Trade Show Trends Archives | Apogee Exhibits

The 2026 Trade Show Playbook

Henry Walbaum — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:51:59 +0000

By Mark Taylor, President & CEO | Apogee Exhibits

2026 trade show trends are reshaping how exhibitors compete—learn the staffing strategies, budget justifications, and immersive design tactics that maximize ROI and win on the show floor.

IN THIS GUIDE:

Ready to Start Planning?
2026 Trade Show Trends
Booth Staffing Best Practices
How to Justify Your Budget

Trade shows are back—and bigger than ever. After years of pandemic-related disruption, the exhibition industry has not only recovered but is evolving at a rapid pace. The global trade show market is projected to surpass $50 billion in revenue in 2025, with the U.S. market alone reaching $15.8 billion—exceeding pre-pandemic levels. With that growth, however, comes new pressure: rising costs, intensified competition for attendee attention, and increased scrutiny around ROI.

After more than three decades in the exhibit industry, I have watched these shifts unfold firsthand. The exhibitors who succeed are not always those with the largest budgets; they are the ones who understand their audience and execute with purpose. This playbook outlines the trends shaping trade shows in 2026, proven booth staffing strategies, and the metrics leaders need to justify continued investment.

2026 Trade Show Trends: What’s Shaping the Show Floor

Why it matters: Attention on the show floor is earned through experience, relevance, and execution—not square footage alone.

Immersive, Multi-Sensory Experiences

Static displays no longer meet attendee expectations. Leading exhibitors are designing multi-sensory environments that capture attention and create memorable brand interactions. Studies show that reinforcing brand messaging across multiple senses can increase recall by up to 70%.

Common executions include:

Oversized product replicas or inflatables that act as visual anchors and traffic drivers
LED video walls and backlit graphics, now standard rather than premium features. See how LED transforms booth design.
AR and VR demonstrations that showcase products beyond physical constraints
Themed entrances that transport attendees into a brand environment

Sustainability as the Standard

Sustainability has shifted from a differentiator to an expectation. Many organizers now require environmentally responsible exhibit practices, and adoption continues to accelerate. Freeman reports a significant increase in the use of eco-friendly materials in booth design, and sustainability is a primary driver of growth across the global events industry.

How exhibitors are responding:

Modular, reusable exhibit systems
LED lighting and energy-efficient technology
Recycled flooring and rental furnishings
Fewer disposable giveaways in favor of practical, premium items
Rental components that can be reconfigured for multiple footprints

Data-Driven Decision Making

“What gets measured gets funded.” More than 70% of trade show planners now use data analytics to evaluate performance. Tools such as heat mapping, engagement tracking, and AI-powered survey insights allow exhibitors to optimize booth layouts, staffing levels, and messaging—often in real time.

Gamification and Interactive Engagement

Product education is increasingly interactive. Brands are incorporating games, challenges, and digital activations to encourage participation and deepen engagement. QR-based experiences allow attendees to unlock demos, content, or exclusive access while giving exhibitors actionable engagement data.

Hybrid and Extended Reach

Hybrid strategies extend the lifespan of trade show investments. Booths are now designed to serve both in-person and remote audiences through live-streamed demos, virtual tours, and content hubs that repurpose presentations well beyond the event itself.

Best Practices for Trade Show Booth Staffing

Why it matters: Booth staff performance accounts for approximately 85% of exhibitor success—yet training remains widely underutilized.

According to Exhibitor Online, 26% of exhibitors train staff for most or all trade shows, and more than half rarely or never conduct training. This gap represents a significant competitive advantage for organizations that prioritize preparation.

Calculate Your Staffing Needs

A practical guideline is to allocate one staff member per 50 square feet of exhibit space:

With 75% of exhibitors facing pressure to reduce costs—and 31% feeling strong pressure from senior leadership—justifying your trade show investment requires hard data. Here’s how to build your case:

Size (ft) of Booth	Number of Staff Members
10×10 booth 100 sq. ft.	2-3 staff members
20×20 Booth 200 sq. ft.	6-8 staff members

Overcrowding can deter or intimidate attendees, while understaffing leads to missed opportunities.

Define Clear Roles

Hosts/Greeters: Establish first impressions and welcome attendees
Presenters: Lead demonstrations and product storytelling
Crowd Gatherers: Proactively draw traffic from aisles
Activity Coordinators: Manage games, raffles, or interactive elements
Lead Generators/Sales Representatives: Qualify prospects and capture data

Invest in Training

Visitor interaction drives recall—approximately 80% of what attendees remember centers on staff engagement. Despite this, training often represents only 1% of total show budgets.

A pre-show training session should cover:

Show objectives and success metrics
Product knowledge and core messaging
Lead qualification criteria and retrieval systems
Booth layout and visitor flow
Competitive positioning
VIP protocols

Enforce Professional Etiquette

Non-negotiable standards include:

No eating, drinking, or sitting in the booth
No phone use or email checking on the floor
Open body language and active eye contact
Greeting attendees with open-ended questions

Schedule for Sustainability

Trade shows are marathons, not sprints. Schedule staff rotations that allow for meals, breaks, and recovery. Fatigued staff are less engaged and less effective. Hold daily debriefs to identify what’s working and adjust your approach for the next day.

Justifying Your Trade Show Budget: The Numbers That Matter

Why it matters: With cost pressure increasing, executive buy-in depends on clear, defensible performance metrics.

