Trade Shows & Beauty Conferences Can Do Wonders to Increase Business Revenues

Trade shows have been around since the days of the travelling salesman who sold snake oil from the back of a caravan. Markets and exhibitions were early forms of trade shows, and since then this form of business networking and marketing has been integral to many business owners and none more so than entrepreneurs in the beauty industry.

While consumer focused trade shows are a great way to introduce your beauty products and services to new customers, business to business tradeshows are where true success and growth can be found, and B2B tradeshows are the focus of this article. According to the Trade Show Bureau, approximately 44% of exhibitors have less than 50 employees.

For smaller spas and beauty companies, a trade show really does level the playing field; allowing newcomers with unique spa and beauty products to compete head to head with larger, more established companies. Booth design and display can be created quite inexpensively and with maximum impact. Booth space is affordable, with a national average of about $15 square foot, and for just a few thousands dollars, you can be rubbing elbows with the big girls.

Trade shows allow you to showcase your beauty products and services, giving you the opportunity to put together wholesale deals and perhaps placing your products in stores across the nation and maybe even around the world. The trick is to present yourself and your company in a professional light, and set your trade show booth so it looks too good for potential partners and retailers to pass by.

It is also important to think about after the trade show… will you be remembered and will clients be following up to order your products? Make sure you have marketing packages (lots of them) to give out that includes a powerful marketing brochure and sample products, as applicable. A new type of ‘brochure’ marketing is to include a CD or DVD with an interactive presentation and a live click-through link that leads right to your beauty business website.

You should also think about having some type of an information gathering method. This might be a raffle for a large basket of your products prominently displayed in your trade show booth. Make it easy to enter the draw! Nothing to fill out, no ‘second thought’ jitters – just a big fishbowl or wishing well for trade show attendants to drop in their business card and they are entered automatically. When the trade show is over, you can use these to build your business contact list, and follow up with each one with a friendly email asking how they enjoyed the trade show, stating who won the basket and asking if they would like to receive more information about your beauty products or services.

If you can afford it, trade show gimmicks and give-ways are always very popular and successful. Of course, everyone gives away magnets, pens and calendars. Try to think outside the box – perhaps you have sample size pots of your facial cream that is branded with your company info that you can give out? If not, what about a fun give-away item such as a facial headband, travel size beauty products, colorful nail file or a mini pedicure kit? Whatever you choose, make sure the items are well branded with your company name and website address.