Tag Archives: exhibit

By Ken Epstein

Two weeks ago, the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) hosted the Cannabis Summit and Expo in San Jose, California. At the opening keynote, NCIA leaders spoke to the explosive growth in the cannabis industry to a sold-out audience of more than 7,500 attendees and more than 400 exhibitors. Five years ago, NCIA hosted its first trade show and barely had 1,000 people show up.

When you design your booth think about the key graphic elements that will allow you to visually claim your spaceIf you’re in the cannabis industry, you know that trade shows have become a critical part of the industry with events happening all year long and all over the country. You also know that trade show environments are tough. Leaving a lasting impression and gaining more than your fair share of contacts and leads isn’t easy. Here are a few tips to help you raise your trade show game:

Set Objectives

Start with the basic questions- why are you exhibiting at this trade show and what does success look like when it is over? Be as specific as possible. The clearer you are on what you want to achieve, the more effective you can be in preparing for the show and designing your booth. Or based on your objectives, do you need a booth at the show or is there another sponsorship, event or activity that can accomplish what you need?

Getting your brand to stand out on a crowded expo floor can be tough

Plan Ahead

The earlier you book and plan for the show the better your chances for securing premium locations in the exhibit hall. More time allows you to avoid rush fees and get to a booth design that will support your objectives. If you want to generate quality leads perhaps having some cocktail tables where you can have a meeting with a prospect or visiting customer would be a valuable addition to the booth. If you want to collect email addresses showcasing a game or raffle could attract people into the booth and provide a means for data capture. Most importantly, figure out how to have meaningful interaction with potential customers not just collect cards.

Graphics Matter

Many of the booths in San Jose last week looked pretty dismal. Company names or logos were hard to find or read. Understanding the product and services offered or the point of differentiation was often unclear. When you design your booth think about the key graphic elements that will allow you to visually claim your space; make sure people walking by or up to the booth can actually see them! A simple animation of your logo, tagline and relevant imagery on a quick loop could help separate you from the pack. When you commit to exhibiting, your budget should include the cost of the sponsorship plus enough funds to create a booth experience and graphics that are a strong representation of your brand.

Scenes from the expo floor at the Cannabis Business Summit

Beyond the Booth

Many trade shows offer other sponsorship opportunities in addition to or instead of exhibitor space such as opportunities for visibility in programs, social media, attendee bags or on-site displays as well as special branding at receptions or premium booth space. These can be great ways to stand out from other show sponsors if activated and leveraged effectively. But, before spending money on any sponsorship, go back to your objectives and determine if the execution will get the results you need.

Follow Up

Be prepared to quickly follow up with everyone you met at the show. Capitalize on all the excitement coming out of the show by being in position to immediately communicate with them not waiting months and months for the next touchpoint. Having your follow up plan in place before the show will allow you to more effectively turn a trade show attendee into an actual customer.

If you spend time thinking through your trade show plans, you can put your company in a position to walk away from the next trade show a winner.

Ken Epstein is a partner and brand strategist at WYD, a marketing accelerator for trailblazers in the cannabis industry interested in rapid growth and branding. He has built a career in connecting brands with powerful ideas and has deep experience in advertising, branding, social media and public relations. Ken can be reached at ken@wyd.agency.

May 3, 2018

Soapbox

CannaGrow Expo Heads to Palm Springs

By Aaron G. Biros

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We’ve covered the CannaGrow Expo previously, but this time around we catch up with Joseph De Palma, founder of CannaGrow, to talk about the genesis of his conference and what makes the event so special. This year’s CannaGrow Expo heads to Palm Springs, California, a new location for the event, on May 19^thand 20^th.

We’ve watched De Palma’s conference grow over the years, moving around the country and becoming the tight-knit community we know it as today. The meat and potatoes of the show are definitely the educational sessions, panel discussions, roundtables and the expo hall. But covering it year after year we’ve noticed a real sense of community develop, one where genuine idea sharing, collaboration and inclusivity are preached. There are no dumb questions at the CannaGrow Expo.

Tom Lauerman speaks to a room full of attendees at CannaGrow San Diego

According to Joseph De Palma, CannaGrow started in 2014, when the original event was held in Denver. “From the beginning, we wanted to create an event specifically for growers, where the focus was always on education and ‘becoming a better grower’,” says De Palma. “We had experienced the existing events in the marketplace, and almost all fit into two categories at the time, festival, or generic tradeshow. Those were fine for their purpose, but they didn’t foster an environment of education, and that’s what we believed was most important to the emerging cannabis industry.” Back in 2014, their show only had 10 sessions and 30 exhibitors. “Passionate growers from around the country had 2 days of grow-focused sharing and learning, and you could see the energy and excitement,” De Palma says. “Discussions would dive deep, people made new friends, and it really elevated the conversation around cultivation.”

Attendees gather at a lighting exhibit at CannaGrow San Diego

Since the show’s debut, it’s grown substantially. The 7^th CannaGrow Expo is fast approaching, and this upcoming conference has four separate tracks and roughly 100 exhibitors. But it still keeps its sense of community, one where you don’t feel crowded, where everyone has time to chat and network, without the overwhelming feeling that can come with larger trade shows. “That inclusivity and open dialog is built in,” says De Palma. “If you go to an event that’s tradeshow dominant, most people are there to walk, shop, and leave. At CannaGrow, growers and extractors come together with a plan for the weekend, remaining in a constant state of engagement with others at the show.”

This year’s show has some exciting additions to look out for. The agenda covers a wide range of topics, including everything from an introduction to growing with living soil to a discussion of cyber security. The Extraction Summit, new to this year’s event and held on Day 2, is their response to the massive rise in popularity and demand of extracts.

Eric Schlissel, cybersecurity specialist, president and chief executive officer of GeekTek, is giving a talk focused on IT infrastructure. “My presentation will center around the actions cannabis businesses need to take right now to repel cybercrime and potential federal seizure,” says Schlissel. “As cannabis operators build their businesses and develop their security strategies, they often focus exclusively on the physical portion of their business – the merchandise and the cash in particular – and overlook the importance of designing and fortifying a secure IT infrastructure. I will discuss the importance of a holistic security strategy that embraces both and how you can both create one and prepare it for expansion into other states or even globally from the very start.” Schlissel’s discussion is one example of just how all-encompassing CannaGrow intends to be.

De Palma and his team leave few stones unturned as the show truly delivers vital information for cannabis cultivators in every area. Some things we are looking forward to? Seeing old friends and learning everything under the sun about cannabis science, growing and extraction. “People get to know each other, and with everyone sharing a core passion for cultivation and extraction, lifelong friendships are made,” says De Palma.

To check out the agenda, speakers and exhibitors, click here.