Can a potential exhibitor come to the show and walk around without buying booth in the show?

It seems there has been a dramatic increase into the number of potential exhibitors that are asking to 'walk the show' to 'check it out' for next year.

Companies that complain they do not have it in their budget are the worst offenders.

Our experience over the last 200 shows in 16 years is this: most of them really are not wanting to do that, what they really are wanting to do is to go down to the show and bring their business cards and 'work the show'. Rarely will someone exhibit the next year.,,,more common: they want to register to attend the show once again the next year and not exhibit once again.

They are taking advantage of an awful lot of expensive marketing on our part to attract high quality attendees for their benefit without paying for the right to sell.

Exhibitors in our show approach me all the time with complaints their competitor is walking the show. Most shows, I need to escort a sales rep off the show floor and out the door.

Therefore, it is time for a new approach to these folks. Gone are the days we will aloow them to walk the show.

If someone is wanting to visit the show, please let them know they can come to the show and meet you us at registration, but they will not be allowed on the show floor as that is reserved for paying exhibitors and buyers only. 

We just had a company called Reddy Ice register as an attendee to the show while Polar Ice is a competitor and paying exhibitor in our show....most likely, they will be furious if Reddy Ice is allowed to walk the show floor.

Starting at the Colorado show, we will let them observe the show from the regsitration area only or perhaps Sue or Yvette will show them the show for 5 minutes or so.

Better to push them HARD to exhibit in the show so they can take full advantage of the benefits of seeing a lot of high quality attendees.

We are NOT here to provide a free show to these companies not paying for the right to talk with our attendees. We are here to provide our paying exhibitors with high quality sales leads so they will return year after year.