Card Maker Trading
Something To Show For Your Trade Show
Getting prepared to take part in a trade show is hectic and time consuming, to say the least. You’ve made your travel plans and worked out your shipping and spent countless hours putting together your display booth. If you haven’t given more than a cursory thought to your printed promotional materials, you could be stifling the results of all your hard work.
Let me relate an example from the recent past to serve as a cautionary tale. The setting was a regional telecommunications trade show that I was attending a few months ago. Now, I won’t point any fingers, but one of the primary sponsors of the show had spent thousands of dollars on displays, had likely spent just as much getting their demo products on site and had paid to get their people there to shake hands and make sales connections. I’d like to say they had all of their bases covered, but they had left the home plate unguarded, metaphorically speaking. They didn’t have any printed materials available at all.
I was struck by this as I worked my way through their large display area, shaking hands in greeting and listening to product pitches. Sure, they were making an impression at the show, but how could they expect anyone to remember that impression in the days and weeks following the show? In short, they couldn’t.
I know I’ll get called for arm chair quarterbacking on this one, but let me point out a couple of ways printed marketing could have made their trade show effort less flash and more substance.
Business Card Printing: I must have shook hands with a dozen different people at this company’s booths and do you know how many business cards I received? Exactly one. That card came from a gentleman who seemed to be one of the lower level techs in with the company and the card itself was a generic company card with a blank line where the tech had hastily scrawled out his name and number with a blue ink pen. This is not the kind of impression you want to make. Now suppose I had wanted to contact this company about purchasing product from them. The only name and number I had from them was for their tech support.
Don’t make this mistake. Get professional business cards printed for yourself and anyone representing your company. Also, though I typically support using dual sided business cards, you will likely want to go with one sided cards for trade shows. Having that blank space on the back of your business card will allow potential clients to jot down notes on the back of the card itself so they can remember who you are and what you have to offer.
Flyer Printing: Like I mentioned, the unnamed company had an unusual amount of floor space compared to other vendors. I saw a wide variety of products, some new and some not so new. Without a piece of paper in my briefcase to remind me, I must confess, the only products I really remember are the ones I was already familiar with. I have nothing to remind me of the names of the equipment on display or any of the features that might have sold me on them.
This is an easy one. If you have a product or a line of products on display at your booth, have flyers on hand for each product. Make sure to use color flyers that will stand out from the rest of the pack and make sure the product is prominently displayed with clear copywriting that lays out the strengths of your product and what it has to offer the client.
Folders: Our example company, amid their other offerings, was particularly pushing a new product that they said was going to be a groundbreaker and a money maker. Without giving too much away, it was a product designed with disaster relief in mind. Now, this wasn’t something my company needed but I sat through their demonstration out of curiosity. Lots of technical information was thrown around and monitors displayed graphs and equipment set up details. Yet again, though, there was no paper work to back it up and keep it fresh in the minds of the customer.
If you have a product you will be displaying extensively, make sure to have a presentation folder printed up and on hand for people viewing your demos. I recommend having the name of the product prominently displayed on the front of the folder, along with a short buy-line like “Don’t wait for an emergency to call,” your company name and contact information. In the inner jacket you should place a promo booklet with product details and highlights of your demonstration. The flap should, ideally, have a “cut out” that will allow you to attach the business card of the sales team member leading the demo. As a final touch, include a pen with your company name in each folder, so that potential clients can make notes about particular features they like or may want to inquire further regarding.
I hope I didn’t beat our example company into the ground, but I thought the experience and my impressions could serve as a cautionary tale of how not to do a trade show, while showing how attention to details can make or break your sales efforts. I remember that company, but it’s for all the wrong reasons. Make sure all your bases are covered before you embark on your next trade show.
