In the Unlikely Event of an Emergency…
When it comes to setting up a trade show, it’s a great idea to have your checklist of items to take. Pop-up banners? Check. Swag? Check. Business cards and brochures? Check and check. Those are the outward-facing items that your prospects will see and interact with (and hopefully those items are the ones that cause you to close new deals!). They’re the fun, sexy things that tell your story. But what about the decidedly unsexy stuff? Let’s talk about what you should have on hand to help stave off a show emergency.
Hold Up!
One of the immutable laws of the universe can be a huge drag when it comes to making your space look fantastic. That’s right: gravity can be an enemy. You’ll want ways to rehang and support materials that are sagging. Not to paraphrase Forrest Gump too heavily, but you’d be surprised at just how many different kinds of tape exist. Have some Scotch tape, duct tape, double-sided tape and - this may sound weird - carpet tape on hand. Carpet tape is double sided and is strong enough to withstand multiple days of traffic. You should also have string, clear fishing wire, s-hooks and plastic shower curtain rings. Finally, a simple toolbox with a hammer, both kinds of screwdrivers, a pair of work gloves and a staple gun will make your life so much easier.
Out of Office
You wouldn’t believe how accustomed you get to having certain supplies at your fingertips, and when they’re not there, it’s frustrating. Save yourself some stress by gathering some basic office supplies. We always recommend a couple pairs of scissors (because you don’t want to chew through fishing wire), a couple box cutters (pro tip: put at least one of these inside your checked luggage - it’ll make opening your pallets MUCH easier), pens, pencils, legal pads and Sharpies. Throw in a couple extension cords and a power strip as well. It’s also helpful to have a few manila envelopes or an expandable file folder on hand for bills of lading, business cards, etc., just to keep everything together.
Health and Wellness
It stinks to not feel 100%, especially when you’re away from home. Whether it’s allergies hitting you or the lack of sleep from entertaining clients the night before, make sure you look like you’re at the top of your game. Have a wellness kit ready that includes basic things like aspirin and Advil, Benadryl (as an aside: learn in advance if anyone working your booth has any allergies), bandages and cough drops. We’re big fans of including eye drops, mints and a stain remover pen as well. And, finally - a corkscrew/bottle opener. You just never know.
While we’d love for you to choose In Your Pocket to make your show come to life (and to take care of all these details for you), we want to make sure that you have the tools needed to have a successful, low-stress experience. You may pack everything on this list and never use it - in fact, that’s our fervent hope! - but forewarned is forearmed and all of that. Plus, you may be in a booth next to someone who’s searching for a pair of scissors. Who wouldn’t want to be the hero in that situation?