With 75% of exhibitors facing pressure to reduce costs—and 31% experiencing strong pressure from senior leadership— trade show budgets are under greater scrutiny than ever. In this environment, continued investment can no longer rely on anecdotal success or legacy participation. It must be supported by clear, quantifiable performance data.

The ROI Reality

When executed strategically, trade shows deliver consistent returns:

Average ROI of 4:1: Exhibitors generate approximately $4 in revenue for every $1 invested in trade show participation.
High-performance benchmark: 14% of Fortune 500 companies report achieving a 5:1 return on trade show investment.
Executive confidence: 52% of business leaders identify trade shows as the highest-ROI marketing channel.
B2B validation: 78% of B2B marketers rank in-person trade shows as the most effective offline channel for ROI.

The Attendee Advantage

Trade show audiences deliver unique value:

More than 80% of attendees have buying authority
Over 90% attend specifically to discover new products
Approximately two-thirds are new prospects
More than half request follow-up after the event

Cost Efficiency

Trade show leads convert at a lower cost than many traditional sales methods. Face-to-face engagement reduces the number of sales calls required to close and accelerates pipeline development.

Brand Visibility

There is also a cost to absence. Brand perception declines when companies fail to appear at key industry events—an impact felt even by established global brands. Presence matters.

Frame the Budget Strategically

When presenting to leadership, focus on:

Pipeline Generated: Quantify and report the total dollar value of sales opportunities originating from the event.
Cost per Qualified Lead: Benchmark trade show performance against other acquisition channels, including digital campaigns and outbound outreach.
Lead Quality Metrics: On average, one marketing-qualified lead is generated for every seven booth visitors; top-performing exhibitors achieve two to three MQLs per seven visitors.
Market Intelligence: Capture competitive insights, customer feedback, and emerging industry trends observed on the show floor.
Relationship Value: Measure long-term impact through customer retention, partnership development, and brand awareness indicators.

The Bottom Line

Trade shows in 2026 will not be defined by size, but by strategy. Exhibitors that prioritize immersive experiences, invest in well-trained staff, apply data to decision-making, and measure performance with discipline will outperform their peers.

The opportunity is substantial. With 95% of exhibitors favoring in-person events and 37% of U.S. businesses planning to increase trade show investment, the upside is clear. The differentiator, however, is execution—aligning booth design, staffing, and measurement to drive measurable results.

Success begins long before the show floor opens. Define clear objectives, staff intentionally, design with purpose, and establish a measurement framework in advance. This is how trade show participation moves from an expense to a strategic growth driver.

Ready to Elevate Your Next Trade Show?

Apogee Exhibits specializes in creating brand experiences that captivate audiences and deliver measurable ROI. With over 30 years of industry expertise, we help exhibitors stand out on crowded show floors.

Let’s discuss your 2026 strategy.

START YOUR PROJECT

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Virtual Tradeshows and Events

ApogeeExhibits — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:12:10 +0000

We were pleased to be able to partner with Vail Marketing Communications on this article. Jessica Vail, and Mark Taylor from Apogee collaborated on this publication to help Exhibit managers navigate the virtual space questions that have arisen as a result of the large-scale cancellation of all live-events in 2020.

With the recent cancellation of all in-person networking events and tradeshows, many companies are looking for a valid alternative. While we strongly feel that few things can replace face-to-face interaction, having a virtual tradeshow is a close second. There are many benefits to hosting a virtual event. With a virtual booth, you can record and track information and analytics like never before. You will be able to have longer exposure and increase your pre and post event marketing efforts, using the virtual exhibit as a supplement to in-person events, which could lead to more sales!

So, what are the Corporate Exhibit mangers saying?

· 92% say shows will return

· 80% say virtual will be part of their program moving forward

· 52% have already implemented some sort of virtual element

What will restrictions look like?

When the traditional tradeshow does return, we can expect certain restrictions and changes. There may be reduced attendance by choice or due to local government restrictions. Tradeshow organizers may go to Morning and Afternoon “shifts” to keep in line with capacity restrictions. Also, having temperature scanning and hand sanitizing stations throughout the tradeshow venue might become the new normal to monitor attendees, refuse entry to people who are sick and to keep a level of cleanliness throughout the program. Strict disinfection protocols will need to be followed such as the recent GBAC Star Facility Accreditation (https://gbac.issa.com/issa-gbac-star-facility-accreditation/)

With these anticipated restrictions and theoretically less booth traffic, it is imperative to have a virtual presence as well.

When tradeshows come back to life, there may be a desire for online events and more online exposure to supplement these smaller, in-person events. The pre and post show marketing is going to be more prevalent than ever with this feature. Virtual events and booth spaces can be implemented to further promote a presence prior to, during, and after an event.

Your booth is more accessible & you won’t miss a beat

With the traditional tradeshow, your booth is only visible for a few hours or days while the expo hall is open. Now, with the implementation of a virtual tradeshow and virtual booth, your company information and interaction can be accessible long before or after the event. In addition, if someone is unable to attend the show, they can still gain access to your company information and representatives.

Getting Started

First, the main priority before launching a virtual exhibit or event is to identify and build your audience, determine your objective and gather an inventory of assets and materials, such as brochures, typically distributed at events and conferences.

When replacing an in-person event with a “distributed experience,” it is important to build and promote to your audience with advance marketing tactics that may include email blasts, social media promotions, print and digital ads, Geo-targeted advertising or even personalized invitations sent by traditional mail.

