Taking time to design a concise and targeted packaging tradeshow marketing plan helps packaging business owners take full advantage of the opportunity of turning trade show leads into packaging trade show sales. Participating in a packaging trade show is a great way for business owners to show off their creative and strategic packaging materials to fit a range of business and consumer needs, including various boxes, bags or other packaging material that your company offers.

Without the proper marketing, however, established and potential customers won’t know you’re there. Participating in a trade show can help your business increase its sales and profits, but participation isn’t enough. To achieve a return on your trade show investment, it’s important to plan early and create a packaging trade show marketing scheme that brings more potential customers to your booth. Consider the following tips to help you increase packaging trade show traffic.

1. Create a concise packaging trade show marketing plan.

2. Start your packaging tradeshow promotions well in advance.

3. Don’t forget packaging tradeshow giveaways.

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

Implement a marketing plan that increases packaging trade show traffic

Proper planning, budgeting and marketing are all a must when participating in trade shows. A packaging trade show is a forum in which business owners can interact one-on-one with prospective buyers and strategically display packaging samples and services. Whether your packaging business sells bags, boxes, gift or product packaging or all of the above, finding a company that can help you implement your marketing plan helps your show to be more successful.

I recommend: Consider partnering with an advertising firm such as TradeShows Plus!, a firm specializing in trade show marketing strategies for any industry. This company helps with publicity before, during and after the event and target audience promotions that bring the right people to your booth the day of the show. Contact ExpoMarketing Group, a company that can help you with promotional programs not only before the show, but also during the show that will make your packaging tradeshow presence more noticeable.

Spread the word with packaging trade show promotions

Once you decide to participate in a trade show it's important that you use packaging tradeshow marketing materials to get the word out before the event. Your packaging trade show marketing plan should include strategies to promote your participation before, during and after the trade show.

I recommend: Contact AmazingMail for direct mailers to before the show to let people know where and when you’ll be and then use them for follow-up mailers after the show. This is one of the most popular forms of marketing, as the information is delivered directly to your potential customers. Check out Praxis Communications, a company that help you maximize your packaging tradeshow exposure by helping drive more traffic to your booth with pre-show mail and email promotions and incentives to promising show attendees.

Draw attention with unique packaging trade show giveaways

Be creative by putting your company name and logo on unconventional items that remind attendees that you're in the packaging industry. Packaging tradeshow giveaways are a great way to get your company name out to the public. You can also show off your commitment to the environment by distributing environmentally friendly packaging trade show giveaways, which is especially helpful if your packaging company offers 'Green' products.

I recommend: Check out On Sale Promos for a variety of canvas tote bags that you can put your packaging company’s logo on. While tradeshow attendees are packing around their tradeshow samples and other products, they’ll be reminded that your company provided a reusable, eco-friendly bag each time they see your logo on the side. Since you specialize in packaging, why not order packaging ribbon with your business name on it from Overture Premiums & Promotions. Tie the ribbon around other giveaways for a splash of color and a reminder that packaging is what you do. If you prefer a larger statement, try Hazard Promotions for promotional packaging boxes to use to send samples and more information about your company home with each attendee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Packaging tradeshow follow-up is a crucial step in turning leads into actual sales. Be sure to promptly follow-up with phone calls, emails and other packaging tradeshows advertising materials.