| The largest sale that I ever closed was negotiated | | | | found that over 80% of the decision-makers |
| over hot dogs and a soft drink at a refreshment | | | | attending a show were not even contacted by an |
| stand, just off the exhibit floor, at a Superintendent | | | | exhibitor's representative prior to a given event. Yet, |
| of School Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I | | | | 75% of the attendees left an exhibit area having |
| met an educator who was interested in the summer | | | | made a commitment (i.e. agreeing to taking the next |
| study abroad programs that I was selling at the | | | | step or setting an appointment) or actually concluding |
| show. He saw my nametag for the Foreign Study | | | | a purchase. As these statistics illustrate, often it's the |
| League and wanted to learn more about my | | | | little things you do prior to the show or with your |
| products. His school district filled two and a half jet | | | | exhibit that can make the difference in your level of |
| airplanes with over 400 students (at more than | | | | success. To make the most of a tradeshow |
| $1,000 each) who enrolled in my firm's summer study | | | | opportunity, you might want to call in an expert to |
| programs in Europe. Exhibiting and selling at | | | | help you orchestrate the many small details that can |
| tradeshows, if handled properly, is the most | | | | make the show a profitable event. Just go to to |
| cost-effective selling tool in which a business or | | | | learn more about the expertise and programs |
| professional organization can invest.By attracting | | | | available to businesses and professional organizations |
| prospects, clients or customers to a single location, a | | | | that want to generate the most business from a |
| tradeshow exhibit is an "ideal selling situation," | | | | tradeshow event.Obtain Free The $elling Edge(R), Inc. |
| because you can sell at your booth, meet prospects | | | | Sales Myths E-Training Program At: THORNTON is |
| at vendor sponsored cocktail parties or even | | | | the founder and President of The $elling Edge(R), Inc. |
| promote your products or services during the down | | | | a firm specializing in sales, customer relations, |
| times when the show attendees are supposed to be | | | | tradeshows and management training and |
| in meetings--like the school superintendent that cut a | | | | development. Clients have included Sears Optical, |
| convention session to learn more about my high | | | | Eastman Kodak, IBM, Deloitte & Touché, Bank |
| school summer study abroad programs. In a day or | | | | One, Jefferson Wells, and Wal-Mart to name a few. |
| two at a tradeshow, you can meet more | | | | Virden is the author of Prospecting: The Key To |
| decision-makers than you can contact over many | | | | Sales Success and the best selling Building & Closing |
| weeks of cold calling and/or in-person meetings. And, | | | | the Sale, Fifty-Minute series books and Close That |
| participants who visit your exhibit are for the most | | | | Sale, a video/audio tape series published by |
| part pre-qualified, with an interest in or a need for | | | | Thompson Learning. He has also authored a |
| what you are selling, giving you access to | | | | Self-Directed Learning series of sales, coaching & |
| decision-makers in a non-threatening and fun | | | | team development, telemarketing, and personal |
| environment.Research shows that tradeshow | | | | productivity training guides. Check them out at: |
| participants rarely see the meetings and exhibits as a | | | | teaches for the Center For Professional |
| selling event, so there is less resistance to your | | | | Development, Texas Tech University at Lubbock, |
| product or service promotions. Also, Tradeshow | | | | Texas and in the School Of Entrepreneurship, J. |
| Weekly magazine reports that: 86% of a | | | | Willard And Alice S. Marriott School Of Management |
| tradeshow's attendees make or influence buying | | | | at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. You can |
| decisions for their business or professional | | | | contact Virden at: or learn more about him at: . |
| organization. The magazine's researchers have also | | | | |