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Emergency Trade Show Booth Supplies

Emergency Booth Supplies

  • Be prepared. There will always be unanticipated emergencies
  • Office/Promotional Items
  • Tools/Maintenance Items
  • Staff/Personal Items

You’ve gone through your checklist a dozen times over. Your staff has been thoroughly trained, your brochures and giveaways are neatly arrayed before you, and you are ready for show time! Yet no matter how prepared you are for your exhibit, there will always be unanticipated circumstances. Here are some items you should keep in your booth just in case.

Office/Promotional Items

  • Extra giveaway items -- In case demand is higher than anticipated
  • Additional promotional literature and marketing materials
  • Business cards and business card holders if you have counter space
  • Felt-tip Sharpies -- At least a dozen since they tend to disappear
  • Pens, pencils, and highlighters
  • Stapler with extra staples/paper clips
  • Notepads and post-it notes
  • Calculators -- One per staffer
  • Staffer schedule/ contact info/ list of back-up staff members
  • Extra batteries if you use a wireless mouse or keyboard

Tools/Maintenance Items

  • Duct tape -- Just ask MacGyver … anything can be fixed with duct tape!
  • Packaging tape – you’ll want one roll during dismantle
  • Backup light bulbs
  • Glass cleaner with rags and paper towels
  • Clorox wipes
  • Utility knife
  • Tape measure
  • Hammer/screwdriver (Phillips head and regular)
  • Velcro -- It’s a trade show necessity for all kinds of graphic emergencies

Staff/Personal Items

  • Tissues
  • Anti-bacterial hand gel -- You will be shaking a lot of hands
  • First-aid kit: pain relievers, band-aids, disinfectant, cotton pads, burn cream
  • Bottled water -- Not to be consumed in the booth and cheaper than buying water at the show
  • Throat lozenges
  • Breath mints -- To be consumed in the booth
  • Hand lotion -- Use in moderation, think handshakes!

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Article Author:

Mel White, CEI