As a small business startup, the chances are you have attended a trade exhibition of products and suppliers pertinent to the marketplace your business operates within. You could be on either side of the spectrum as either a supplier of products or a buyer of products – either way, trade shows and exhibitions present a lucrative opportunity for all businesses. If you haven’t yet attended an exhibition, you would be strongly advised to do so sooner rather than later.

Why are trade exhibitions important to your business?

As a buyer:

• An opportunity to network with other buyers and potentially discuss & agree business deals.
• Lucrative opportunities to meet suppliers and product vendors from across the globe face to face, see product demonstrations, discuss pricing and product specifics and agree business deals.
• A chance to advertise your own business, exchange business details with buyers and sellers and take publications and pricelists away with you.
• Experience an industry standard trade exhibition made up of industry professionals and your competitors.

As a supplier:

• Much like buyers, this is your opportunity to showcase your products to a massive audience of targeted buyers from countries across the globe.
• An excellent opportunity to meet buyers face to face, discuss possible deals and make sales or agree future business arrangements.
• A chance to meet other suppliers, spy on your competition and compare the market or perform market research.
• Get your name about by giving away promotional material, samples or business cards. Also a chance to offer your stock-list/price-list to qualified buyers and gain their trust and contact details in exchange.
• When you have an opportunity as good as this to attend a trade exhibition (many are free entry if you book in advance) it is vitally important to ensure that you are prepared and have everything you need with you so that you can make the most of your visit.

How can I be best prepared when attending a trade exhibition?

Top Tips for Buyers & Suppliers:

• Revisit your business plan, make a list of products that you are actively trying to source, a list of products that you may wish to research and identify key areas where your knowledge is limited and you perhaps wish to find more information on.
• Consider what direction your business is going into, try to foresee which areas you could develop into and consider products either related to, or applicable to your current range.
• Prepare your contact information and ensure that you have it available to your potential suppliers. Ensure that you leave enough time to produce business cards and brochure printing, leaflets (if applicable) and so forth.
• Have a clear plan and idea what your objectives are at the exhibition. Never attend a show without a plan of action, aimlessly wandering around will prove ineffective and frankly is a waste of your time.
• Consider your startup finances before attending exhibitions where the objective is to place bulk orders with suppliers or manufacturers. You will need to have a clear idea of how much capital you have available or have access to in order to foresee what sort of quantities or range of products you can potentially purchase. Clearly there is no point in discussing purchasing goods that you can neither afford nor effectively distribute as a business.
• Get the most out of the experience. Pick up every leaflet, pricelist, supplier/buyer contact you can (within reason). Arrive early, leave late and get a good night’s sleep the night before. Consider your travel arrangements if you are travelling overseas or require a hotel to attend multiple venues or days.