Get prospects to your booth with these 10 fabulous tips...

1. Use the Power of Social Media

Announce your participation in the 2021 CAHF Expo on Facebook and other social media channels... create the buzz!

2. Make the Most of Your E-Mail Signature

Put “See you at the 2021 CAHF Expo! Booth # (insert your number here),” and the link to cahf.org in the e-mail signature of all employees.

3. Use Your Current Customer List

Send CAHF a list of customers you want to see at your booth. If they haven’t registered yet, we’ll send them more information. Send your list to shall@cahf.org.

4. Advertise...Advertise...Advertise!

Make sure your booth number, event name, dates & location appear on all advertisements running until show date.

5. Be Phone Friendly

When callers are placed on hold, make sure they listen to your message about the products and services you’ll showcase at the expo. Include a message such as “If you haven’t already registered, ask (person you’re calling) about attending as our guest.”

6. Extend an E-Invite

Send an e-mail message to all of your current customers reminding them of your booth number, your products and services, and the benefits of coming to see you at the expo. If you can’t invite them to come as your guest, refer them to cahf.org.

7. Promote from Within

Make sure all your employees know that your company will be exhibiting at the most important trade show of the year, the 2021 CAHF Expo. Everyone should be able to talk about your participation, not just staff involved in planning or attending the event.

8. Take Advantage of Other Events

If you attend any other industry functions or trade shows between now and the expo in November, make sure you talk up your participation. Know the details (Palm Springs, November 15 & 16, 2021), your booth number, and what products or services you will be showcasing.

9. Put Your Web Site to Work

Mention the event, city, dates and booth number with a link to cahf.org.

10. Make It Personal

Pick some of your most important current and prospective customers. Have the president of your company write a personal letter to the president of their company. Talk about the 2021 CAHF Expo as an exciting opportunity for your company to promote specific products and services. Offer to invite them as your guest.

It’s critical for your staff to create a welcome atmosphere that makes it appealing for attendees to want to stop at your booth. What you don’t do can be as important as what you do. The following are things you should avoid:

1. Don’t Sit

You give attendees the impression you don’t care or you’re lazy. Attendees to your booth won’t interrupt your private time, as they see it.

2. Don’t Read

You aren’t able to make eye contact with attendees as they walk by your booth.

3. Don’t Eat or Drink

It’s just plain rude and messy. Potential customers are too polite to bother you when you’re eating.

4. Don’t Ignore Attendees

If you’re busy when someone approaches, either acknowledge him/her or try to include him/her in your conversation. If you’re talking with a booth mate, break if off immediately.

5. Don’t Talk on Your Cell Phone

Time on the phone is time away from potential prospects and tells everyone you have better things to do.

6. Don’t Be a Border Guard

Don’t stand where you become a barricade or block the attendees’ view of your booth. Stand near the aisle and off to the side.

7. Don’t Hand Out Literature Freely

Your catalogs and brochures end up in a bag with everyone else’s literature. Be discriminating in who gets literature. Better yet, mail them to qualified prospects after the show.

8. Don’t Underestimate Prospects

Get out of the habit of sizing up somebody simply by the way they look. Qualify them, don’t classify them.

9. Don’t Cluster with Friends and Other Booth Personnel

Again, this makes you look unapproachable.

10. Don’t Be a “Street Gang”

Nobody will approach a group of strangers, it’s too intimidating. Be more approachable.

Source: www.trade-show-resources.com

1. Easy way to find your booth number (AVAILABLE EARLY OCTOBER)

Click the "Exhibitor Resources” button, select “Expo Floor Plan & List of Exhibitors”. Click "Exhibitor List” in upper left corner. Search for company name or see list. Click on company name for additional information. Awesome possum!

2. Your booth does not come with a table, chairs or wastebasket

If you need such items, you can either bring your own or…rent them from the show contractor Innovative Expo. If renting items, place your order before the Advance Order “Discount” Deadline and save serious cash. AVOID ORDERING ANYTHING ON-SITE…. chaCHING$$$! Link to the Innovative Expo Exhibitor Service Kit will be e-mailed to you in late September/early October.

