If you're getting ready to exhibit at a trade show, you're most likely trying to determine how to stand out among other companies and organizations.  Some do so by decorating their booths, and others hope to get noticed by handing out fun and fresh giveaways.

One great way to amp up your trade show presence is to hand out bundled promos.  However, the high price of attention-grabbing packaging is often more than what you're willing to pay.  But one unique way to pack products together for less is to utilize wristbands!

As you can see, bracelets can hold together your trade show items easily.  Best of all, the wristbands are extremely affordable; you won't have to spend all of your hard-earned cash on fancy boxes and bags!

How can you differentiate your brand from all the others at the upcoming trade show?  Choose to arrange your handouts together using a promotional wristband.  There's no way your booth will go unnoticed!

A lot of great things have happened for the merchandising manager at Motivators, Sarah Ellis. In a matter of a few months she has not only gotten married but has also moved out into a large and luxurious apartment. With all this new and exciting change, it's only appropriate that she decorate her apartment to match her style, mood and fashion.

I would recommend that her and everyone else from the Buffalo-area take one weekend and visit the Buffalo Home & Garden Show. Located at the grandiose Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, this tradeshow will feature business partners from the area showcasing their craft and products on site. Whether you're looking for a landscaping service or for an extension on a garage, the best of the best will be in attendance at this tradeshow. More information can be found on the Buffalo Home and Garden Show website. 

While there, be on the lookout for promotional product giveaways. 

The Motivators website carries over 50,000 different promotional products with that number steadily climbing to 60,000 items. They all have different purposes and uses.

Did you know that we have items that could help dress your booth at your next trade show? The Trade show section of the Motivators company web has a wide variety of items, including custom imprinted table covers, custom imprinted trade show signs and even other ideas for promotional tradeshow giveaways. 

If you find yourself in the final stretch before a tradeshow and you're not prepared, consider a trade show package. There are six different combinations that give you everything you'll need to make a splash at your next tradeshow. These purchases insure that everything you order is delivered around the same time and that the imprint is similar for each. 

Browse these models a bit. For added savings, be sure to check out other promotional giveaways.  

Love wrapping up your day with a glass of Merlot? Does your perfect Sunday involve touring local wineries and vineyards? Is this one of your favorite episodes of I Love Lucy?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you love and appreciate good wine. 

And you're not alone -- according to the Sacramento Bee, upwards of 11,000 wine professionals are expected to attend the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, California.  The trade show, which kicked off on Tuesday and will run through the end of today, is "built with the joint input of growers, vintners and allied industry members" and "is the largest event of its kind in the western hemisphere."

Attendees can look forward to a diverse lineup of expert speakers.  According to the trade show's Web site, wine professionals will share information about facing climate change, the state of the industry, and advertising and marketing.  And of course, those attending will also snack on lots of food while sipping from custom wine glasses!

It's officially trade show season, and exhibitors are understandably excited about showing off their new products and services.  But be careful; lots of companies overspend in preparation for the conventions and attend unnecessary shows with no gain.  Let's go over some common traps that companies fall into during trade show season:

1.  Too much space

According to CBS News, one of the most common mistakes exhibitors make is going too big.  Just because the booth next door to you is impressive in size, doesn't mean that yours is too small. "Money spent to make that booth look as elegant and professional as possible is generally better than money spent for more real estate and all of the additional expenses that come with it," says trade show veteran Michael Hess.  Therefore, instead of renting out extra space, make sure your trade show tent looks presentable and appealing.

2.  Too many representatives

You may be tempted to send multiple representatives from your company to exhibit at the upcoming trade show.  But remember:  The more people you send away from the office, the less work will get done at home.  Plus, expenses due to airfare, meals, entertainment, hotels, and transportation really add up.  Figure out how many people you can afford to send away, and stick to it.

3.  Too many last-minute changes

A big event rarely goes off without a hitch; there's always going to be something someone forgot to do, bring, or say.  But with proper planning, you can avoid making last-minute (and potentially costly) changes.

4.  Too many shows

Of course you want to show off your product or service to as many people as possible, but more shows doesn't always mean more sales.  According to Hess, "You should always question a show that will mainly put you in front of people you see in the normal course of business."  If your reps regularly see the dealers you'd see at a particular show, you might want to spend your money elsewhere.

5.  Too much inaction

Simply sitting at your booth is not the same as "having a presence."  You've got to engage attendees.  How you draw people in is your choice -- perhaps you want to include a sign-up sheet, or maybe you'd prefer to hand out trade show giveaways.  Do whatever you think will get attendees to act.