Building your Audience

Get your audience’s attention through the same channels you have always used but consider new methods. You can generate email blasts that link to registration landing pages, create a give-away campaign such as is shown in the example here:

https://yourvirtualbooth.com/paychex/PaychexSubway/

Geofencing:

Geofencing is the practice of using mobile device Global Positioning systems (GPS) to to define a geographic area or the actual physical location of a business, hotel, convention center, or other location that you may want to target users via advertising, text messages, and other promotions.Geofencing is another way to create awareness. This can be used in advance of a live event as well. Geofencing captures the GPS coordinates of your targeted audience that may have been physically present at an event or venue and will show them ads designed by you to help drive traffic to your booth, or to your virtual event.

Here is an example of a geotargeted campaign for Colleges and Universities for example:

Once this virtual barrier is established users who enter those spaces who have opted in to receive notifications and advertisements, may then be targeted to specific advertisements you have created. Some of these could include a promotion to visit a website, or your physical booth if a trade show is convening in that location, and so forth. The custom tailored ad you create can then provide information that informs you exactly when a consumer or prospect clicked your ad.

Marketing Strategy

Next, it is imperative to create a marketing strategy outline to help you navigate how this virtual event will work, how you will promote your company and most importantly what problems you will solve for your client base.

How will you reach your audience?
It is crucial to come up with an outreach method to promote the event and get your audience excited to sign up. Sometimes including an incentive such as a free offer, reduced price of a service or a prize at the tradeshow will get people to sign up and stop by your booth. You may use an email blast to reach your client list, combined with an accompanying social media post. If possible, see if you can receive a pre-show attendee list from the tradeshow management company – this way you can target those who have already signed up and may already have an interest in your product/service.

How will you keep your audience engaged during the event?
With a traditional tradeshow, it helps to have interesting trinkets and giveaways to entice people to stop by your booth, even if it’s just to grab a free pen. However, with a virtual tradeshow booth, you need to think outside the box. Maybe have a video demo to show the value of your product or service to the visitor. Really focus on what solution you will provide. You also want to keep it light to build rapport, so maybe have an interactive game or contest as well.

Will you feature live or pre-recorded demos/videos?
If so, it is important to be sure you have the bandwidth to handle development and execution of it. You also want to make sure the video content is short and to the point. You can have longer versions on hand for those who are really interested but for the purpose of grabbing attention and viewers in a virtual tradeshow, you want them to be concise and to the point.

Reporting and ROI

Another upside to the virtual booth is being able to track your booth traffic and report different metrics. You will know who attended, how they interacted in your space, what they downloaded and how long they stayed. These analytics will be important to measure after your virtual page and event has launched. Google analytics can only tell part of the story. You should explore a robust platform that will provide further Marketing Automation reporting of your site visitors activity and information.

Execution

What type of campaign will you be hosting? How long will it live in cyberspace? Does it need to be distributed in multiple time-zones? These are all important questions to ask. There are several ways to create a distributed or live experience. One such method may be a webinar-based platform where there is an interactive keynote, distributed side-by side- along with a virtual space that users can navigate while they work their way through the event agenda. Platforms such as ON24 or Streampoint, for example, provide a great customized way to host both a live (or pre-recorded live) presentation, along with an environment that a user can virtually “walk through” as well.

The length of time your content exists is also important. Some platforms limit their hosting to just a few weeks. It’s important to identify how long your presentation will be hosted for future access or use. No one wants to visit a dead link! Lastly, another important item is knowing from where your presentation will be viewed. Are your prospects and clients dispersed in several time zones? If so, the timing of your presentation should be consistent with the common work times in those zones so your audience can participate in its greatest numbers. If you’re doing a live presentation this is very important. If you plan to re-distribute to multiple time zones, you can consider a pre-recorded live version that can be viewed at various times.

Partnering with the right team can make your virtual tradeshow a massive success. If you want to host a virtual tradeshow and don’t know where to start, contact Mark Taylor today to help you get your platform and virtual booth set up. mtaylor@apogeenow.com

To learn more about Vail Marketing Solutions capabilities, please visit https://www.vailmarketingsolutions.com/services

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Custom Made Exhibits Drive Customers

ApogeeExhibits — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 13:54:16 +0000

Trade show floors often consist of an endless sea of ho-hum booths. At first glance, one display looks virtually identical to the next, with little or no differentiation. Other than a small sign declaring the name of the company exhibiting within the confines, there is little or no content indicating the booth has anything special or unique to offer.

Because there is so much competition for an attendee’s time and attention at a conference or exposition, a company must stand out to attract visitors. Exhibiting with a customized exhibit is one way to avoid getting lost in the crowd. Going beyond the standard, cookie-cutter appearance of the booths around you and putting up something unique greatly increases your chance to get noticed by clients and prospects at the event.

A talented exhibit partner can work closely with you and your team to plan and execute a striking trade show booth that aligns with your brand messaging and goals. They can incorporate creative signage, innovative visuals and messaging, tech tools and other components to come up with a solution that enables you to make connections without breaking your budget.

Here are some tips for putting together a customized booth display that fits your firm.

Focus on your brand

Make sure your planning always keeps your products, services, and goals for the events at the center. It is fine to incorporate clever visuals, themes, or high-tech elements, but if they don’t quite fit your company’s offerings or brand, those great ideas end up being not so bright, because your brand gets lost under all of the noise. If you ensure your brand is the star of the show, you boost your chance of successfully getting the right message across.
Opt for simplicity

Eye-popping graphics, video displays and other energetic elements can be put to good use in a trade show display. However, it is important you don’t go overboard with the “wow” factor. It isn’t necessary to plaster every surface with your logo, messages and other items. In fact, an excessive amount of such elements can make booth visitors feel overwhelmed. You want to leave them with a good impression, not a headache. Instead, remember that when it comes to the look of a booth, often less is more.

