When Robyn Davis “fell into” events, she started taking note of what worked and what didn’t in trade show environments and booth interactions. Her aerospace engineering background and problem-solving mindset helped her develop frameworks for exhibitor success, ultimately leading Davis to become a trade show trainer, consultant and speaker through her company, Exhibitors WINH.
Now, she’s sharing insights and strategies gathered over nearly 17 years in the business in her newly released book, “Exhibit Smarter: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trade Show Success.” On this episode of the “Event Peeps” podcast, Davis reflects on her career and the inspiration behind her book, and outlines its biggest takeaways, from her four strategic questions to avoidable mistakes for first-time exhibitors.
Davis also discusses effective measurement tactics and the generational divide among exhibitors in balancing tradition with innovation. Is swag overrated or underrated? Davis reveals her position on giveaways, as well as what she’s seeing in show floor footwear trends and survival kit essentials.
“Everyone has an opportunity to exhibit smarter, but a lot of people are skipping the fundamentals that work. They’re missing out on the strategic, trade show-specific approach that’s needed in this environment,” Davis says. “Budgets are tighter. Exhibiting is important for the bottom line of a business, and now exhibitors have to justify that. They have to be able to prove their results.”