Page 206 - 597 Business Ideas You can Start from Home - doing what you LOVE! (Beginner Internet Marketing Series)

Step 1 0. Prep for the Trade Show 1 99

H ow to Find Shows Within Your I ndustry

After you visit a sample trade show, it's time to narrow down your
choices to which one you will attend. Go online and search for key­
words within your industry. Broaden your search to include periph­
ery products and stores where your product may still fit in. For
example, instead of just searching for skin-care shows to exhibit
Moisture Gloves, I searched "spa shows," "gift shows," and even
"lingerie shows." For your first few shows, however, you should be
exhibiting right in the thick of your industry.

Some trade publications publish the dates for the various indus­
try shows. Look for a section called the "Show Directory." Search
the trade papers, monthly and weekly newsletters from industry
associations, and talk to people in the industry.

Who E lse Is Exhibiting?

Your last step before deciding where to exhibit should be to exam­
ine the list of other exhibitors, which can usually be found under
the link for "attendees" on the trade show's website. By studying the
exhibitor list, you can see who else thinks it is important enough to
shell out the money to exhibit at this particular show. The exhibi­
tors you want to look for are the leaders within the industry. They
bring in the important buyers. If you feel that your product needs
more testing and feedback from your industry, "start small" at a
local trade show that does not have the chains represented. But if
you have already moved forward with marketing and manufactur­
ing, you should be ready for the larger industry shows .

Paying to Regis ter for the S h ow

Exhibiting at a trade show can cost upwards of several thousand
dollars. Here are tips to help defray the initial registration cost:

• Call show management companies and inquire about discounts
for first-time exhibitors (worth a try).