Keep it comfy

A trade show can stretch across hundreds of thousands of square feet. The experience of covering all that real estate to visit every booth can be downright exhausting for attendees. By offering a welcoming, comfortable space, your booth can provide a relaxing oasis that helps them recover from the grueling experience—and that’s something they likely will appreciate. Adding elements like couches, plush carpet, a coffee bar and other inviting items that make your booth a place that visitors will want to linger in.

Looking for other ideas to ensure your trade show display stands out?
Download our guide, Trade Shows 2020: Trends for Next Year’s Successful Exhibits.

Get the Ebook

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“Illuminating” Lighting Ideas

ApogeeExhibits — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 19:21:05 +0000

Companies frequently spend a great deal of time, creative brainpower and financial resources to plan and execute a show stopping trade show display. Then, unfortunately, they leave out one very important element: lighting. All that effort expended on a booth designed to wow visitors, when lackluster lighting means they can’t even really see it.

Without the right lighting to illuminate your booth, your chances of attracting customers will be dim. Keep in mind, though, that to succeed, booth lighting has to do more than simply enable the visitors to view what you’re showcasing in your exhibit. The lighting fixtures should create a mood that fits your brand goals—it can leave attendees feeling energized, soothed, warm and welcome, or a combination. Also, lighting can serve to draw attention to the products and features you want to emphasize.

For the best and brightest results, make sure you don’t treat lighting as an afterthought. Instead, keep it in mind during the planning and design process. Here are some ideas to keep in mind along the way:

Spotlight sustainability

In another recent post, we discussed how incorporating eco-minded elements throughout your booth can connect with sustainability-minded customers. Lighting is one area with a great deal of sustainability potential. Incorporating lamps, fixtures and other lighting components that conserve less energy than conventional lighting products demonstrates your company’s focus on sustainability. Consider including in-booth messaging informing visitors that your display makes use of planet-friendly lighting products, so they are aware that you’re backing eco concerns with action.

Add a touch of color

The phrase “colored lighting” might bring to mind a circus, disco or some other high-energy environment where the colors are anything but subtle. That isn’t necessarily the case with colored lighting in a trade show environment. A hint of color in your lighting can be barely detectable to the human high but still have a notable impact on the people streaming through your booth. A bit of an orange tinge, for example, can contribute to a warm, inviting feeling, which can make attendees feel more welcome in your space. Lighting that includes a touch of blue can contribute to an increased energy level, or amplify the feeling that your products and services are high tech and advanced.

Incorporate modern fixtures

While the bulbs and lamps light up your display, the fixtures also play a part in the overall look and feel of your company’s booth. When planning your setup, consider the appearance of the lighting fixtures. If you’re bringing a booth display that your company has used before, consider updating the fixtures. It sounds like a minor change but updating the look of the fixture and brightening up the aesthetics can increase the positive impression that booth visitors come away with.

There are numerous ways to keep your trade show booth on trend.
Check out our Trade Shows 2020: Trends for Next Year’s Successful Exhibits for a wealth of bright ideas.

Get the Ebook

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Showcasing Sustainability in your Trade Show Exhibit

ApogeeExhibits — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 14:26:52 +0000

Your customers increasingly care about sustainability. In a recent PwC report on corporate sustainability, 75% of CEOs polled indicate sustainable business practices are important. These business leaders and their employees are looking to connect with companies that offer opportunities to further their sustainability goals. A trade show display offers a powerful way to communicate with customers and potential clients that your company is equipped them meet their sustainability goals.

However, when incorporating sustainable messaging and design elements into your booth, it’s important that you go beyond the surface. Companies, like consumers, are leery of “greenwashing,” which involves claiming commitment to sustainability with no real action to back those claims up. Work to support your sustainability messaging with evidence and action to build trust in your environmental efforts.

Here are a few ways you can communicate sustainability to booth visitors:

Share your company’s sustainability achievements

Multinational corporations like Coca-Cola and Walmart put together detailed, complex documents outlining their organization’s sustainability achievements, and their goals for the future. They also share them publicly, so that shareholders, industry partners, and even consumers know what they’re up to. Consider doing the same with your company’s environmental activity. You can offer copies of your report to booth visitors and include notable achievements and goals in display messaging.

Offer sustainability-minded promotional products

Branded handouts are a popular way to create a positive impression with trade show attendees. Instead of offering visitors pens with plastic barrels or synthetic drawstring bags bearing your logo, consider an eco-friendly alternative. Many promotional product producers offer a variety of eco-friendly items that could help you underscore your company’s sustainability message. These include bags made from natural fibers, pens with bamboo barrels, travel mugs made of post-consumer recycled content, and more. Consider fulfilling literature requests via email or electronic means instead of printing. Email fulfillment of requested information gets into the inbox of your attendee immediately, reducing waste and the risk that your literature doesn’t end up in the landfill.

Let your booth do the talking

Choosing a trade show display composed of sustainable materials is a great way to communicate to visitors at first sight that your company is interested in sustainability. What’s more, incorporating natural walls, surfaces and accents into your display elements can serve to give your booth a standout appearance that sets your display apart from other companies exhibiting at the event. Your trade show display partner can work with you to come up with eco elements that send a solid message to visitors and fit in with your company’s goals.