3. You do not need to rent items from the show contractor Innovative Expo

You can always bring your own chairs, tables, raffle bowls, etc. You may, however, wish to sign-up for our Man & Cart Service depending on the scope of your display and total # of lbs (see #13). Or…just haul ALL your items in (1) trip without the use of a hand truck or luggage cart.

4. You do not need to order carpet

The exhibit hall is carpeted. If you want something “cushier” for you and your guests to stand on, then by all means, order carpet. You can order “cushy” carpet through Innovative Expo or…schlep your own. Remember, if you order carpet, you also have to order carpet cleaning – it doesn’t magically get cleaned overnight by the carpet fairies. Better yet, bring your own small portable vacuum (just toss it in with your booth materials).

5. Badge scanner...it’s FREE!

The ATS badge scanner allows you to scan attendee badges and receive all sorts of juicy info. Scanners will be distributed prior to show opening.

6. Shipping your display

Ship your materials as early as possible so they arrive at the Innovative Expo warehouse by the “Advance Shipment” date. Innovative Expo will happily store your items at no charge up to 30 days prior to show date. Details available in the Innovative Expo Exhibitor Service Kit.

7. Booth labor

All labor utilized on Sunday is considered (OT) overtime and applicable rates apply. On the flipside, if you wait until Monday morning/afternoon to set-up, it’s kind of a zoo (not with real animals but ya know, lots of people and moving parts). Use your best judgment based on the scope of your display.

8. Bringing your stuff into the exhibit hall

Load-in and load out of exhibits MUST BE DONE through the loading dock. The main hallway and/or other entrances are not to be used for mov’n your stuff in and out. If you’re hand-carrying items onto the show floor and in (1) trip as our Rules & Regulations state, you MUST park in the designated “exhibitor parking lot”. Don’t park at the dock unless you’re utilizing the Man & Cart Service (see #13).

Parking, unloading & loading where you’re not supposed to is a no-no and will get yo a** towed. Plus, you’ll probably get yelled at...really, trust me.

9. Bringing stuff through the hallway and/or main show entrance

The convention center pretty much frowns on this BUT, according to their rules and regs, you ARE allowed to move-in/out SMALL items that are either hand-carried or brought in/out via a SMALL luggage cart. NO LARGE FLAT BED CARTS or PORTABLE DISPLAYS ALLOWED THROUGH THE HALLWAY or MAIN SHOW ENTRANCE. Reason being…these items mess up the flooring. Hey! Don’t shoot the messenger.

10. The unions and you

You’ve got your Sign, Display & Allied Crafts Union and your Materials Handling (Drayage) and Storage (Teamsters Union). The first union has jurisdiction over all set- up and teardown of booths, including signs and laying of carpet (think DÉCOR). They don’t have anything to do with the unpacking and placement of merchandise – this is up to you. The second union has jurisdiction over all materials handling equipment, all unloading and reloading, and handling of empty containers (think BOXES).

11. Make friends with the union dudes

If union employees see you making a bunch of trips back and forth to and from your booth to your vehicle, they’ll be all over your case (aka “it’s a liability thing”). Thus, the Man & Cart Service (especially if you have a lot of little stuff under 200 lbs) is definitely worth the investment (see #13) and will keep the union guys off your back.

12. Union dudes are like a mood ring

Sometimes though… you CAN get away with making a few trips back and forth and no one bats an eye. Just kind of depends on their mood, if they’re at lunch, if they just had a really positive experience with another exhibitor, etc. Take your chances with this one.

13. Hauling your stuff from the dock to your booth (aka “freight handling” or “drayage”)

If you plan on driving your booth & materials to the show via your own vehicle and…you have under 200 lbs of stuff TOTAL, take advantage of our reduced cost Man & Cart Service. Click the "Exhibitor Resources" button, select “Innovative Expo Exhibitor Service Kit” then “Man & Cart Service” (AVAILABLE LATE SEPTEMBER/EARLY OCTOBER)

14. Are you a know-it-all?

Probably not. Be sure to check out our “Tips 'n Tricks for the Savvy Exhibitor” – click the “Exhibitor Resources” button for short articles on making your exhibiting experience a great one.

