Getting Ready for Trade Shows & Fairs: The Dress Code

Getting ready for a trade show or fair is a tedious process, you already know this. The whole thing starts with the idea of participating in one and never really finishes until the very last meeting where you and your team settle down to discuss the results and share it with your sector. It may be a 4 day event for most of the attendees; however it is not that short for the exhibitors or participating companies.

The things to consider in advance to the participation in a trade show or fair never really come to an end; you find yourself going over more and more things the moment when you think you can now take a break. Have you chosen the right one to attend? Does your booth have all the needed features? Wait, how about the staff? Are you really taking the right people with you? What about the product launch? Are you all set for the big opening?

Among all these very important topics to revise, some minor things may left outside the box. One of these is usually the dress code of the event you are going to join. You may think your casual clothes and sneaker would just be fine; however, don’t shoot the messenger but they may not be.

So, this post is your golden guide to give you some tips on about how to dress during a trade show or fair, or some hacks you can apply in order to look both nice and comfortable. Don’t worry, you all have them in your closet, but just don’t know which will be going with you to the venue yet. (And no, you are not bringing those hoodies with you.)

Analyze the nature of your event

Is your event going to include conference sessions? What is it based on? Is there going to be a product launch? Especially, is your brand going to introduce a new service or product during the show? Are there going to be any receptions before the event? Or will there be one once it is finished? The answers to these questions pretty much shapes up what to wear and what to bring with you to the event.

No sweatpants or hoodies

If it is not Sunday and if you are not cleaning the garage, barbecuing, taking care of the garden or dropping your kid to the school, don’t wear sweatpants or hoodies. If you are to attend a trade show or a fair, don’t even think about wearing them. Even the visitors, who are also your prospect customers, are not seeking that much comfort while deciding which service to use. You are there to make an appearance, market your product and convince people to choose your company. Let me tell you, you will not convince anyone to bring you a pen to sign a contract, let alone make them believe your company is the best among your competitors.

Neither suits nor evening dresses

This is for the ones who are devastated by the no sweatpants-hoodies combination. Okay, first impressions are really important, yes. However, we must admit that not wearing a suit or an evening dress during the most important occasion for your company will not crash that must be made impression. You don’t have to wear a pant that goes wrinkled whenever you sit or long skirts that halt your walking. You can be casual but look really nice at the same time. Proper trousers accompanied by matching shirts, with some not sneaker looking shoes would be just fine. You don’t have to deal with a tie if you are not to launch a product. Ladies, you already nailed how to look great without so much effort, right? A chic dress, or a blouse and skirt combination, or trousers and a nice shirt would just be fine, you know it.

Some life saving tips for trade shows & fairs dress code

Shoes; they can heal you or they can kill you

You have to be really careful while choosing the shoes to bring with you. Remember, it is not a regular office day, you are going to spend most of it walking or standing. So high heels or tight shoes that look really nice but kill your feet every time you wear them might not be a good idea. In addition, during summer months it is common for people to wear sandals but wearing a pair to the trade show or fair may not be a good idea. Not because they are not stylish or anything but because there will be thousands or people there and a lot of products are being carried and there may occur some unwanted accidents.

Pockets; they can save you

You will be in need of having a bunch of brochures, business cards and pens with you all the time. These are the needs of the trade show or fair. When your personal belongings such as your phone and wallet is also taken into consideration, having some big pockets in your clothes may save you from the trouble of rushing to your booth every time you need one of these.

Do you really need all that jewelry during the trade show?

Let me answer that one for you, nope. You don’t. You are there to tell people about your service or product, convince them to choose your company over your competitors and your earrings, necklaces or bracelets have a contribution equals to almost none to that. In addition, the venue is going to be very large, you will be all over the place to check a lot of things and taking care of them may be hard. You are going to get really tired in anyways, don’t add extra things to think about or you’ll have to take care of.

The key that opens the first door: your overall look

Okay, no matter if you don’t make use of these tips or follow the dress code of trade shows and fairs, things may go well and your attendance doesn’t necessarily turn into a disaster because of the way you are dressed.

However there is one thing that has all the power to do so: your over all look and hygiene.

I can guarantee you there is not one single person not only in trade show or fair but also in anywhere that’ll take you serious and listen what you are saying if you are not looking clean or if you are smelling bad. A fair and trade show is a place where you’ll network the most during a work year probably and you have to make sure your body hygiene is above average. It doesn’t matter that much if your shirt is a perfect match with that sweater; but if your clothes are dirty and wrinkled, that is something that changes a lot of things, and not in a good way.

Keeping these in mind while getting ready for a fair and a trade show will definitely help you on establishing business connections during your next trade show or fair participation.

Main Image Credit: nilsenpics