Looking for more on-trend booth ideas?
Download our Trade Shows 2020: Trends for Next Year’s Successful Exhibits resource for more inspiration.

Get the Ebook

The post Showcasing Sustainability in your Trade Show Exhibit appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Go Green: Environmentally Friendly Promotional Products

ApogeeExhibits — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 19:43:06 +0000

Trade show exhibitors who offer promotional products attract traffic to their exhibits and leave lasting impressions on attendees who visit their space. What’s more, environmentally-friendly promotional items that are branded help increase brand awareness and illustrate your company’s environmental and social commitments.

Learn how environmentally friendly trade show giveaways help raise your trade show profile and create positive brand awareness.

Create an Environmentally Friendly Promotional Product

Knowing how to select promotional products to give away on the show floor can be challenging, especially when you want your giveaways to be environmentally responsible. Luckily, there are easy ways to identify whether a trade show promotional items is “green” or not.

How to Identify Environmentally Friendly Promotional Items:

When selecting electronic promotional items like flashlights or calculators, choose products that are designed to save energy or are solar rather than battery-powered.
Disposable giveaways and marketing collateral should be made from recycled, biodegradable or reusable materials to lessen landfill waste and depletion of natural resources.
Apparel giveaways such as t-shirts, hoodies and fleeces should be made from organic fabric materials and with environmentally-safe dyes.

Reusable Giveaway Ideas

Reusable giveaway items—like tote bags, snack containers or water bottles—can help communicate your environmentally friendly messaging at trade shows. Electing to stamp your branding on a reusable item not only reduces the need for disposable items, it also helps reinforce your marketing message as recipients will see your logo every time they use their giveaway.

Reusable Giveaway Ideas:

Stainless steel mugs and tumblers
BPA-free water bottles
Ethically-sourced canvas tote bags
To-go containers and lunch bags

“Green” Electronic Giveaways

Technology is not only great for wowing attendees at trade shows with large digital screens and multimedia centers, it is also ideal for reducing exhibitors’ carbon footprint. Marketing collateral such as brochures and catalogs can be expensive to print and ship to a trade show. What’s worse, the majority of collateral pieces are thrown away by attendees instead of recycled. If you want to help your budget and the planet, consider loading branded USB drives made from recycled materials with PDF versions of your collateral.

“Green” Electronic Giveaway Ideas:

Solar-powered electronic device chargers
LED flashlights with recyclable batteries or hand cranks
Solar-powered pedometers and heart rate monitors

Giveaway Greenery

Being environmentally conscious not only means reducing your carbon footprint, it also means repairing damage done by greenhouse gases to the earth’s atmosphere. Greenery giveaways, such as planted flowers and seed paper, are not just beautiful keepsakes, they also convert CO2 into breathable oxygen. Greenery giveaways are also very unique, so attendees are more than likely to want to keep your giveaways.

Be sure to brand some part of your giveaways so recipients remember you and the trade show.

Greenery Giveaway Ideas:

Seed packet bookmarks
Succulent plants in a branded pot
Indoor/office gardening kits
Bamboo saplings in branded glasses

With so many environmentally-friendly trade show giveaways available, you can easily hand out memorable and effective marketing promotions to attendees while doing your part to keep the earth we all share healthy.

Want more great trade show ideas? Get our Guide on the Top Trade Show Trends to Watch

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Spring into these 5 Fresh Trade Show Booth Ideas

ApogeeExhibits — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:18:59 +0000

Spring is here, so what better time to freshen up your trade show strategy? While trade shows present an excellent opportunity to attract quality leads and meet with key prospects, it can be a challenge to set your brand apart from the crowd. Here are some of our favorite creative trade show booth ideas and strategies for you to consider for your next event.

1. Keeps Products Under Wraps

At trade shows, it can be crucial to keep proprietary products safe from sly competitors looking for the next big thing. In many industries, exhibitors are hesitant to show off their products for the world to see. You can solve this problem with a unique closed-concept exhibit that conceals products from the general public, creates an intimate showroom experience, and generates buzz!

A closed-concept is a great idea for a company that wants to participate in trade shows and events, but needs to protect products from prying eyes. Consider ways to draw attendees in by promoting the exclusivity of the exhibit and creating an eye-catching exterior.

2. Attract Your Audience with a Themed Exhibit

Themed exhibits are a clever way to surprise and delight attendees. However, selecting a theme takes careful time, consideration and alignment with your target customers’ interests. Consider how you can craft messaging that supports a theme, especially if it doesn’t directly match your company’s image.

Apogee created a themed exhibit for Iredale Cosmetics, a leading brand in the Skincare Makeup industry. We transformed their booth into a space were they could do make-overs, have meetings and display their beautiful products as if there were in a retail setting using complementary colors and superimposed shots of Iredale’s vast array of products.

3. Utilize Unique Sculptural Structures

Custom exhibits offer a lot of versatility, especially when it comes to designing thoughtful structural elements to support the booth. Sculptural structures are the perfect way to add a unique design element, think creating larger than life versions of your products, logo or other supportive branding.

4. Bring Your Showroom to a Trade Show

Companies are shifting focus towards experience-based exhibits that highlight more than just product and service offerings. Exceptional exhibits go beyond traditional product displays to connect customers with a solution-based approach.

5. Thrilling In-Booth Games & Giveaways

Nothing builds buzz quite like an adrenaline boosting game or a coveted giveaway. But sometimes it can be a challenge to integrate games and giveaways into booths that are focused on achieving sales and lead generation goals.

