A childcare trade show exhibit lets industry insiders gather together and see the new and veteran products in the childcare industry. A childcare tradeshow is the place to exhibit day care furniture, preschool curriculum, outside toys, books and day care management tools. Your childcare trade show booth can attract more attention with a stellar display.

Your placement at the tradeshow is important because it determines how many people see your booth. If possible, get a copy of the childcare trade show design for the booths and set-up before picking a spot. If you can get a booth closest to the entrance, exhibit goers will be fresh and ready to listen to your sales pitches. If you end up toward the back, you might have a harder time keeping the attention of potential clients because they're winding down for the day. When planning for a childcare tradeshow, remember the following:

1. Your childcare trade show display is what attracts potential clients and keeps them there.

2. Keep your sales pitches to the point, and show what your product can do for the client's day care or educational services.

3. Use childcare trade show rentals or portable displays, if traveling far for the trade show.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sign up for a childcare trade show exhibit through specific organizations

Childcare organizations, like the NACCP, offer conferences each year where exhibitors can showcase products to childcare industry professionals. These conferences mix educational seminars with exhibits of child care products.

I recommend: Register for childcare trade show booth space at the annual National Association of Child Care Professionals conference. The National Association for the Education of Young People hosts the largest early childhood conference in the world.

Enhance your childcare trade show design with child-sized furniture

Even if your childcare product has nothing to do with furniture, buying a few select pieces can help you set up a classroom atmosphere to help promote your product. Child-sized furniture can also engage any children at the show with your product and make it more appealing to clients.

I recommend: SimplyBabyFurniture.com offers everything from tables and chairs to upholstered recliners. Find classroom specific furniture for day cares at Kids Fun Shop and give your tradeshow display an authentic feel.

Plan your childcare trade show setup with appropriate giveaways

An important factor of childcare tradeshows is the chance to obtain the names and contact information of potential clients. The most common way exhibitors do this is to give away related items in exchange for client information. By having giveaway items clients want, you can get more information than if you just give away pens. Books with a name plate sticker with your company logo inside is one idea of a good giveaway.

I recommend: Get children's books at wholesale prices, many under $1, from BookDepot.com. Find educational coloring books, funny hand sanitizer and growth charts at ADVANCE Healthcare Shop, and give away something useful for the classroom or day care facility.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most major cities like Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and New York will have local tradeshow rental businesses. If you don't have a portable childcare trade show display case or exhibit, consider calling a local company and having them take care of set-up and rentals the day of the show.