While working a trade show exhibit, you are sure to meet hundreds — possibly thousands — of attendees from all over the world, each with their own agenda and interests. With the multitudes of attendees you are sure to meet, it can be difficult to decipher the pretenders from the prospects. As Halloween fast approaches, we unmask the different types of trade show attendees to help you get an edge at your next event.
The Bored Attendee
Who they are:
Like the family out car shopping on a spring day, The Bored attendee stops by your exhibit out of pure curiosity or boredom. They are typically attracted to exhibits with fun graphics or flashy interactive features such as multimedia kiosks or product demonstration areas. However, their interest centers around alleviating their boredom; they have little to no interest in your product or service.
How to spot them:
You will be able to spot The Bored Attendee right away because they will walk leisurely around your exhibit, hands in pockets, lost in thought and may wander out just as quickly. They will try to avoid your booth staffers because they are just looking to pass the time, not for conversation.
The Grabber
Who they are:
The Grabber is on a ceaseless quest for trade show bounty. No swag item is too big or small for them to take and they have a keen eye for the best giveaway and promotional items from each exhibit on the show floor. Grabbers visit your exhibit for one purpose and one purpose only: to snatch up all of your goodies.
How to spot them:
Spotting The Grabber is easy. They are usually lugging around a branded tote bag bulging with swag from each one of your competitors and have an unreasonable amount of company logo key chains, branded notepads and pens. Beat them to the punch and keep your best swag out of reach or require that they be pre-qualified to receive.
The Investigator
Who they are:
The Investigator is on a mission to find the best product at the most competitive price. The Investigator’s main objective is to gather your information and move on to the next exhibit to compare and contrast capabilities and pricing. The Investigator is in your exhibit to ask questions while avoiding answering any of yours.
How to spot them:
You can spot an Investigator by the endless product brochures with circled pricing information, and their skittish demeanor that causes them to run when you ask for their contact information.
The Competitor
Who they are:
The “other guy” at the trade show, The Competitor may saunter casually in to your exhibit and ask very specific questions about your product or service that typical attendees would not ask, including wholesale pricing or production costs.
How to spot them:
You will know The Competitor by arms crossed over their branded name badge or polo shirt and because you walked by exhibit earlier in the day.
The Buyer
Who they are:
The Buyer approaches your exhibit eagerly, is upfront with their questions and concerns and forthcoming with their contact information for a post-show follow up. The Buyer will engage in conversation with your staff and will ask buyer’s questions.
How to spot them:
You will quickly discover the Buyer because they know their objectives, have a budget in mind, have the authority to select the vendor, they express a need for your product or service and they have a timeframe for a potential purchase.
Although it is great to meet potential customers of all kinds, the Buyer attendees will make your trade show experience worth the time and money you put into it, so make sure you can identify them.
Nimlok’s Guide to Island Exhibits
Choosing how your island exhibit will be organized and laid out is essential for trade show success. Nimlok’s Design Guide to Island Exhibits will help guide you through the basic elements of island exhibits and highlight more common layouts. Download your free copy today!
Source: B2C
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