Virtual and Augmented Reality are emerging technologies with novelty on their side, capturing the attention of attendees and creating an immersive experience that keeps booth visitors excited and involved.

Looking for more trade show tips and expert advice from Apogee? Learn the latest Trade Show Trends to Watch at Exhibitions This Year.

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Best Trade Show Apps for Exhibitors

ApogeeExhibits — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 15:01:48 +0000

Staying organized while exhibiting at a trade show can be difficult. Luckily the digital age has ushered in technology that can help exhibitors stay on top of everything, from travel arrangements to staff scheduling. In addition to popular business travel apps—such as Dropbox, LinkedIn, Uber & Lyft—here are Apogee’s best apps for trade show exhibitors.

Communication Apps

Whatsapp started out as Android’s answer to iMessage but has since become one of the most popular messaging apps. It ensures your team can stay in contact with each other during the unpredictable travel process and during the event itself, so that no one will be left uninformed or out-of-touch from the team.

Asana

Asana is an all-in-one solution for team communication. It works as a project management and communication tool. Users can view texts, IMs, emails, tasks, projects and deadlines from a bird’s eye view without having to jump from app to app or device to device.

Scheduling Apps

ShowGo Mobile

Designed for trade shows marketers, the ShowGo Mobile app allows event coordinators to communicate information to their sales reps by giving them automatic updates on scheduling, staffing, tasks and hotel arrangements quickly and efficiently.

When I Work

A popular scheduling app, When I Work allows booth staff to view their shifts, request shift trades and communicate with team leaders about scheduling. Team leaders can moderate requests as well as create and edit schedules and notify staff of any changes. This app is perfect for assigning shifts to your booth staff and updating schedules in real time.

Budget Tracking Apps

Expensify

The Expensify app is a great tool for expense report management, receipt and mileage tracking and overall budgeting for business travelers. The app keeps track of your expenses and even contains a feature in which photos of your receipts can be stored virtually. This app is great for budgeting during your trade show adventures.

Track My Budget

Track My Budget app is ideal for managing money and keeping track of spending. BudgetTracker is a complete online money management tool designed to keep track of all your transactions and bank accounts from a PC, mobile phone or iPad, making it perfect for monitoring your trade show budget. Keeping track of your funds while planning and executing a trade show can be difficult, but this easy to use app does all the work for you and your company while you are on the road.

Travel and City Guide Apps

Tripit

Tripit provides real-time flight alerts, allows you to locate alternate flights and even alerts you when better seats become available. Traveling to your event can be stressful, but this app takes most of the hassle out of flying.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor is one of the most popular travel apps and can serve as your guide to whichever city you find yourself in while exhibiting. TripAdvisor offers reviews of restaurants, bars, hotels and local attractions, offers suggestions on where to go and provides walking maps to ensure you never get lost.

Marketing Analytics Apps

Brandscopic

When it comes to event marketing, data can help you hone your trade show program. Brandscopic can help you capture event recaps, measure attendee demographics and learn more details about your audience. Insights garnered from Brandscopic can help you to set and measure goals from show to show so you can track your program’s progress and effectiveness.

QuickMobile

Quickmobile provides you with analytical data for each trade show that you attend along with meetings, conferences and other marketing events. Quickmobile will help you prove your trade show ROI with analytic insights built right in the event app. Quickmobile also features benefits like project management and content management for your website, making it one of the best trade show apps on the market.

These are just a few of the many event marketing and trade show apps available to help marketers exhibit better.

Learn more about how these apps can help you plan for your next trade show. Contact an Apogee expert today!

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Use Content to Amp up Your Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Trade Show Booth

ApogeeExhibits — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 19:21:04 +0000

As the saying goes, content is king. When it comes to your trade show booth, content is a surefire way to attract attention on the day of a biotechnology of pharmaceutical exhibit and provide value long after the trade show has ended. But content comes in many forms, and certain types of content are better suited than others to achieve your trade show goals.

Our free Ebook, “Use Content to Amp up your Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Trade Show Booth,” highlights how you can drive traffic to your booth with various content pieces like design elements, videos, white papers, infographics and live interviews.

What You’ll Learn

The impact of powerful content
How to create trade show videos
Organic vs. Paid: What’s the difference?
How to use Apogee’s content strategy timeline

The post Use Content to Amp up Your Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Trade Show Booth appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Top Trade Show Trends

ApogeeExhibits — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 16:53:36 +0000

This year is already becoming a big year for trade shows. While attendees rush in to trade shows by the thousands, exhibitors of all sizes now have the chance to market their businesses like never before. Gone are the days when trade shows only played into the hands of big-budget companies; a small- or medium-sized company with a strong online presence can now garner as much of a following as a large corporation. As this year shapes up as a competitive year at trade shows, several trends are standing out that can help your business stay above the competition.

Innovations in Virtual and Augmented Reality are making it easier for marketers to engage their audience at trade shows. Focusing on unique designs and comfortable, private spaces will help trade show attendees have more insightful discussions with customers. And all of this is great news for brand owners.

Our free guide, “Trade Show Trends,” highlights the top trends taking place at trade shows this year. With leaps in technological developments and a tighter focus on visitor engagement, trade shows this year will be flush with trendy new ways for your company to make its mark.

Top Trends You’ll Learn About

Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality
Interactive Touch Screens
Visitor Engagement
Themed Trade Show Booths

Prepare for a successful year of trade show marketing by reading our list of Top Trade Show Trends.

