A Guide To Navigating Exhibition Events

Navigating Exhibition Events

Alexander Joseph has been fortunate to attend and exhibit at fantastic design and luxury interior exhibitions since launching. Based on our time at the events, and with many now coming up, we have gathered our best tips for attending exhibitions.

Time Management

Generally, exhibitions are large and are open for long hours of the day. You may think a walkthrough will take only a couple of hours, but inevitably you will stop to discuss products or the event itself with exhibitors or attendees alike, and ultimately become tired towards the end of the day. Make sure you over-estimate the time you will be spending at the event, in order to fit everything in you want to see and do before you need to leave. A top tip in this regard is don’t book an early return train journey, it’s better to be sitting at the station waiting for a train than to be committed to leaving the event early because you have a particular train to catch, ditto for a minimal parking time.

If there is anything in particular that you know you would like to see, make a note of the location and head there first; this way you aren’t wasting time looking for something, missing other things and walking around in circles. You could even speak with the company concerned in advance, they may be able to offer a dedicated meeting time.

Location

An event may be held in a location that is ideal for you, but if it is not, you need to consider travel. You will be on your feet all day, and a long drive could be arduous if you are tired, and your legs are aching. Aircraft or rail may be preferable if you are travelling a long distance, or simply getting a taxi or asking a friend to pick you up, could save a lot of time… you could even book a hotel so that you are refreshed for your travel back the next day!  If you are driving, make sure you know where you are going to park, or if there is parking on site, the last thing you want to do is spend an hour looking for a parking space!

Comfort

Inevitably, you will be walking and standing for long periods of time… make sure you wear comfy shoes! Indoor events become warm throughout the day, even during the winter, so consider wearing layered clothing that is easy to carry, should you become warm. Comfort is just as important on the outside as it is on the inside and staying hydrated, whilst walking and standing a lot, is very important. Drink plenty of water and eat before attending an event and taking water with you is a good idea; food and beverages are often provided, but the queues can be long, and you might not want what is to offer!

What to take

Take as little as you need, in a bag that is easy to carry. Many exhibitors will be giving out promotional goods at events, and they can be hard to resist! Make sure that you have spare room in your bag for items you will receive; if you think you will be taking away a lot of goods, or heavy items such as brochures, a bag on wheels may be best for you. If you do not want to carry many items, take pictures of things you are interested in, or follow companies/people on social media so that you can stay up to date with them.