“Trade shows are about foot traffic and exposure to your exhibition booth. Combining two seemingly unrelated ingredients, such as fashion and cars, can generate buzz at a typical trade show, garnering crowds and exposure.”

(Event Planning Made Easy, Paulette Wolf).

Some steps in planning a successful trade show:

  1. Research your stakeholders to identify goals, objectives, target audiences, timing, and location
  2. Conduct a market analysis (list other shows targeting your audience)
  3. Design your show based on the best possible dates and locations
  4. Choose a venue / location that will attract both exhibitors and attendees
  5. Market your show to potential exhibitors who have an interest in that target audience
  6. Provide support to exhibitors prior to, during, and post show
  7. Evaluate the trades how using measurable objectives and benchmark for future events