TOP 10 TIPS on visiting an exhibition

As Chief Executive of the Independent Print Industries Association, Andrew Pearce is familiar with both visiting and exhibiting at exhibitions, both in the print sector and the promotional industry.

The Independent Print Industries Association was founded in 1990 to forge a sustainable partnership between trade manufacturers of print, stationery and print related products and suppliers of other products and services to the printing industry.

Print is an important element of the promotions industry and the IPIA, a founder member of the Marketing Association Alliance (MAA), brings together print managers, print distributors, trade manufacturers, material suppliers and associated service providers to 'create partnerships in print'.

Here are Andrew's top tips for getting the most out of your visit to trade show:

1. Plan your day in advance using the exhibition website and any marketing collateral you have.

2. Set yourself some clear targets on the exhibitors you would like to see and the products you are interested in.

3. Research your target exhibitors thoroughly to ensure they supply the products and services you think they do.

4. Wear comfortable shoes – underneath that lovely carpet that matches the show's logo is a hard, unforgiving, concrete floor!

5. When you arrive, dump any unnecessary baggage/clothing in the cloakroom.

6. Take a trolley with wheels for samples and don't be weighed down with brochures – ask for them to be mailed to you.

7. Take lots of business cards and some samples of your own. (You never know who you may bump in to!)

8. When you arrive at the show, grab the floorplan and double-check the exhibitors are still in the same position. Have a tea/coffee to recuperate from your journey and steel yourself for the visit.

9. Take regular breaks and revisit your objectives. It is very easy to go through the exhibition entrance and be totally sidetracked and realise, with an hour to go, you haven't met anyone you wanted to.

10. Switch mobile off when talking to exhibitors.

Andrew Pearce
Chief Executive
Independent Print Industries Association

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