Last month, PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021 welcomed over 23,000 packaging and processing professionals. With over 740,000 square feet of exhibit space and 1,500 exhibitors, this year’s event serves as the largest trade show in the U.S. in 2021 so far.
I had the opportunity to attend PACK EXPO Las Vegas and echo the sentiment I heard from colleagues, attendees, and exhibitors: it’s good to be back at live events! While virtual events were the norm over the past 18months, the energy of in-person interactions was unmatched.
As you plan your next trade show marketing strategy, consider these top three takeaways from this year’s PACK EXPO:
1. Attendees are ready to invest
Seeing machinery in person again resulted in attendees wanting quick turnaround after making a purchase. For example, multiple PACK EXPO Las Vegas exhibitors reported sales right off the show floor. In addition, most attendees had a specific need and plan for a solution, with few “tire kickers” visiting booths.
2. Exhibitors should capitalize on opportunities for training and team building
While exhibitors hadn’t seen buyers in person, they also hadn’t seen many coworkers due to remote work. Teams used the show as an opportunity to reconnect not only with buyers, but colleagues. Many took advantage of the time by hosting trainings and team building activities.
3. Follow up is more important than ever
Just as pre-show brand exposure is important, post-show follow up reminds attendees of specific solutions among the hundreds of thousands on the show floor. With attendees eager to make purchasing decisions, swift follow up post-show is more important than ever.
For more tips on post show-follow up along with pre-show and at-show marketing best practices, download our ebook, A Marketing Guide forTrade Show Success.
