4 Things You Can Learn About Competitors at Trade Shows

Trade shows are a great way to gather information about your industry. Where else can you learn about new trends, competitors, and products all in the same place? Keeping a finger on the pulse of your industry is crucial for adapting and staying competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace.

We serve a wide variety of industries and attend many different trade shows, so we see a lot of displays. It helps keep us fresh! Here are a few of our tips and tricks for learning about your competition.

1. Check out their booth
   Observe what products your competitors are showcasing. Do they have new technology they are showing off? Find out if they have specific bullet points or if their text is generalized. Make note of the depth of their product and service offerings, and what features they are emphasizing.
   
2. Chat with their booth staff
   Human intelligence is the foundation of any good spy agency, so put on your trench coat, sunglasses, and slouch hat and head over to your competitor’s booth. Just kidding; you can go as yourself. You don’t need to say you’re a competitor. Just ask simple, basic questions that any attendee might be interested to know. Ask about their product features, specifications, and pricing structure.
   
3. Develop a rapport with other attendees and staffers
   Inquire about others’ opinions of your competitors. Find out what they are doing that you aren’t. What is their reputation with suppliers and industry insiders? What do you think can give you an edge or improve upon?
   
4. Follow up
   Trade show success is all about following up. Sign up for email lists, follow on social media, and stay plugged in to industry publications. If you’ve made contacts at the show, make sure to check in with them and see if you can gather more information about new ideas or best practices.

For more information, call our trade show experts at 855.552.3537 or visit our trade show page.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Adler Display brings over 78 years of experience to its clients in need of recognition displays, lobby and corporate interiors, custom exhibits, historical timelines, trade show displays, and signage and graphics.  For more information about Adler Display, please visit our website at www.adlerdisplay.com or call us at: 855-552-3537.