CEIR Report Released: "A Primer for Exhibit Managers on Exhibit Staff Orientation"
July 14, 2013
A lot of time, energy and dollars are invested when a company decides to exhibit at a show, but what’s sometimes overlooked is training the staff in the booth to engage effectively with potential customers.
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research recently released its latest Guru Report – “A Primer for Exhibit Managers on Exhibit Staff Orientation”- written by Candy Adams, a well-known exhibition industry veteran and owner of ‘The Booth Mom®’ Trade Show Consulting.
The report takes a look at why exhibit training is so important to having a successful show, what topics should be covered in a training program and what’s the best timing to hold the sessions.
"I like analogies, especially the ones that help me to focus on better exhibiting,” Adams said. “My favorite analogy is that as exhibitors, we are all in ‘show biz.’”
Adams suggests that prior to every trade show, booth staff receives a refresher course on how to really connect with people coming into the booth.
Here are a few of her reasons why a refresher course is necessary:
Staff members may not perform this "acting" function often enough to be comfortable or as "in practice" as they are in the booth environment, and this affects the entire exhibit’s efficiency.
Even though they are well-versed on the products they represent, they do not know everything about the exhibition, the attendees, the exhibit hall, the target market, and the finer points of the exhibit layout and promotional props available for their use (depending on their involvement with planning and the amount of information that’s been shared with them).
“CEIR research consistently indicates attendees are looking to have meaningful face-to-face interactions with exhibit staff, the people behind the products showcased at an exhibition,” said CEIR Research Director Nancy Drapeau.
She added, “To enable exhibit staff to do their jobs well and attain an organization’s goals for exhibiting, staff training is key. Candy Adams has written a practical, hands-on report that frames the issues to consider when building a training program and specifics on what to include. This is a ‘must read’ for staff who have this responsibility."
Click on the report to order: “An Exhibit Manager’s Guide to Exhibit Staff Orientation”.
The CEIR Guru Reports are a series of reports focused on helping exhibition organizers and exhibiting companies achieve better results and gain value from exhibitions.
The complete series is available here and is made possible by a grant from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research Foundation.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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