About the Author
Visit these pages for more information on flyer printing, presentation folder and business card printing.
|
|
Zombie Brain Gelatin Mold – Halloween Novelty $4.74 Mold Young Minds In your bilious-green zombie-brain mold. The plastic mold measures 9″ x 7-3/8″ x 3″ deep and comes with (2) recipes on the box: (1) for your natural, nauseating-gray-but-yummy brain gelatin mold, and (1) for a festive bright green version infested with worms. (Gummy worms not included.) Don’t like gelatin desserts? Switch to plaster of Paris and make a smart-looking paperweight…. |
|
|
Dell RT7D60 Smart Card Computer Keyboard DJ741 $21.99 Now your Smart Card reader is built directly into your keyboard, eliminating the need for a separate card-reader peripheral device. The Dell USB Smart Card Keyboard provides excellent feel and operation in a compact size. It features 104 keys. Using the GemCore Smart Card Reader Technology, this keyboard offers a fast and easy certification process, multi-interface capability, low power cons… |
|
|
Dell Latitude / Inspiron – D/Dock Advanced Port Replicator for Dell Laptops PD01X $24.99 Specs/Ports 1 x serial – RS-232 – 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9) 1 x parallel – IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) – 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25) 1 x mouse – generic – 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) 1 x keyboard – generic – 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) 4 x Hi-Speed USB – 4 pin USB Type A 1 x audio – line-out/headphones – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 1 x audio – SPDIF 1 x display / video – VGA – 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) 1 x display / video -… |
|
|
Dell T6867 104-Key USB Keyboard with Smart Card Reader for Dell OptiPlex Precision Systems RT7D60 $28.97 Highlights Features up to 104-Key USB Keyboard with Smart Card Reader OptiPlex 745 (Desktop, Mini-Tower and Small Form Factor) |
|
|
Angry Birds Card Game $3.47 The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake! Be the first person to strategically topple the structure cards by rolling the right bird on the die. Then knock out the pigs with the flick of a die to win in this quickplay game based on the super popular app. Ages 5 and over…. |
|
|
Little Tikes Tap A Tune Xylophone $14.30 It’s time for your littlest tike to tap out a tune on the Tap-a-Tune Xylophone! This eight-key, color keyboard introduces your child to music in fun and easy way! Colored chimes produce a full octave of tones making any tune possible and letting your child experiment musically…. |
|
|
Yu-Gi-Oh Cards – Structure Deck – MACHINE RE-VOLT $7.89 Yu-Gi-Oh Cards – Structure Deck – MACHINE RE-VOLT [Toy]… |
|
|
Warhammer Dawn of War II $5.98 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II transports players into Games Workshop’s vast Warhammer 40,000 universe, where an intergalactic war between ancient races has raged on for countless millennia. Featuring vicious front-line combat, destructible environments, a fully cooperative multiplayer mode, four unique playable races and an epic single-player campaign, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II delivers … |
|
|
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over $15.99 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over brings the thrills and adventure of the Spy Kids movies for an innovative 3D gaming experience!… |
|
|
Barbie Jewelry Designer $3.95 Barbie helps you design all kinds of jewelry that you can wear. Mix and match colors, patterns, and pretty designs. Print favorite designs on the Print ‘n Shrink material using an ink-jet printer, then simply cut them out and bake them in an oven. They miraculously shrink into colorful plastic jewelry…. |
|
|
Wii – Chaotic NDS with Trading Card by Activision $36.59 Chaotic Wii W/Trading Card |
|
|
NinDS – Chaotic NDS with Trading Card by Activision $23.13 Chaotic Nds W/Trading Card |
|
|
Artist Trading Card Vellum Envelopes $7.99 Great for holding trading cards or using for other scrapbook pages or card making |
|
|
UltraPro 3 Topps Trading Card Album with Pages $23.95 UltraPro 3 Black Topps Trading Cards Album with 20 Platinum Pages. Perfect item for Trading Card Collectors. |
|
|
