevent it:

• Encourage your team to actively approach and engage with attendees.
• Ask questions of visitors and listen to their needs. According to that, you can offer them your unique solutions. 
• Use interactive technologies to spark interest in visitors.
• Remember, the more visitors feel engaged, the more likely they will return and build a meaningful contract.

Failure to follow up after the show

The trade show is just the first step in building relationships. If you don’t follow up with leads quickly and effectively after the show, you risk losing valuable opportunities.

How to prevent it:

• Set up a follow-up plan in advance.
• Make sure all leads are properly entered into your CRM system during the trade show.
• Send personalized follow-up emails or calls within 48 hours.
• Use this time to remind leads of your conversation and offer further information to continue the discussion.

Be prepared and stay ahead

Challenges are everywhere, and risks may arise without proper preparation. By preparing with these points in mind, you can minimize the chances of getting in trouble. These will help you avoid unnecessary stress during the trade show.

Things might go wrong at any time, but it is possible to have a smooth experience only when you choose Connect Exhibit as your trade show booth builder. We are experts in creating trade show booth designs as per the needs of your brand. We have a decade of experience, so we always keep in mind those potential risks generally arising at trade shows.

Connect Exhibit provides a dedicated project manager, who will get all the planning done on your behalf. We offer all the tech and support you need for a successful trade show. So why wonder about the risks when you have Connect Exhibit by your side?