How to Prepare to Exhibit at PACK EXPO International 2024: Tips for Exhibitors
Exhibiting at PACK EXPO International 2024 is a unique opportunity to showcase your brand to thousands of industry professionals and decision-makers. As the largest and most comprehensive packaging and processing trade show of the year, PACK EXPO International offers unparalleled exposure and networking opportunities. To make the most of your investment and ensure a successful exhibit, it’s essential to plan and strategize effectively.
In this guide, we’ll provide you with essential tips and best practices to help you prepare for the event, design an engaging booth, and maximize your impact on the show floor. Whether you’re a seasoned exhibitor or a first-timer, these insights will help you stand out and achieve your business goals at PACK EXPO International 2024.
About PACK EXPO International 2024
PACK EXPO International 2024 is the largest packaging and processing trade show in the world, taking place from November 3-6 at McCormick Place in Chicago. This biennial event is a premier opportunity for industry suppliers and end-users from various consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and life sciences to connect, showcasing the latest innovations and technologies in the packaging and processing industry.
PACK EXPO International Facts and Statistics:
- Date: November 3-6, 2024
- Venue: McCormick Place
- City/State: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Estimated Number of Exhibitors: 2,500 exhibitors
- Estimated Number of Attendees: 45,000 attendees
- Industries Represented: Over 40 vertical industries including food and beverage, healthcare, personal care, household products, pet care, and more.
- Sponsor: PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies
Who Attends PACK EXPO International?
PACK EXPO International attracts a diverse group of professionals involved in the packaging and processing industry. Attendees come from a wide range of vertical markets and are typically high-level decision-makers and influencers within their organizations. Here are the primary demographics and interests of the show’s attendees:
- Industry Professionals: Attendees include plant managers, engineers, C-level executives, corporate management, purchasers, and other professionals from consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and life sciences.
- Vertical Markets Represented: More than 40 industries are represented, including food and beverage, healthcare, personal care, household products, pet care, industrial products (chemicals, paper, construction), e-commerce, and warehouse distribution.
- Job Roles and Titles: The show is frequented by professionals in roles such as packaging engineers, R&D specialists, production and operations managers, quality control managers, marketing and brand managers, and supply chain professionals.
- Interests and Objectives: Attendees are primarily interested in discovering new technologies and innovations in packaging and processing, finding solutions to improve efficiency and sustainability, networking with peers and suppliers, and gaining insights from educational sessions and industry experts.
How to Exhibit at PACK EXPO International?
Steps to Exhibit:
- View Floor Plans: Select your ideal booth location using the floor plans.
- Package Upgrades: Consider visibility enhancements through ads and sponsorships.
- Rules and Regulations: Review the exhibiting rules and regulations.
- Submit Application: Apply for exhibit space with the necessary deposit.
Pricing:
- Base rate: $33.25 per square foot, including drayage/material handling.
- PMMI member rates vary; contact for details.
For more information, visit the official website.
Why Exhibit at PACK EXPO International?
Exhibiting at PACK EXPO International offers numerous benefits for businesses in the packaging and processing industry:
- Extensive Reach: Connect with decision-makers from a wide range of industries and from around the world.
- Visibility and Awareness: Increase your brand’s profile in the industry and showcase your innovations.
- Lead Generation: Meet with thousands of buyers and generate valuable leads.
- Educational Opportunities: Gain insights from industry experts and stay updated on the latest trends.
- Networking: Build relationships with potential customers, partners, and industry peers.
Educational Opportunities at PACK EXPO International 2024
- Innovation Stages: Featuring 30-minute seminars on breakthrough technologies and industry-specific solutions.
- Processing Innovation Stage: Focuses on food and beverage processing breakthroughs, including sustainability and food safety.
- Industry Speaks: Expert sessions covering trends like sustainability, remote access, and supply chain solutions.
- Reusable Packaging Learning Center: Highlights the benefits of reusable packaging in supply chains.
- Student Programs: Includes PACK Challenge, Future Innovators Robotics Showcase, and educational workshops.
Preparing to Exhibit at PACK EXPO International 2024
Trade show exhibits are a big investment; here’s what you need to make your time successful:
We’ve created this comprehensive Trade Show Preparation Guide, which you download for free, to help you prepare for the show.
Set Clear Goals for Your Trade Show Experience
Asking yourself the following questions can help with this task. Once you have the answers to these questions, you can develop a clear plan to reach your goals and measure your success.
- What do you hope to gain from PACK EXPO International?
- How many attendees do you want to draw in, and how many leads do you want to generate?
- What products do you want to showcase?
- Are you launching a product or promoting your business?
Do Your Research
Although you can’t attend everything, you can maximize your time by putting yourself in reach of your target audience at all times. Focus on the expos and educational events that are most likely to include your target customers so you can put all your attention on those most likely to buy.
Budget and Register for Your Space
When you register for PACK EXPO International, be sure to find out all you can about your space, such as its location on the floor, other exhibitors near you, the typical traffic in the area and what’s included in the space, such as lighting.
Plan Your Exhibit
The last thing you want is a cluttered booth. To plan your exhibit, decide on who you want to reach and what products, demonstrations and promotional materials are best suited to their needs. If you’re targeting multiple audiences, consider the best products to launch or showcase to reach a wide variety of attendees.
Advertise Well in Advance
Trade show promotion should start months in advance. Promote your attendance on social media, your website, in press releases and through email blasts to ensure that your customers have time to plan. Utilize information such as the attendee list to reach new customers before the show even starts.
Tips for Exhibiting at PACK EXPO International 2024
Engage on Social Media
Use social media outlets to share your trade show exhibit information, drum up anticipation for your giveaways or product launches and share behind-the-scenes tidbits like your team packing for the event or show meetings. Be sure to use the show’s hashtags or other relevant tagging to get your posts into the online conversation.
Draw the Crowd
Use an interactive display, such as a game, contest or raffle to draw people’s interest to your booth. Giving away prizes through raffles or contests is a great way to collect information about visitors and encourage more traffic to your booth.
Bring Promotional Materials
Make sure you devote enough of your budget to an array of promotional materials. You should have order forms, business cards, price sheets, brochures, flyers and more that you can hand out to visitors to ensure you stay in their minds.
Keep Staff at Your Booth
At a show, you’ll want to attend networking events and educational seminars, so it’s important to make sure that your booth is never empty. When you’re preparing for the show, ensure you have enough team members attending the show to man the booth the entire time the show is open and greet visitors to engage them with your business.
Follow up With Attendees
Following up with your leads is almost as important as planning for the show itself. Take notes during the event to be sure you remember everyone in all the chaos, and take the time to note any opportunities for a smoother event experience in the future.
Planning on Exhibiting at PACK EXPO International 2024?
With so many packaging and processing professionals and vendors, there’s no better place to network in the packaging and processing industry than at PACK EXPO International 2024. This event not only provides endless opportunities for networking and business relationships, but it also features some of the top educational sessions in the field.
If you’re planning to attend, be sure you make the most of your experience and investment with a stunning booth design that showcases your brand. At Xibit Solutions, we specialize in creating a professional booth experience from start to finish, including show displays and logistics, to ensure you make a lasting impression. No matter your budget or needs, we’ll help you make your mark on the PACK EXPO International with customized planning and designs.
Contact Xibit Solutions today to learn more about our trade show booth design services and see what we can do to make the PACK EXPO International a success.