Get the Top Trends

The post Top Trade Show Trends appeared first on Apogee Exhibits.

Top Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Trade Shows in 2019

ApogeeExhibits — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:30:57 +0000

The healthcare industry is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing industries. Every year, hundreds of trade shows and conventions are held around the world, gathering thousands of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies exhibiting to hundreds of thousands of visitors. With so many biotechnology and pharmaceutical trade shows to choose from, we have compiled our list of the top events that you can attend and display your own trade show booth to help grow your business.

MD&M East Expo and Conference East

The MD&M East Expo and Conference is a regional medical device conference, and one of the largest medical manufacturing events in the world. MD&M hosts more than 500 leading medical technology suppliers and manufacturers, including 3M, Abbott, The Tech Group, Phillips-Medisize, and Stratasys.

Learn More About This Trade Show

World Biotechnology Conference

The World Biotechnology Conference highlights the advancing knowledge and latest techniques in the fields of biomedicine, renewable chemicals, polymer biotechnology, food ingredients, biofuels, environmental protection and more.

Learn More About This Trade Show

INTERPHEX

INTERPHEX is the premier pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and device development and manufacturing event where attendees can find the state-of-the-art solutions to cost-effectively develop and manufacture products. Based in New York, INTERPHEX brings over 11,000 global industry professionals and 650+ leading suppliers together to “learn it, experience it, procure it” through a combination of no-cost technical conference, exhibits, demonstrations, and networking events to leverage quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness in today’s ever-changing global market.

Learn More About This Trade Show

AGRI Tech Venture Forum

AGRI Tech Venture Forum provides a converging point for the global agriculture tech elite. The event is held in Toronto’s Eaton Centre, and plays host some of the best tech experts, capital providers, industry leaders and most-promising companies within the ag tech community.

Learn More About This Trade Show

Bio-IT World Conference & Expo

Bio-IT World Conference & Expo exhibits the myriad of IT and informatics applications and enabling technologies that drive biomedical research, drug discovery and development, and clinical and healthcare initiatives. It continues to be a vibrant event that unites life sciences, pharmaceutical, clinical, healthcare, and IT professionals. Bio-IT World Conference & Expo is seeking speakers from the life sciences who want to present their latest research and work via best practice case studies or joint partner presentations—a great opportunity to network, market and gain exposure in front of a live audience.

The 2019 Bio-IT World Conference & Expo will welcome more than 3,400 attendees from over 40 countries.

Learn More About This Trade Show

International Summit on Biotechnology and Healthcare

This year’s theme at the International Summit on Biotechnology and Healthcare is “Biotechnology: From Evidence to Excellence,” ensuring an exceptional platform of scientific programming and promotion that can help you market your company’s products and services. Academicians, scientists, researchers, educators, and students attend the International Summit of Biotechnology and Healthcare to exchange ideas and stay informed on the latest research developments in the field.

This year’s event is held between April 22 and 24, 2019 in Dubai, UAE.

Learn More About This Trade Show

Neuroscience Annual Meeting

Each year, scientists from around the world congregate to discover new ideas, share research and experience the best that the field of neuroscience has to offer. Attendees can present research, network with scientists and attend sessions and events that advance the field of neuroscience. Attendees and exhibitors can share up-to-the-minute neuroscientific research and techniques from the world’s leading neuroscientists and researchers. Submissions are currently being accepted for the event’s Storytelling Session where presenters can share content through the art of storytelling.

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American Association for Clinical Chemistry Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo

The American Association for Clinical Chemistry Annual Meeting promotes innovation from more than 750 exhibitors and has an international buyers’ program focused on bringing purchasers and vendors together. This medical trade show is ideal for exhibitors looking to showcase lab-related products to qualified buyers.

This year’s event is held between August 4 and 8, 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Learn More About This Trade Show

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference & Exhibition

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society is a must-attend healthcare conference for attendees looking to find new medical technology and software. With 40,000+ healthcare IT professionals, clinicians, executives and vendors attending this show, attendees are sure to experience cutting-edge products and world-class networking opportunities.

Learn More About This Trade Show

Molecular Medicine Tri-Con

The Molecular Medicine Tri-Con is an essential trade show for all professionals working in diagnostics and drug discovery. Attendees and exhibitors include 3,500+ drug discovery and development professionals, developers, payers and researchers from over 40 countries. The event has developed into a diverse healthcare conference focusing on molecular medicine, genomics, diagnostics and information technology.

Learn More About This Trade Show

Florida International Medical Expo

Florida International Medical Expo covers a wide range of medical topics such as smart hospital development, biomedical technology and research, private practice and intentional medical markets. The expo offers free workshops and seminars for healthcare professionals looking to be informed about the latest trends in medical devices and research.

Learn More About This Trade Show

Attending and exhibiting at trade shows like these provide the opportunity to connect with leading professionals in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical fields, and they are a great way for you to promote your services and create new business relationships through interactive and engaging trade show booths.

Interested in exhibiting? Learn how Apogee Exhibits can help you get started.

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Engage Trade Show Attendees with Virtual & Augmented Reality

ApogeeExhibits — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 15:13:03 +0000

Virtual and Augmented Reality captures the attention of attendees and creates an immersive experience that keeps your visitors excited, involved, and focused on your brand.

The competition at trade shows is known to be fierce. Exhibitors are shoulder-to-shoulder with competitors trying to catch the attention of a shared audience. That’s where virtual and augmented reality play a role in keeping you ahead of the competition, and help your trade show booth stand out. This emerging technology captures the attention of attendees and creates an immersive experience that keeps booth visitors excited, involved, and focused on your brand.

