Marie Kondo's techniques can be as effective for trade show marketing as they are for de-cluttering your home.
Her methods have worked for thousands. And, wrapped inside her advice for home organization, there really are many best practices that also apply to trade show exhibits and displays.
Ready to take your trade show exhibit marketing to the next level? Try these four KonMari techniques:
1. Bring only the things that excite you. Kondo's advice for home tidying is to get rid of anything that doesn't spark joy. The same applies to your trade show booth—you should only showcase things that spark joy, or at least elicit a little excitement. After all, if it isn't exciting to you, it probably won't be exciting—or even interesting—to your customers and prospects. Limiting the displays in your exhibit to those that pass your excitement test is the first step to turning your exhibit into a must-see destination on the show floor.
Also, being selective in what you display in your booth will differentiate you from your competitors. Trying to say EVERYTHING makes you the same as EVERYONE. Pick a single story. Show attendees what is most important to you. Your selection will likely resonate with attendees.
2. Treat your products with respect. Once you've culled down to the possessions that are most important, Kondo says to assign each a storage or display location where they're both protected and displayed neatly. Respecting the products in your exhibit is good advice as well. If you treat your products like they're something special, that's the way they'll be regarded by attendees. A thoughtful and elegant display helps elevate the stature and perceived value of your product. Create a reverence around your products and that reverence just might carry over to your customers.
3. Organize your products so they're easy to access. You don't want to have to dig through drawers to locate your possessions at home. Likewise, you want to be able to get attendees' hands on your products and demos quickly and seamlessly. This small piece of the trade show visitors' experience speaks to your company's preparedness, professionalism, organization, and customer service.
4. Cultivate the right attitude. In the end, what Kondo teaches is that it's all about your attitude. Joy and excitement are contagious. But so is boredom. Which would you rather suffer from? Even more important—which do you want to infect your customers and prospects with?
What techniques have you borrowed from pop culture to improve your approach to trade show marketing?
