The Countdown to a Successful Tradeshow Starts Here
If you’ve ever felt like tradeshows creep up out of nowhere, this one's for you.
Tradeshow prep can get real chaotic, real fast. But it doesn’t have to. I’ve broken the lead-up into a 10-week countdown to help you stay on track (and avoid last-minute panic).
At each key week, I have included a quick checklist to keep you focused. And to really level up your stand, I’ve included expert display tips from a seasoned visual merchandiser.
From planning promos to prepping your product layout, this guide will help you show up feeling organised, confident, and ready to stand out.
- Remember to define your goals for the tradeshows before you dive into a to-do list. This will guide your decisions through the checklist and ensure your actions will create meaningful results.
Let the Prep Begin: Your Timeline to Tradeshow Success
📅 Week 10
✓ Review the stand your selected stand and understand the guidelines provided to you by the event organisers
- You can find Reed Gift Fair's guidelines HERE and Life InStyle's guidelines HERE.
✓ Decide how many sku's and the volume of the sku's that you want to take.
✓ Do you need any samples for giveaways, or to show case an upcoming new product, that you need to order.
Week 10 Display Tip
Just because the size of the space you have signed up for states for example 3x3m, doesn't mean that the available floorspace in your stand will be exactly 3x3m. It is important to know and consider this when choosing your display furniture and layout.
✓ Engage external suppliers for furniture and branding
Week 8 Display Tip
Storytelling: bring your product to life with a visual narrative that resonates feelings and draws people in.
✓ Plan the visual merchandising of your stand. This is bound to switch up slightly on bump in day but a plan allows you to organise styling tools and time to make changes to the stock levels if necessary.
Week 4 Display Tip
Effective signage: design and print tradeshow specific signage that reinforces your key messaging. Simple, removable vinyl lettering is a great way to achieve this.
✓ Confirm everything is set with logistics for your stock delivery. You may choose to organise your own freight or organise it with GEL Events through the event organisers.
✓ Create a post event communications plan.
✓ Create an onsite content plan for when you have a quiet moment or arrive before the doors open to ensure you get that content!
Week 2 Display Tip
Product placement: ensure there is a balance between products that are accessible by positioning them at eye level and placement that maximises on the height of your stand and ensures you stand out to passerby.
📅 Week 1
✓ Buy lots of your favourite snacks.
✓ Plan your outfits and get packing if you're coming from interstate.
✓ Plan out your free time in Melbourne and book a nice dinner to ensure you're able to wind down after long days. Check out some of our team's favourite's below -
- Rossi's, Prahran
- Hochi Mama, CBD
- Marion Wine Bar, Fitzroy
- Studio Amaro, Windsor
Week 1 Display Tip
Create visual breaks: avoid overcrowding and embrace negative space between products and displays. Just like Coco Chanel’s advice "sometimes it’s best to remove something than to keep adding more."
Thank you to Tim Neve, an expert in Visual Merchanidising, for providing us with some of the tips you've read in this blog! It's great to be able to hear first hand from those who spend their life curating the perfect set up.
Feeling more organised already? Whether it’s your first show or your fiftieth, a little planning goes a long way.
And if you’re thinking, “This all sounds great, but where do I find displays that actually look good and work hard?” you’re in luck!
We offer our entire range of display hire options (plinths, pegboards, walling, signage, you name it). Or we cater to custom builds if you’re after something extra special.
Need help? Get in touch and let’s chat about your vision, we’ll help you bring it to life.