Marvel Trading Card Game $95.59 Marvel Trading Card Game is a video game for the Nintendo DS, PC, and PlayStation Portable. It was developed by Vicious Cycle Software and 1st Playable Productions and published by Konami. The game is based on Upper Deck Entertainments Marvel Comicsbased collectible card game, and was released across all three platforms in several regions in 2007.Marvel Trading Card Game is a virtual card game in which the player chooses to be either a superhero or supervillain in singleplayer mode. Multiplayer modes are also available. The game follows the rules laid out in Upper Decks VS System, used in card games across several franchises including Marvel, DC Comics, and Hellboy.The game received mixed reviews from critics. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 132 Publication Date: 2010/04/29 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.30 inches |
|
|
Card Maker’s Birthday Celebration $14.99 Annie’s Attic: Card Maker’s Birthday Celebration. Find inspiration for great birthday designs with card sketches: the must have tool for today’s most creative card makers. This book is filled with twenty eight new sketches conveniently arranged by size with more than 125 beautiful sample projects to jump start your own creative juices. Author: Tanya Fox. Softcover: 64 pages. Made in USA. |
|
|
XMen Trading Card Game $66.91 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000, the XMen Trading Card Game was a collectible card game (CCG) designed to coincide with the popularity of the first XMen movie. This set featured character art similar to that of the movie, even for characters who did not appear in the movie, such as Angel or Bishop. The XMen Trading Card Game was a joint release of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. (Wote, Marvel Entertainment (Marvel), and Twentieth Century Fox (Fox). All three companies involved with the game required that certain stipulations be met in the final product, which was more than slightly instrumental in the games alltoorapid demise. WotC, naturally, was responsible for the structural design of the game; Marvel was to provide artwork; and Fox determined the overall look of the characters depicted in the cards, to wit, the black leather outfits worn by the actors of Foxs XMen feature film. The games only promotional cards even featured Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, and James Marsden as their respective movie characters. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 84 Publication Date: 2010/06/24 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.20 inches |
|
|
Card Maker Craft Trimmer card maker craft trimmer $24.86 The Dahle Card Maker is the perfect tool for creating lasting memories Whether you are putting together a scrapbook or designing invitations, this handy craft trimmer will help you do it quickly, accurately, and safely.With a cutting length of 13 in. and a floating ruler that allows you to cut both edges and interior holes, the Card Maker is versatile enough to meet all of your craft cutting needs. It comes with three interchangeable cutting heads for making straight, wavy, and scoring cuts, and all three heads feature recessed blades for extra safety. The Card Maker also includes a 13 in. x 4 in. self-healing cutting mat.The Dahle Card Maker cuts up to three sheets of paper at a time. It?s also great for use on cardstock, photos, and specialty papers.Replacement straight, wavy, and scoring blades are also available. |
|
|
Webkinz 12-pack Trading Card Bundle $51.93 Webkins Trading Card Bundle features 12 packs of Webkinz Series 1 Trading Cards; each includes 6 cards You can collect, trade, and play awesome games with these trading cards The first series of Webkinz Trading Cards feature your favorite Webkinz pets, characters, items and recipes for you to collect and enjoy Have fun trying to collect all 80 base cards See never-before-seen sketches by the Webkinz artists on these all-foil cardsEach pack also comes with a card with up to five feature codes that allow you to unlock new virtual prizes for Webkinz pets |
|
|
Mike Selinker $45.6 Used – Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Mike Selinker is a game designer whose design credits include Pirates of the Spanish Main and Fightball with James Ernest, Axis & Allies Revised Edition with Larry Harris, the Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game, and Risk Godstorm. He was a creative director for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons and the Harry Potter Trading Card Game. As a puzzle maker, he cre |
|
|
Mike Selinker $45.6 New – Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Mike Selinker is a game designer whose design credits include Pirates of the Spanish Main and Fightball with James Ernest, Axis & Allies Revised Edition with Larry Harris, the Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game, and Risk Godstorm. He was a creative director for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons and the Harry Potter Trading Card Game. As a puzzle maker, he crea |