In addition to building hype, virtual and augmented technology offers incredible functional value to exhibitors looking to showcase entire product lines, complete service offerings or an expansive portfolio, all within a limited booth space. Follow these tips to exhibit like a pro using cutting-edge technology.

Virtual Reality vs. Augmented Reality

Before we dive into crafting a virtual or augmented reality experience for your exhibit, let’s first define and distinguish these often-confused terms:

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality commonly utilizes a headset to transport attendees to an immersive environment of their choosing, providing endless applications and possibilities. Completely separated from the trade show floor, users can walk through showrooms, get behind the scenes perspectives of daily operations or interact with products through virtual demonstrations.

Popular VR devices include:

Oculus Rift headsets use state-of-the-art technology designed to fully submerge users inside a vivid and interactive experience using advanced digital imaging.
Google Cardboard is a lightweight device made from cardboard. This versatile, low-profile system transforms a smartphone into a virtual reality headset using VR-friendly mobile applications.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality adds interactive digital elements to a real-world environment, such as an exhibit space, brochure or product display. AR commonly utilizes handheld devices, such as smartphones or tablets to overlay the current view with information, specifications and more. This allows the participants to stay present within your exhibit, while exploring interactive elements beyond the physical boundaries of the space.

Popular AR devices include:

Smartphone and tablets, powered by mobile applications that allow visitors to interact with the exhibit on their own terms.
QR codes allow attendees to scan various elements throughout the exhibit for quick access to product, service or company information.
Smart Glasses superimpose information based on what items the visitor is viewing within the exhibits.

Benefits of VR/AR at Trade Shows

There are many benefits to leveraging VR/AR at your trade show booth.

Crafting a VR/AR experience takes a lot of planning, preparation and troubleshooting. Make sure to clearly define your goals for using VR/AR technology at your event. Are you trying to reinforce your brand, or looking to drive leads through the presentations? Once established, carefully plan the presentation content around those goals.

Engage Attendees

If you want to create a memorable experience for attendees at your trade show booth, then it is important to share your brand’s story. VR/AR presentations are a way to engage visitors with thoughtful content, like a creative sales pitch that focuses on fulfilling their needs or company history trivia. Remember, creating VR/AR content is not enough, it must deeply resonate with your average consumer. Listen to their needs, and work from there.

Expand Your Space

The purpose of your trade show booth is to connect with consumers in a face-to-face environment, but with VR/AR you can take that a step further by creating an out-of-the-booth experience that transports attendees to your warehouse, sales floor, production facility and beyond. This can be an incredible tool for exhibitors, especially if the trade show booth space is limited.

Tips for expanding your booth space with VR/AR:

Create a showroom of your entire product line using either augmented or virtual reality.
Use virtual reality to walk attendees through how your products are made.
Bring attendees to your business location and introduce your team.
Integrate augmented reality into product displays, providing additional information and selections.

Bonus Tips

Here are a few more things to consider before including VR/AR technology at your next trade show.

Increase Leads With VR/AR

The easiest way to benefit from all the attention that VR/AR will bring your trade show booth is to request an attendee’s information as part of the VR/AR set-up process. Lead capture devices such as badge scanners, make this an easy, natural process. Creating an interactive experience incentivizes attendees to learn more about your company, increasing high-quality leads based on genuine interest.

Stock Up on Devices

Cutting-edge technology tends to draw a crowd, and can create a long line of attendees waiting to participate in your AR/VR experience. Be sure to bring enough devices for attendees, and have staff members ready to engage with visitors who may be waiting their turn. A good rule of thumb is to have at least one device per trade show booth staff, as they can guide the visitor through the experience and answer any questions.

For VR presentations, consider purchasing several inexpensive headsets or renting devices from a supplier, so multiple presentations can take place simultaneously. For AR presentations, it may be easier to integrate the features through a mobile application that visitors can download to interact with the exhibit and products. This allows visitors to use their own devices, while reducing costs and wait times.

Keep in mind, it is important to select a VR/AR technology that works for your trade show budget. Selecting a less expensive device system can be more beneficial if more devices will circulate through the exhibit.

Carefully Plan Experiences

Attendees are constantly on the move at trade shows; trying to cover as much ground as possible in a limited amount of time can be challenging. When presenting a VR/AR experience to a booth visitor, it is important to make every minute count.

Tips to get the most out of every interaction:

Keep the VR/AR presentation short and sweet, giving more visitors the opportunity to participate in the experience, while leaving time for questions and sales-driven conversations.
Make sure that the VR/AR controls are simple and user-friendly. Complicated technology can detract from the overall experience.
Prioritize comfort by creating relaxed seating areas and an open floorplan that invites attendees to stop by.
Avoid an intense VR/AR experience that will overwhelm participants. Stick to fun and informative content for an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Great Giveaways

Giveaways that feature AR (and can be used by the visitor’s device after the show) make excellent giveaways and increase the chances that they will share the item with someone else in their network. A product brochure featuring QR codes that trigger engaging AR content allows participants to interact with products with their peers long after the event.

On the virtual reality side, inexpensive headsets such as Google Cardboard can become great giveaways or contest prizes. Paired with interactive features throughout your exhibit and effective branding placement, it is the perfect giveaway or prize to attract attendees’ attention.

Looking for more ways to boost brand presence at your next event? Learn how to captivate the crowd with interactive trade show design.

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