15. Got additional questions?

Call (916) 432-5211 or e-mail Sherry Hall at shall@cahf.org. If you have questions regarding orders with Innovative Expo, please contact Bruce Meyer, President at (760) 343-2555 or bmeyer@innovativeexpo.com.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in Palm Springs!

Sherry

Booth graphics...say it with color! Here’s a list of dominant colors and the responses/feelings they could elicit:

Bright Red

exciting, energizing, sexy, hot, dynamic, stimulating, provocative, dramatic, aggressive, powerful

Burgundy

rich, elegant, refined, tasty, expensive, mature

Orange

fun, whimsical, childlike, happy, glowing, vital, hot, juicy, tangy, energizing, gregarious, friendly, loud

Bright Yellow

enlightening, sunshine, cheerful, friendly, hot, luminous, energy

Beige

classic, sandy, earthy, neutral, soft, warm, bland

Earth Brown

rooted, wholesome, sheltering, masculine, woodsy, warm, durable, secure, rustic, earth, dirt

Deep Plum

expensive, regal, classic, powerful, elegant

Lavender

nostalgic, delicate, sweet, scented, floral, sweet taste

Grape

sophisticated, sweet taste, subtle

Source: “Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color” by Leatrice Eiseman

Booth Reservations 

Visit cahf.org, login, then click your name in the upper right corner to access your Member Dashboard. Once there, look under Exhibitor Management for reservation status according to the schedule below.  If reservation status indicates booth may be selected, click on the words "Exhibitor Dashboard" to access the exhibitor portal.  If you do not have a login, click the “register” button to create an account. It’s easy! 

Space Release Dates 

Space Release #1 Starting Monday, August 2 

Legacy Partner, Convention Premier Partners, Patrons of the 

Association and Preferred Products & Services Providers 

Space Release #2 Starting Monday, August 9 

2019 exhibitors who submitted a 2020 Priority Placement 

deposit prior to February 28, 2020 (honoring for 2021) 

Space Release #3 Starting Monday, August 23 

Associate Members 

Space Release #4 Starting Monday, August 30 

2019 non-member exhibitors 

Space Release #5 Starting Tuesday, September 7 

New & returning exhibitors 

Cancellation Policy 

Notification of booth space cancellation or reduction of space must be made in writing. Notice of cancellation should be emailed to Sherry Hall at shall@cahf.org. Any cancellation or reduction of booth space for ANY reason is subject to the following refund schedule and terms: 

* There will be no refunds for exhibitors who, for any reason, do not exhibit at the 2021 CAHF Expo and have not submitted a written request prior to the deadlines outlined above. In the event the expo is cancelled by CAHF, full refunds will be issued. 

2021 Standard Pricing

Standard 10' x 10' Booth

ASSOCIATE Member: $3,100; Non-Member: $4,300

Each Additional "Non-Corner" 10' x 10' Booth

ASSOCIATE Member or Non-Member: $1,500

Corner 10' x 10' Booth

ASSOCIATE Member: $3,150; Non-Member: $4,350

Flamingo Bingo Premium Booth (see pink markers on floor plan)

ASSOCIATE Member: $3,250; Non-Member: $4,450

Super Quad Booth

Four for less than the price of two! ANY four booth configuration

ASSOCIATE Member: $5,200; Non-Member: $6,400

FIRST TIME CAHF Exhibitor Booth

Excludes Bingo Booths & Super Quads

ASSOCIATE Member: $2,500; Non-Member: $3,700

Note: 2020 Priority Placement exhibitors receive a $300 discount off the above rates

Pricing Includes...

*Specific carpet requests, tables, chairs, wastebaskets and electricity must be purchased separately from Innovative Expo (show contractor)

Two Ways to Save $$$

Join to save $1,200

Increase your business and build long term relationships by becoming a CAHF Associate Member! Visit cahf.org for additional information and request form.

Bring a friend and save $500

Save $500 on the cost of your booth for EVERY new company you bring into the 2021 CAHF Expo! Credits will be issued post-show pending “friends” 2021 show participation.