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It takes more than a well-designed booth to get attention at a trade show. You need to have a booth staff that is spot-on and looks sharp. This means trade show exhibitor attire is important. You booth staff’s appearance is an essential part of your overall presentation and can make or break how you perform on the trade show floor.
Trade show exhibitor attire should be neat and polished. You might opt to have your booth staff dress in professional attire, business casual attire or even casual attire depending on the show you’re attending. Other tips to follow include:
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Your appearance can make or break your trade show performance. Looking polished can professional can make your brand stand out and complete your vision for how your company is represented.
When you’re working a booth, you need to be aware that trade show exhibitor attire is extremely important. But choosing what to wear can be difficult. The most basic rule to follow when thinking about how to dress for a trade show is to dress for your environment. Everything from yoga pants to a suit and tie can be appropriate for a trade show, depending on the setting.
For example, if you’re promoting jerseys at a sports expo, you might wear a company-branded jersey with athletic wear. If you’re showing off the latest scientific innovation, you might wear a lab coat over a shirt and tie. It all depends on your audience, the venue and your product.
Even with this in mind, there are a few basic rules to follow. Check out our list below of trade show exhibitor attire tips and get ready to dress for success.
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One way to prevent a cohesive look is to dress trade show booth staff in coordinating — not matching — outfits. Choose a color that represents your company’s brand or products and encourage trade show exhibitors to dress in this color. Maybe this means everyone wears a green shirt that represents your company’s logo, but in different styles.
Building your trade show exhibitor attire around a single color can build upon your corporations identity. It can give your booth a cohesive look and show off your staff as company representatives. On the same token, wearing coordinating outfits instead of matching outfits presents a united front without looking like a uniform.
Adding a piece or two of company branding to your trade show exhibitor attire can help fellow vendors and attendees identify and associate you with your company. Subtle company branding isn’t as in your face as a shirt with a huge logo. Subtly can go a long way when it comes to displaying a company brand.
Company branding like a button on the lapel of a jacket isn’t or a simple branded lanyard isn’t as “in your face” as a bold logo. These can also add pieces of flair to your outfit, help identify where you work and who you represent, and not dominate your attire. Wearing branded attire can present your trade show team as a cohesive unit.
Are you planning on shipping to a trade show? Check out our list of 8 Essential Tips for Shipping to a Trade Show.
Working a trade show booth can mean long hours and lots of time on your feet. This means you need to dress for comfort. This also means function might overrule fashion when it comes to choosing what you’re wearing. You don’t want to wear something fussy that requires frequent adjustments. Comfort is king. Remember you’ll be standing on your feet for hours at a time.
When it comes to working the trade show floor, function rules over fashion. Ladies, be mindful of your shoes. If you must wear heels, make sure they are low and wide. Remember you’ll be on your feet for hours and pacing the trade show floor, so it might be wise to leave your tallest stilettos at home. It’s also a good idea to choose a professional wardrobe. You don’t want your look to be distracting to attendees, so it might be wise to err on the more conservative side for your wardrobe. Business casual attire might be your best bet.
Both men and women might want to pay attention to the fit of their clothes. The fit of your clothing when you’re working an expo hall should be tailored and non-restrictive. You’ll appreciate the comfort well-fitting garments will provide.
You might also consider outfitting your booth with anti-fatigue floor mats to keep your feet and legs comfy and energized during the show. This will increase comfort and prevent you from standing on hard flooring or even concrete all day.
Another way to stay comfortable on the trade show floor is to have the right items at hand. It might be wise to carry a large purse or briefcase to the show to hang on to business cards, snacks and other essential items.
It might be a good idea to follow industry appropriate standards when choosing your trade show exhibitor attire. Your trade show attire should depend on what is expected and acceptable in your industry.
For example, if your booth represents the fitness industry, formal attire isn’t required — workout clothes might set the right tone. On the other hand, if you are presenting the latest in financial software at a banking conventions, full suits might be required. If you’re presenting at a medical conference, again, business suits and business professional clothing is likely the best option. Save polo shirts for more casual conferences.
Need help shipping your trade show booth and materials?
Fill out a short form or give us a call and one of our trade show specialists will answer your questions.
In most cases, less is more when it comes to accessorizing your trade show outfit.
Women who are wearing formal or business attire to the trade show might want to minimize their accessories to let their products and personalities shine. You can add pizzazz to your outfit by adding a bold colored blouse. Subtle patterns can also look great with business attire. This will give you a timeless look you can wear anywhere.
Gentlemen working the trade show floor might also want to achieve a timeless look by sporting minimal accessories. Accessorizing by matching your shoes to your belt can give you a put-together look.
The key to choosing accessories for a trade show is to aim for a professional and well-kept appearance. A classic look can appeal to the show attendees and give your booth staff an inviting air.
No matter what you wear, you want to look neat and professional when you’re working the trade show floor. This can mean following a neat grooming protocol.
For both men and women, it’s important to be squeaky clean. You might find yourself breaking a sweat as you work the floor and interacting with potential clients and passers by. This means deodorant is a must and you might need to reapply during the day. If you wear perfume or cologne, remember that a light spritz is all you need. You don’t want to overpower someone with your fragrance or bother a potential client’s allergies.
Breath mints will keep you minty fresh and prevent you from smacking on gum as you work the trade show floor. Chewing gum can be off-putting to some and you don’t want to offend anyone on the floor.
Trade show exhibitor attire is just a piece of all the moving parts of managing a trade show. Another important piece of the trade show puzzle is making sense of trade show logistics. Thankfully, R+L Global Logistics is prepared to be your partner. We can assist with every step of the journey, from warehousing to transportation.
You’ll find that the experienced trade show freight shipping team with R+L Global Logistics has more than 50 years of combined experience in the logistics field. This means they are prepared and ready with the know-how to get your items to the show on-time and intact.
R+L Global Logistics offers trade show shipping services including:
Customer services are accessible to you 24/7, so we’re with you with every step of the journey. To reach out to the R+L Global Logistics trade show shipping team, click the button below or call us at 866-415-8986.
Need help shipping your trade show booth and materials? Fill out a short form or give us a call and one of our trade show specialists will answer your questions.
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Need help shipping your trade show booth and materials? Fill out a short form or give us a call and one of our trade show specialists will answer your questions.
