For trade shows and expos
Fill your show floor and sell every sponsorship
A trade show sells two things at once: booth space to exhibitors and sponsorships on top. Sponsor Trove keeps every exhibitor and sponsor in one pipeline, so nothing falls through between the floor plan and the sponsor list.
What exhibitors and sponsors buy
Booths are the core of the show; sponsorships sit on top for exhibitors who want more visibility.
Booth space
Inline, corner, island and premium locations, priced by size and position on the floor.
Show sponsorships
Title or presenting sponsor, with branding across the venue and the show's materials.
Registration and badges
Logos on badges, lanyards and the registration area every attendee walks through.
Aisle and floor signage
Aisle signs, floor decals and banners that guide attendees to the sponsor's booth.
Show guide and app ads
Ads and enhanced listings in the printed directory and the event app.
Sponsored sessions and lounges
Education sessions, demo stages, lounges and receptions with the sponsor's name on them.
Who exhibits and sponsors
Exhibitors are companies selling to your attendees, usually from the industry your show serves:
- Manufacturers and equipment makers
- Distributors and wholesalers
- Software and technology vendors
- Service providers to the industry
- Trade associations and publications
- Startups looking for their first customers
The exhibitor sales calendar
Many shows sell next year's floor before this year's show is over.
- At this year's show: Rebook exhibitors on site, often with priority booth selection for early commitments.
- 9–12 months out: Publish the floor plan and prospectus, and reach out to new exhibitors.
- 3–6 months out: Sell the remaining booths and upsell sponsorships to exhibitors who've committed.
- Final weeks: Directory and signage deadlines. Collect logos, listings and booth details.
How Sponsor Trove helps
Every exhibitor in one pipeline
Track each exhibitor and sponsor from first contact to contract, tagged with what they're buying. Group deals by show and watch your revenue goal fill up.
- Booth type, amount and owner on every deal
- A goal for each show
- Your whole sales team on one board
Know who opened the exhibitor prospectus
Send your prospectus and floor plan as a link. Everyone who opens it is added to your pipeline, so you can call the companies that are reading it this week.
- See who opened it and when they came back
- Each reader becomes a deal automatically
- Your logo and colors on the link
Don't miss the directory deadline
Set follow-ups on every exhibitor still deciding, and see everyone due today with one click. Deals that have gone quiet are flagged.
- Follow-ups with dates and owners
- One click shows everything due today
- Quiet deals flagged automatically
Exhibitor emails, on the deal
Connect Gmail and every email with an exhibitor lands on their deal, so anyone on the team can pick up the conversation.
- Read-only, and only emails with your exhibitors
- Everyone at the company is matched
- See who's waiting on a reply
Questions
Can we track booths and sponsorships separately?
Yes. Add a property for what each company is buying (booth type, sponsorship or both) and an amount. Both show on every card, so you can see the mix at a glance.
When should we start selling booths for next year?
Many shows start at this year's event by offering exhibitors early rebooking. Main outreach to new exhibitors usually starts nine to twelve months out.
How do we upsell sponsorships to exhibitors?
Once an exhibitor commits to a booth, follow up with the sponsorships that fit their goals, such as registration branding for awareness or a demo stage for leads. Set a follow-up on the deal so the upsell doesn't get forgotten.
We manage exhibitors in a spreadsheet today. Can you move them over?
Yes. We'll bring your exhibitors and sponsors into Sponsor Trove for you, free.
Related guides: Sponsorship prospectus tracking · Following up on a sponsorship proposal