Retailers: Plan Your Ultimate Trade Show Experience

Download the App

The ATA’s free mobile app doubles as a map, planner, schedule, sales guide, and booth and exhibitor guide. Attendees can use their phone to stay organized and quickly access everything they need to have a productive trip to Indianapolis.

The app is available through iTunes (iPhone app), Google Play (Android app) and ChirpE (Mobile Web). Download it now to plan your itinerary before the Show even starts. Use the “My Planner” feature to “star” your favorite activities, exhibitors, booth events, and educational opportunities. Your starred selections will appear on one screen in chronological order, so you easily see what’s next and stay on track. You can also add notes, create meetings, and check off events and activities as they happen. Learn more and download the app here.

Do Your Homework

Do you know what you want to buy? Do you know what you needto buy? Check your sales data and history reports to confirm your intuitions. You might be surprised by what you find. Then, create a product wish list for your shop. Don’t forget to research new products and companies that will be at the 2020 Show. Educate yourself and be prepared for sales pitches. That knowledge will help you avoid making impulse decisions, which often leads to overspending.

Also, evaluate your finances to create a budget and set spending limits. The last thing you want to do is exhaust your funds during the first few days of the year. Negotiating prices and understanding product margins helps you make smart buying decisions. Doing your homework before the Show helps you prepare for what to expect at the Show.

Organize Work Meetings

Many Show attendees work with the same exhibitors year after year. To ensure you see your favorite business partners, schedule meetings with them in advance. Scheduling meetings with a manufacturer’s sales staff ensures you get quality one-on-one time to negotiate sales and write orders.

If possible, try to schedule work meetings on Day 1 of the Show. The ATA has designated Day 1 as Buyer Day, which means only those with yellow buyer badges or red exhibitor badges can enter the exhibit hall. This change ensures buyers and manufacturers can concentrate on business without interruptions from other member groups.

Plus, the ATA is giving away $5,000 each day of the Show to a lucky retailer who places $5,000 in orders at the Show. Eligible retailers can fill out the first coupon in their Big Buck Tags book, and drop it off in the MyATA Area for a chance to win. If you write $5,000 on Day 1, you’ll have three chances to win, because the coupon remains in the drawing until the Show’s over.