Trade show checklist: what to prepare, pack and do after the show
Most trade show stress comes from small things: a missing cable, a forgotten QR code test, leads nobody follows up. This checklist covers the last week, the booth kit, setup day and the days after.
Made with Booth Studio. Placeholder brand and AI-generated product visual.
The week before
Confirm the shipment has arrived at the advance warehouse or is booked for the show site.
Check every service you ordered: power, internet, carpet, furniture, lead retrieval.
Test every QR code and link on the graphics and handouts.
Brief the team: the one message, who the booth is for and how to record leads.
Print the booth number, the hall map and the exhibitor contacts.
The booth kit
Graphics, frames and the set-up instructions for the hardware.
Extension leads, chargers, adapters and spare batteries.
Tape, cable ties, scissors, a small toolkit and cleaning cloths.
Handouts, business cards and any giveaways.
A tablet or phone for leads, with the lead form already tested.
Water, snacks and comfortable shoes for the team.
Setup day
Check each panel for damage and alignment before the hall opens.
Look at the booth from the aisle: is the message readable and the front open?
Test screens, lighting and power, then hide the cables.
Take photos of the finished booth for social posts and next year's planning.
After the show
Follow up with every lead within a few days, while the conversation is fresh.
Pack the graphics carefully and note any damage for repair or reprint.
Write down what worked and what to change, while it is still clear.
Plan the next one earlier
The design timeline counts back from the show so graphics are ready before the printer's deadline, and Booth Studio lets the team see the next booth in 3D before anything is printed.
Questions
Questions
What should I bring to a trade show booth?
The graphics and hardware, power leads and chargers, basic tools and tape, handouts and business cards, a tested way to capture leads, and water and snacks for the team.
When should I follow up trade show leads?
Within a few days of the show, while visitors still remember the conversation. Note on each lead what was discussed so the follow-up is specific.
What should I check on setup day?
That every panel is undamaged and aligned, the message reads from the aisle, screens and power work, QR codes scan, and cables are hidden.
A week-by-week timeline for planning trade show booth graphics, from booking the space to show day, so the design is ready before the printer's deadline.
