Exhibit Studio Blog

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Exhibiting at the Calgary & Edmonton Home + Garden Shows

Posted Topics: Trade Shows |

Are you a contractor, landscape designer or gardener? An architectural firm or interior design business? Renovator, roofer, or decorative concrete installer? Then you don’t want to miss the chance to exhibit at the Calgary & Edmonton Home + Garden Shows in 2016!

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Selecting the right trade shows to exhibit in is a big part of your marketing plan and trade show strategy. And even if you’ve been exhibiting for years this is something you need to consider on an annual basis. Shows change, grow, and disappear, and new ones crop up all the time.

The first question you’ve (probably) already asked yourself, is whether or not you should include one or both of these shows in your 2016 exhibiting schedule. When choosing a show you want to look at four key metrics: Attendance, Timing, History, and Location.

To help you make your decision about CHGS16 and EHGS16, we’ve broken down the statistics on both shows into those four key metrics. We’ve also included some tips on how to make these metrics work to your advantage at one or both of these shows, should you decide to exhibit!


Attendance

Calgary Home & Garden Show 2015:

  • 63,860 Total Attendees
  • 63% Attended with Spouse (both decision makers)
  • 92% are Homeowners
  • 62% plan to spend $500 – $10,000 within a year, with an exhibitor they met at the show
  • 85% are 25 – 64 yrs old
  • 58% female
  • 42% male
  • $100,000 average attendee income

Edmonton Home & Garden Show 2015:

  • 55,598 Total Attendees
  • 74% Attended with Spouse (both decision makers)
  • 94% are Homeowners
  • 45% plan to spend $500 – $10,000 within a year, with an exhibitor they met at the show
  • 86% are 25 – 64 yrs old
  • 59% female
  • 41% male
  • $100,000+ average attendee income

How to Exhibit

Catching your audience’s attention is the most important aspect of any display; knowing who visits the show provides an opportunity to update or change your message to reach them specifically.

Consider the message on your display, and your audience. You many want to think about changing your graphics, or adding a banner stand, that includes a message that speaks to this audience. For example, a lot of homeowners and couples will be attending. Can you add to or update your graphics with a message that will resonate with them?

Think about this audience’s experience. What kind of activities, demonstrations, and handouts will recommend you to them, make their experience in your booth space a positive one? If you’re a contractor specializing in renovations, do you have a whiteboard graphic for brainstorming, for collecting ideas, or for visitors to draw their own ideas onto? What about a digital portfolio on an iPad Stand? Or a video wall showcasing your past projects? Start thinking about your business, and how this show’s audience can positively interact with you outside of the standard meet-and-greet.


Timing

CHGS16 will open on February 25, 2016 and closes on February 28, 2016.

EHGS16 will open on March 17, 2016 and closes on March 20, 2016.

How to Exhibit

Both of these shows happen while Spring is in the air, and visitors are planning ahead for summer and fall projects. Think about adding a promotional display (like a banner stand or sandwich board) that projects that message. How will your product or service help them this summer? Get that message out loud and clear.

Do you have a new product or advertising campaign launching in the spring? Plan to promote it at these shows. Think about ordering a display, hanging sign, or banner stand that specifically advertises your new product, or that mirrors your new advertising campaign.

If you’ve already booked your space at a different show happening around the same time, consider your options. If the timing is too tight, you might find shipping costs from one show to the next to be exorbitant—and simply not worth it. Consider renting a display for one of the shows, or if you think you’ll find yourself double-booked again down the road, look at the purchase cost for a second display. Take the opportunity to look at your options with a different display system, alternate message for different audiences, and how the two displays could be used in conjunction for a larger event.


History

CHGS15 Exhibitors:

  • 85% were satisfied with the show, overall
  • 75% would recommend the show to other exhibitors
  • 82% will exhibit at the show again
  • 85% were happy with the quality of leads

EHGS15 Exhibitors:

  • 79% were satisfied with the show, overall
  • 74% would recommend the show to other exhibitors
  • 74% will exhibit at the show again
  • 82% were happy with the quality of leads

How to Exhibit

If you’ve exhibited at this show before (or know someone who has) what can you add or change in your booth space that attracts the best, most qualified leads? What have other exhibitors done that’s been successful with the audience? Use history to your advantage by asking around—find out what other exhibitors or visitors took away from past shows.


Location

CHGS16 is located at the BMO Centre on the Stampede Grounds in Calgary, Alberta.

EHGS16 is located at the Expo Centre at Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta.

How to Exhibit

Do you have a different message for visitors in Calgary or Edmonton? There is a strong local audience at both of these shows, so adding a message or display to your booth that speaks directly to Calgary and/or to Edmonton visitors will help you really catch the attention their attention. Think about offering special pricing or a promotion specific to each location—make them feel like they’ll gain something by visiting your booth at this specific show. This doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul of your display—add an X-Stand, or a Magnet-Ready banner stand with a Magnet-On graphic message you can change between shows.


We Can Get You There

Are you ready to exhibit at EHGS16 & CHGS16? If you need anything—ideas, displays, or exhibit services—we can help. Visit our Edmonton & Calgary Home + Garden Show page and…

GET READY TO EXHIBIT!


More Information

If you need more information on either of these shows, here’s what you want to do:

Calgary Home & Garden Show

Visit
http://www.calgaryhgs.com/CHS/EventsHome.aspx

Call
Kim Meroniuk (Exhibit Sales Consultant, A-J Companies) at 403.253.1177 x.208
Casey Matulic (Exhibit Sales Consultant, K-Z Companies) at 403.542.1649

Email
kimm@mpeshows.com
caseym@mpeshows.com

Edmonton Home & Garden Show

Visit
http://www.edmontonhomeshow.com

Call
Michelle Whyte (Exhibit Sales Consultant, A-H Companies) at 866.941.0673 x.202
Kristy Cairns (Exhibit Sales Consultant, I-N Companies) at 866.941.0673 x.209
Alex Black (Exhibit Sales Consultant, O-Z Companies) at 866.941.0673 x.213

Email
michellew@mpeshows.com
kristyc@mpeshows.com
alexb@mpeshows.com


A final word of advice…

If you decide not to exhibit at one or both of these shows this year, at least attend as a visitor. You can see who’s there, who’s not, where the best booth spaces are and what really stands out at each show. That way, if you decide to exhibit next year, you’ll be armed with all the knowledge you need to exhibit with success!

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