What's the Difference Between a Trade Show and Exhibition?
Is there really a difference between a Trade Show and an Exhibition? The very nature of the shows and the venues of where they are held are similar (practically identical) so it’s only fair that you might be confused what the differences are! We thought we’d take a look at some of the similarities and differences of the two to further understand and clarify which one is right for your business.
What is a Trade Show?
A trade show is a marketing event where companies showcase their products and services to the public in order to promote awareness and generate leads. Trade shows are usually held once or twice a year, and they usually last a few days. The main purpose of trade show is to create awareness about your product or service.
The aim is to network, buy and sell, create brand awareness and keep an eye on your competitors. Another advantage to a trade show for people within a specific industry is being able to unveil new and exciting products to see the industry response in real time.
In order to maximise your chances of success, dressing appropriately at a trade show is key. The first thing that people notice is how others are dressed, so it’s important not only what you wear but also how well it fits and what colour it is.
Is there a difference between a trade show and trade fair?
The main difference between a trade show and trade fair is that a trade fair has no public access. It’s only for professionals in the industry.
This is because a trade fair is an event exclusively for companies to come together to buy and sell goods or services from each other.
What's an Exhibition?
The definition of an exhibition is “an event at which objects such as paintings are shown to the public, a situation in which someone shows a particular skill or quality to the public”. Unlike trade shows, an exhibition is to showcase or demonstrate the products your business has to offer without the option to buy or sell. They tend to be more focussed on the exposure rather than the sale meaning that larger companies can further solidify their position in the industry and smaller companies can be seen. It is important to note that an exhibition can be part of a trade show but a trade show can never be called ‘an exhibition’.
The aim for most of our customers at Insideout is to generate business through exhibiting which means that most of the stands we design and build are for trade shows. Whilst an exhibition can be part of a trade show, it is very rare that we provide stands for the sole purpose of exhibiting over selling and brand awareness.
What is an Expo?
An expo is a large public event that is typically staged to showcase new products and services. The word “expo” comes from the French word “exposition.” A fair, exposition, or expo is an event where a wide variety of goods and services are on display.