As you plan your next trade show, it's important that the textile tradeshow giveaways, advertising and promotions you choose work together to reinforce your company's brand. For instance, you might use your textile tradeshow marketing to remind buyers that you're a textile machinery innovator; that you use green technologies; or that you stay trendy in an ever-changing textile market.

Whatever you decide, make sure you consider your target audience and think about the kinds of promotions your customers would most like to see. Depending on your market, that might be something familiar or something new and exciting. Then, think up a marketing campaign that uses a consistent message, logo and color scheme.

1. Target textile tradeshow advertising to the right audience in advance.

2. Sponsor the tradeshow to get your company's logo on a banner, bag or even a keynote speaking event.

3. Increase textile trade show traffic with a prime location.

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

Place textiles trade show advertising in the right industry publications

As you develop your exhibit and textile trade show giveaways, you should also focus your efforts and a portion of your budget on getting the word out to the right people. Textile magazines are a great way to reach business owners, managers and investors who might attend your event. You should also send pre-show advertising that ties in with the theme of your exhibit, and that lets them know about the great textile trade show promotions you have planned.

I recommend: Textile World offers a number of different advertising formats, including inserts, displays and classifieds. Inteletex puts out a number of textile industry publications, including Textile Horizons and Textile Month. It can work with you to develop an advertising program that involves print and online media, in addition to direct mail.

Find out what textile tradeshow promotions can do for you

Textile trade shows advertising nearly always includes a catalog, and these days a slick website is also a must. Make sure your company's relevant information is included with the event info, so the textile trade show organizers can market on your behalf when they send out directories and advertise online.

I recommend: MAGIC is a premier fabrics and textiles show with an advanced marketing campaign that includes direct mail and advertising, in addition to personal calls and visits to get buyers to the event. MAGIC's organizers go so far as to introduce vendors to buyers who might be a good fit. Expofil is a French fibers trade show that gives buyers a link on its website, as well as brief web entry.

Continue your textile tradeshow marketing during the event

Advertising during an event is a great way to increase textile trade show traffic to your exhibit. Ideally, these promotions should tie in to the reminders you sent out beforehand. Almost all trade shows offer a variety of advertising opportunities to help your company stand out.

I recommend: Textile America offers you the opportunity to advertise on column wraps, banners, show bags, show bag inserts and much more. Techtextil North America will sell you a spot in its Technology Showcase, or you can sponsor the show's pens or lanyards. You could even sponsor the keynote speaker.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure to focus your textile trade show giveaways on things your customers will remember. Imprinted fabric swatches can be a great way to remind trade show attendees of both your name and your quality product.

This is meant to provide some of the most important information to help get you started planning for a trade show. Outlined are informational tips on how to help you get the utmost benefit from your trade show appearances.

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

Choose the trade show that will best increase your company proceeds!

Carefully select the venue that best suits your target audience! Scrutinize the show's worthiness.

I recommend: Be positive that the attendees of this show will be your organization's most likely clientele.

Obtain a copy of the show manual and more importantly - read it!

It will outline everything you need to know about the show. Registration information, forms, floor plans, exhibit specifications, a schedule and all other pertinent details.

I recommend: Create a check list to ensure accurate and timely completion of all tasks and deadlines.

Plan early!

Attending a trade show requires extensive advance preparation. Reserve booth space in advance and keep in mind costs differ depending on size and location in the exhibit hall.

I recommend: Start planning and coordinating your ideas at least a few months in advance.

Identify your goals!

Specific goals are imperative.

I recommend: Make sure you are focused and clearly distinguish what it is you aspire to achieve as a result of participating in the show.

Create a strategy - write a show plan and stick to it!

Outline a comprehensive timeline including booth schedules and a list of preparation activities. Assign responsibility to individuals for each task.

I recommend: Make sure the show plan clearly outlines the objectives and everyone is working toward the same goal.

Implement a key message for your exhibit and create an open, inviting area.

An open and welcoming design, one that is free of clutter will produce a more inviting atmosphere. It will also allow more prospective clients to walk through easily.

I recommend: Create a comfortable more relaxed and inviting space so potential customers feel welcome and want to spend time learning more about what you have to offer.

Train your exhibit staff before the show!

It is very important that each and every staff member knows exactly what is expected of him or her. Be sure they practice their presentations. Presenters need to be rehearsed, well informed and up to date on all new programs and initiatives.

I recommend: Make your booth representatives easily identifiable and add a sense of professionalism to your exhibit by deciding on appropriate attire for your staff.

Supplies, marketing materials/informational brochures.

Make sure all of your printed marketing material and other collateral is accurate and up to date.

I recommend: Don't risk not having your most current information available to hand out! More importantly make absolutely certain it does not contain any errors or omissions.

Evaluation - What Worked and What Didn't

After each show, assess what went well and more importantly what didn't. Evaluate every facet of the show.

I recommend: Encourage and be open to all feedback and comments from staff members and outside sources. Analyze opinions pertaining to how well you were perceived by prospective customers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to have a considerable presence at an innovative or influential show be sure to plan and design a booth layout that is visitor/customer friendly.
• •  An organized exhibition area will attract more dynamic prospects into your booth.
• •  Be sure to advertise your show participation indicating the dates of the show and always be sure to include your booth number.
• •  Make sure your logo is unobstructed and prominently displayed.
• •  Create short/easy and to the point forms to capture potential prospect information.
• •  When preparing for your next trade show be sure to review prior show evaluations to help improve your overall performance.
• •  Consider giveaways to generate attention and a sense of fun! They don't have to be expensive! Promotional items are useful links to better promote your company. Always attempt to find the one that'll make you the talk of the show! There is no limit to the level of success imprinted promotional products can help you achieve! Work with a good, reliable and responsive promotional company to help you decide on just the right custom product for you, your budget and your audience! They will be able to help you figure out which items will bring you the best return of investment. Choosing the right promotional gift or tradeshow giveaway can be a very difficult task. The item(s) you choose could end up being the difference between success and failure. The promotional company will help develop a program to organize your branding and merchandising efforts and revolutionize your promotional giveaways to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.