In our previous blog, we mentioned how the future of trade shows and events has felt uncertain since early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit our industry especially hard. Restrictions have lifted, been put in place, and lifted again and we are now finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (Check out what Nevada’s governor is doing to boost the trade show economy in their state). Trade shows and conferences are projected to gear up in full force around April of 2021 – and we’re here to help.
With such an extraordinary impact on an entire industry as the COVID pandemic has had on the events and trade show industry, many trade show houses have unfortunately closed their doors or had to lay off the majority of their staff. Gateway was no exception to feeling the impact, but our smaller team is now gearing up for the return of trade shows and looking forward to living up to our recent designation as a Top 40 exhibit house and top 5 in service and reliability. As we prepare, we wanted to share a few things that we think you need to be aware and what to expect as trade shows come roaring back to life:
1. Longer than usual lead times for current clients is going to be the absolute first issue that many trade show managers and organizers will encounter. Normal preparation for booths, logistics, and even ordering literature or promotional materials has been pushed back for months because there was no guarantee when shows would be back; leaving many timid to use their dwindling marketing spend on booth improvements until the last minute.
2. You may see some new faces on the show floor putting your booth together or dismantling to pack up and ship back. We expect the show labor pool to have a lot of inexperienced laborers that will increase build times. Gateway will have a slimmer overall team, but our leadership team will be jumping in to help in every step of the process to meet your needs; it’s all hands on deck. You can expect to see some of our fabulous leaders on the show floor and in the action.
3. Expect and plan for production times of a new booth to be longer. Depending on the size of your booth and the process to produce your booth, these times vary. Our team would be happy to give you a quote! Still wanting a refreshed booth but need it yesterday? We have many rental options available that can be branded and outfit to suit your needs! Rental options can be customized in weeks to meet tight deadlines.
Be prepared and ahead of your competitors and your schedule by reaching out to Gateway today to plan your trade show exhibits.
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