In recent months, you may have heard someone say “I can’t wait until we can get back to normal!” Let’s face it, we may not get back to normal! However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing; as the “new normal” of a cleaner world and cleaner facilities will pave the way for a rebirth of trade show conferences and events.
At RISE, we are looking ahead and seeing trends that will shape the future of the tradeshow industry both in the current and post Covid 19 environment. Companies that innovate and excel during this great time of opportunity will have a huge advantage over those who simply choose to wait it out and see what happens. Undoubtedly, there will be new tradeshows and conferences created, that never existed before that focus solely on health, wellness and sanitization. Companies that believe they aren’t invited to the party, or think that these new conferences won’t apply to their offerings, will simply miss the huge boat of opportunity that exists! There is not a single company, service or product that cannot benefit from what is coming!
Companies may need to change their focus and messaging both for their product and/or service and the way they market to potential buyers at trade shows. The methods of yesterday won’t yield the same result tomorrow. Consumer confidence is key! This opens up a vase treasure trove of foruity, that didn’t exist before!
Here are a few things that need to happen before the tradeshow industry sees a huge resurgence.
- The government must lay the groundwork for large group gatherings and to establish protocols.
- Trade Show organizers need to clearly and effectively communicate the greatest of responsibility taken to insure that all attendees will be in the best of care. This effort must be broadcast long before the conference begins and with clear messaging throughout the entirety of the show.
- Individuals and corporations alike, also need to have the confidence that they can safely attend without any fear.
- FOMO (Fear of Missing out) needs to scream to the consumer that the video conference pales in comparison to the power of in-person conference(s).
These things won’t happen overnight, but they will happen! Yes, it’s true that instead of handing out candy, people more than likely will hand out hand sanitizer, Instead of bags, masks. Whatever needs to happen will naturally take its course as a new world, a new norm and new wonderful world of opportunity emerges!