In any business, you spend a lot of time and effort in training your team, and rightly so. Just like any infrastructure spend, it is one of your most important investments. Trade shows, conferences and training events show you care and are a progressive employer. Here are a few pointers to help your staff get the best out of GLAS and other tradeshow events.
1. Attend seminars and workshops. Tell them to chat with the speakers. If they are presenting a session, they are deemed to be an expert in what they are presenting. Find out who impressed your staff and why.
2. Tell them to find a mentor. Mentors don’t necessarily need to come from your own company. Finding someone else they can get advice from to solve problems will be a positive for your business.
3. Talk to the salespeople on as many stands as possible. They may want to sell your staff something they don’t need but tell staff to observe some of their techniques and how they can be applied to your own business.
4. Get them to attend networking events. The small talk can end up being the very thing that gets you the information for your next business lead.
5. They represent you and your brand. Give them business cards with their name and role on them. Get them to wear branded uniforms to the event. Just because it’s not an exhibition fit for your business doesn’t mean there are no sales opportunities out there for your business too. Make sure they know not to give sensitive business information away.
6. All work and no play. Treat them to an overnight stay before or after the event. Make it fun for them. Relaxing and enjoying a social night with the team will strengthen the team and your business.
7. Give them some time to share what they learned after the trade show. Whether one or all of the staff attended an event, it’s important to set aside some time for the whole team to learn what they took away from the event.
