This past spring we helped Square Deal Lumber prepare for the Lane County Home & Garden Show. They wanted to make their booth stand out against the competition. Additionally, they wanted to create something to give to customers that would be of value, not just another flyer that gets tossed in the trash the minute they got home. Being a lumber company, they had the construction of their booth handled but they didn't know how to dress it up. To do this we designed a banner that clearly conveyed who Square Deal Lumber is and a rack card that customers could take notes on while talking to booth staff at the trade show.

Here is the rack card we designed:

Because Square Deal Lumber has been around in this community for such a long time (since 1947) we gave the banner a retro feel by using a font that evokes memories of old hand-painted signs and grass/fence graphics that connect to the idea of 1960's backyard barbecues. In addition, we used Polaroid style framing to the photos that showcase the range of services they offer. Because Square Deal Lumber’s products will be used to fit different specifications for each customer, the space for notes allows customers to write down measurements, product information and pricing so that they can easily reference it when they return home.

Trade shows can be tricky, but when effective marketing techniques are used they can yield substantial results. When planning for your next trade show or event, remember the following: with so many similar looking booths yours needs to stand out, customers should be able to easily identify who your company is and what you do from your banner and finally, give the customer something that is of value to them.

Do you need help preparing for an upcoming trade show or event? We'd love to help.

Cheers,
The Ruby Porter Team