What’s the most important thing in any relationship? Simply stated – TRUST! Whether we’re talking about our husbands or wives, doctors or home builders – In order to have successful relationships we must have mutual trust.

Hiring a trade show exhibit company really isn’t any different. You and your partner have to have respect and trust in one another for the relationship to flourish! After all, your trade show company relationship is one you should plan on building and keeping for years to come.

1. Get to Know Your Trade Show Exhibit Provider From the Start

From the first contact you have with your trade show exhibit partner, you should be exploring not only the capabilities and track record of your provider but the personalities of those you’ll be working with. Like any other relationship, you have to like and be willing to work together with everyone in the organization from the account executives to the designers and administration.

Getting to know each individual who you’ll be working with, on a personal level, helps to strengthen the overall relationship – which enables both sides to be honest and direct. Also, knowing the team you’ll be working with on a personal level just makes doing business together more enjoyable and rewarding.

2. Visit Your Trade Show Partner’s Facility

There’s no better way to get to know the trade show team you’re hiring than through an in-person visit to their facility. You’ll learn a whole lot about how an organization is run by spending a few hours within their walls.

Do the employees interact well with each other? Is there a sense of professionalism, comradery and yes – trust among the employees themselves? And most importantly – do you feel like part of the team while you’re there?

Your gut instinct will tell you a lot about how your relationship will unfold.

3. Ask the Right Questions

During the courtship, be sure to ask your trade show exhibit provider the right questions! The questions you ask and the answers you receive will do a lot to solidify your initial trust in the relationship.

As just a sampling, be sure to ask questions related to the following:

• How does the design/build process work from beginning to end?
• Who will you be working with through the process?
• What types of exhibits has the company worked on within your industry?
• How can your product/brand best be showcased by the design & exhibit?
• How will you be involved in the process and be kept informed of overall progress?
• What are the logistics of storage, shipping, setup/dismantle for your booth and events?
• How are change orders handled, implemented and billed?

These are just a few ideas of information you should get answers to – but they’ll give you a great start to build on.

Remember, when hiring a trade show partner, you’re entering into a relationship where you’re going to be putting a ton of trust in the company you’ve chosen. Do your homework, get to know them personally and above all else – TRUST your gut instinct!

Like to learn more about the team at ColorCraft? Give us a call – we’d love for you to get to know us!

Industry veteran, Doug Hughes, has reacquired Orlando-based trade show exhibit company, DesignShop, and rebranded the agency as ColorCraft. Hughes was the original Founder of DesignShop, selling the company to two Private Equity groups in May 2016. Hughes is accompanied at ColorCraft by his son, Davis Hughes, who served as a top-performing Senior Sales Executive at DesignShop. ColorCraft retains DesignShop’s senior management and key personnel, along with design, fabrication, and manufacturing resources, positioning the agency as a premier “one-stop” for all trade show support and creative services.

“DesignShop was a highly respected name in the national trade show market for many years. We maintained a reputation for cutting-edge creative solutions, stellar on-site support services, as well as quality in manufacturing, which we are excited to reignite here at ColorCraft” commented Doug Hughes. “We’ve always been a ‘people first’ organization. The personnel and management that we’ve retained have delivered countless successful projects together, and will continue to serve as the foundation on which ColorCraft will support a growing client base” Hughes added.

The acquisition of DesignShop expands ColorCraft’s design, manufacturing, and on-site support capabilities, reinforcing their positioning as a comprehensive trade show service agency. ColorCraft now has full-service facilities in Orlando and Las Vegas, specializing in custom exhibits and exhibit rentals, as well as custom themed environments and installations.

“We had always maintained an open, collaborative culture at DesignShop. We value the input of our exceptionally creative team members from design, to manufacturing, to show setup,” explained ColorCraft VP of Sales, Davis Hughes. “Having this team back together positions us to serve our clients more effectively than ever before. As trade shows begin to return, it is evident that we have a rocket ride in front of us,” he added.

About ColorCraft:

ColorCraft is a full-service exhibit agency, driven by over 20 years of experience in the trade show industry. ColorCraft maintains facilities in Orlando and Las Vegas, facilitating on-site support in these two major trade show destinations. ColorCraft offers 3D Design & Custom Fabrication/Rentals for Trade Show Booths, Graphics, Corporate Interiors, Themed Environments, and Mobile Marketing Campaign services, with a portfolio including multiple Fortune 500 companies.

The building anticipation of the wide-scale return of trade shows can be felt throughout the industry, however there will likely be a few new items on your show checklist. Although hand sanitizer has long been a staple for many exhibitors, it is important to consider the cleanliness of surfaces, electronic devices, pens, clipboards, and any other high-touch objects or components of your exhibit. So, where does one start? ColorCraft has partnered with Multi-Clean Solutions to distribute a sanitizer kit specifically with exhibitors in mind! Check out our sanitation checklist below:

Hand Sanitizer

Although trade show veterans may be very familiar with having a small, personal hand sanitizer bottle handy, ensuring the safety and comfort of your booth guests will be paramount. A hand sanitizer dispenser at your booth is an effective way to promote safe show participation, while also creating an opportunity for discussion as attendees use your dispenser. We recommend a pump operated foaming hand sanitizer, as it is less likely to drip and make a mess than gel sanitizer. Foam sanitizer also dries quickly, minimizing fingerprints or residue from hand-to-surface contact. The Trade Show Sanitizer Kit includes one 16.9 oz Red Cross foaming hand sanitizer bottle, perfect for the show floor. Also included in the kit are four non-aerosol hand sanitizer spray bottles, with a capacity of roughly 900 sprays per bottle.

Surface Wipes

Exhibitors should plan on having enough disinfecting wipes on hand to wipe down the main surface touch points after each meeting with an attendee. Wipes free of bleach, alcohol, ammonia, or peroxide are ideal, as they will not tarnish or degrade the surfaces of your exhibit. Flat-pack wipes are preferred for ease of storage and transportation. It is also a good idea to keep a few wipes in a sandwich bag handy for use during a lunch break, or even for back at the hotel. The Trade Show Sanitizer Kit includes 4 50 ct. flat-packs of EPA certified disinfectant wipes, effective against viruses and bacteria without harming exhibit surfaces!

Disinfecting Cleaner Spray

At the end of each day of the show, exhibitors should use a disinfecting spray to wipe down and sanitize the entire booth. Much like the wipes, it is important that this spray is formulated to not degrade surfaces. A regular 32. oz bottle should be more than enough to get you through a multi-day show, however the amount required will ultimately depend on the size of your exhibit and the overall show duration. Your Trade Show Sanitizer Kit includes one 32 oz. EPA certified disinfectant spray, specially formulated to be non-toxic while maintaining bacteria, virus, mold, and fungus elimination properties.

Between hand sanitizer, disinfecting surface wipes, and disinfecting spray, exhibitors should be well equipped to re-enter the trade show world while promoting safe exhibiting and maximizing the comfort of your booth guests. A clean exhibit space will attract more engagement from attendees, and guests would feel encouraged to participate in more meaningful discussion in your booth. Order your kit today, and be prepared for your next trade show!