Nimlok News On Display

Dare to Compare – Part 1

All organizations, particularly small- and medium-sized organizations, should use their trade show program to develop a simple, consistent Competitive Intelligence (CI) program to continuously gather primary intelligence on key competitors… continue reading

Untapped Potential

Many exhibitors, particularly the "small" exhibitors, do not do a good job of on-site marketing. The value of on-site marketing should never be underestimated and can be extremely important to increasing corporate presence and traffic to the booth. There is untapped potential to increasing your presence on the show floor to attract qualified prospects to your convention displays… continue reading

Get me to the show on time — An international perspective

International shows can be exciting and bring new business opportunities for your organization. They can also be challenging with different languages, customs, and government regulations. Find out how to meet the challenge head-on... continue reading

Counter Intelligence @ Trade Shows — Are You Watching Who's Watching You?

When was the last time you viewed your booth from your competitors' perspective? There is a great benefit to taking a critical look at your convention displays… continue reading

The Changing of the Guard: Four Key Exhibiting Strategies for Generation Y

Survey the crowd at any tradeshow and one trend immediately makes itself apparent: attendees are getting younger. The infamous Baby Boomers are preparing for retirement, and Gen-X’ers have moved into upper management positions… continue reading

Dirty Little Secrets: Five Things Tradeshow Attendees Don't Want You to Know

Look out there on the show floor. Check out the attendees. They look ordinary enough - but they have secrets; dirty little secrets that they'd never tell anyone, not even under duress… continue reading

No-Brainers: 27 Low or No-Cost Ways to Improve Your Next Tradeshow

There are lots of ways to improve your team's performance at tradeshows. From snazzy new convention displays to intensive training to rewards and incentives for top producers, it's difficult to even count the myriad of ways. What's not difficult is realizing that some of these improvement methods come with hefty price tags. Don't despair… continue reading

Avoid Booth Staff Duds: Thirteen Essential Questions You Have to Ask

Booth staff selection is the single most important factor in your exhibiting success. More than graphics, signage, literature, giveaways, or any other variable, it is the people you put on the show floor that influence visitors' opinions of your organization. They are your ambassadors, representing your company for the whole world to see. It is impossible to stress enough how crucial your team is to your overall success. To ensure a top-notch performance, begin preparing your booth team four to six months before to the event. You will need the answers to the following questions… continue reading

Media Darlings: The Top Ten Do's and Don't's of Working with the Press

There's a saying in the newspaper business: Advertising is expensive - but editorial is priceless! This simple phrase speaks to the fact that readers trust and value any information they read in an article or column far more than any data they glean from an advertisement… continue reading

Rut Busters: Changing Your Trade Show Routine

Routine is comfortable. We like knowing what we're going to do, when we're going to do it, and what we'll be wearing while we do it. It's nice, safe and predictable. There are no surprises, no unforeseen contingencies, no upsets. There is also no growth, no excitement, and no spontaneity. Routines can easily become ruts, especially at a trade show… continue reading

Every Minute Matters: Discerning Attendee Types

Set one foot on the tradeshow floor and instantly you're surrounded by people. Tall ones, short ones, old ones, young ones. C-level executives are rubbing shoulders with corporate nobodies. Some rush from booth to booth in search of giveaways while others draw your sales staff into long, pointless conversations. Determine the attendee types who visit your convention displays… continue reading

Key Exhibiting Strategies for Generation Y

Survey the crowd at any trade show, and one trend immediately makes itself apparent. Attendees are getting younger. The infamous Baby Boomers are preparing for retirement, and Gen X'ers have moved into upper management positions. We now focus our marketing processes and convention displays on Generation Y… continue reading

Always Leave Them Laughing: Humor Integration

One of the major objectives of convention displays is to create a lasting impression in the attendees' minds. After all, if visitors can't remember you, how can they give you their business? You also want to create a positive impression, and unfortunately, that's harder to do than the negative equivalent. Which brings us to humor… continue reading

The A-Z of Exhibiting Overseas - Part 2

The world is getting smaller. Going global with your business isn't optional anymore - it's essential. Survival in today's price-sensitive and intensely competitive marketplace means that US companies need to abandon their marketing myopia for a more global approach… continue reading

The A-Z of Exhibiting Overseas - Part 1

Exhibiting overseas is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to identify the best foreign markets for your products/services. International tradeshows and fairs offer opportunities for multilateral contacts and business deals… continue reading

Seven Deadly Exhibiting Sins and How to Avoid Them

Goals, or the purpose for exhibiting, are the essence of the whole tradeshow experience. Knowing what you want to accomplish at a show will help plan every other aspect - theme, layout, graphics, product displays, premiums, literature, and all other components of your convention displays… continue reading

At Your Service: The Ten Commandments of Great Customer Service,

Customer service is an integral part of your job and should not be seen as an extension of it. Your customers are your company's most vital assets. Without them, you would not and could not exist in business. When you satisfy your customers, they not only help you grow by continuing to do business with you, but they also recommend you to friends and associates... continue reading

The Magic of Using Booklets for Tradeshows Giveaways

Candy, squeeze balls, pens, and key chains - these provide questionable value to anyone visiting or staffing a convention display. More and more meeting and marketing professionals are considering something a little different - booklets… continue reading

Who Loves You...Booth Babe?

From go-go girls gyrating in a cage to Playboy Bunnies handing out product information, booth babes are making a popular comeback on the tradeshow floor. Although they never really went away completely, demand is growing in certain industries for this type of attraction to convention displays… continue reading

Ten Secrets of Super Successful Exhibit Managers

Whoever said that being an exhibit manager was easy lied! Rather, it should be classified under the tough and demanding job category. But along with being tough, it's also fun, exciting, exhilarating, stimulating, and never, ever boring... continue reading

Getting a Green Light from Upper Management

Your needs seem so simple. You just want upper management to understand and appreciate the power and importance of your tradeshow program. You want budget approval. You want complete support and participation at all levels in the organization... continue reading

Benefiting From A Regular Exhibiting Workout

How often do you exercise your exhibiting muscles? Do you have a regular workout designed to increase your tradeshow dexterity and boost your results? Whether you're looking for strength training to increase your competitive edge, flexibility to improve your marketing strategy, or just general overall fitness, a regular conditioning workout program is a must… continue reading

Uncovering Visitor Types

The trade show floor is full of different types of people with different agendas. Some people have specific goals for attending the show; others do not. As an exhibitor, your observation and questioning skills will be your key to determining who may be a viable sales prospect. Familiarize yourself with the various visitor types likely to frequent convention displays… continue reading

Trash or Treasure: Using Giveaways Effectively

Are you debating the value of a tradeshow giveaway? Walk around any trade or consumer show and you will be able to collect a bagful of advertising specialties or giveaway items all designed to promote. But look a little more closely, and then ask yourself how many of these items really do an effective job? Are they something you want to keep, or are they likely to end up in the trash, or, better still, in someone else's possession… continue reading

How to Keep Staff Motivated Throughout the Show

If you've ever worked a show, you know that it's hard work. It's often a case of survival of the fittest. Frequently you and your team need to be "ON" for 12 to 18 hours a day, typically, for three or more days at a stretch. Staying motivated can often be a real challenge for the staff of convention displays... continue reading