Before deciding when and where to exhibit, consider the reasons, the expenses, and whether or not you can afford to miss the show.  If attending is absolutely necessary, constantly keep an eye out for ways to cut waste.

The majority of New York-based trade shows are currently held at Manhattan's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.  The assembly hall ranks only 12th in the nation in size, leaving much to be desired; it's beat out by tradeshow centers in both California and Georgia.  But New York trade shows may soon receive a face lift; last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled plans to develop a massive new convention center in Queens, NY.

According to the New York Post, Cuomo, who recently called the Javits Center "obsolete," asserts that the area needs a larger convention center in order to compete.  Mayor Bloomberg has also voiced his support for the privately-funded project:  "All of us have agreed that we need a bigger convention center. Could you imagine what we could do if we had a world-class, appropriate-sized convention center?" he said.

The new hall would be built in Queens between New York City's biggest airports.  Meanwhile, the Javits Center, which the San Francisco Chronicle called "too small ... and poorly suited for the kind of bold, glitzy convention center that would be appropriate for Manhattan," would be converted into office space, housing, hotel rooms, and more.

Not only does the initiative have the potential to create thousands of jobs, but it may also draw in more visitors to the New York region.  What's most exciting about the proposed tradeshow center is its sheer size. "Let's build the largest convention center in the nation, period," Cuomo said.  Imagine the amount of trade show giveaways you could collect at a show in the country's biggest convention center!

What do you think -- would a sparkling new convention hall have you visiting New York more often?

After a long workday, its sometimes nice to recline with a nice glass of wine. As of 2005, 29% of Americans admitted they were avid wine drinkers with that number steadily climbing. If you have the tastebuds for it, you'll probably find yourself in Chicago, IL very soon.

For two days in April, the World Wine Meeting of America will take place at the Embassy Suites in Downtown/Lakefront Chicago. The group is organized by wine vendors and suppliers from South and North America. The buyers come from some of the prestigious regions for wine production in Europe so if you want to see some of the finest American (South and North) brands bring your palate here. 

For more information regarding the World Wine Meeting of America 2012 (April 28 - April 30) visit the WWMA website. Be sure to have your custom imprinted barware on-hand.

Although the beginning of the Fall semester isn't for a few months, there are high school students that are starting to research and visit colleges. This step in life is a big one to take and can often overwhelm the students and the parents. There are many college fairs across the country that can help aid the process. The National Association for College Admission Counseling has announced the 2012 locations and dates for their various college fairs. These towns include Austin, Hartford, Memphis, Boston and Detroit just to name a few. The locations and dates vary with each city but with a large amount of events planned for the year, there is always an opportunity to find the best school for you or your loved one.

For colleges planning on attending any of these college fairs, you're sure to drive in patrons to your booth with promotional pens and promotional stress relievers.

If you've ever stayed at a bed and breakfast, you know that innkeepers wear several hats throughout a guest's stay.  They've got to do everything -- from housekeeping to online marketing -- to bring in guests and keep their clients happy.  It should come as no surprise then that the upcoming InnSpire Conference and Trade Show will offer such a diverse array of seminars for attendees.

"Keeping up with all of the skills required to run a bed and breakfast can be overwhelming--especially as it relates to technology--but it's critical to the innkeepers' success with so many travel decisions made online," says CABBI Program Coordinator Jenn Wheaton. "The InnSpire conference helps to bridge the gap and provide in-depth information that innkeepers can put to use."

On the agenda are educational sessions on Internet marketing strategies, ADA compliancy, social media networking, identity theft, and more.  So if you're looking to pick up pointers on everything from hotel guest amenities to marketing, this is the trade show for you!

According to a press release, the InnSpire Conference and Trade Show will be held in Sacramento, California January 22 - January 24.  The 2012 event will hosted by the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers (CABBI).

Typically, my posts on the Trade Show Blog focus around one event that strikes my interest or something that I think is worth checking out. This post is only different because it highlights a large tradeshow city that is sure to make it big in 2012.

Boston, MA.

According to another Trade show posting mogul, Boston is going to be home of a lot of trade shows in the coming year. How much exactly? Enough to already show a 34% increase in hotel rooms at the two largest convention halls in the city (BCEC and the John Hynes) over last year's numbers. That number is steadily climbing and is sure to break other records.

Some confirmed trade shows include the the 2012 Biotechnology Industry Organization's International convention, the Penny Arcade Expo East as well as the National Cable & Telecommunications Assosiations' The Cable Show.  

Be sure to bring your promotional products to majestic Boston, MA. for a chance to hit new demographics.