Best Practices · Increase Results & ROI
Trade Show Tips
Practical, no-cost advice from trade show expert Michael Flavin to help you plan smarter, spend wiser and get more out of every show.
Why I'm here
My Purpose
I'm Michael Flavin. I've worked in the trade show industry since 2006 with hundreds of companies of all sizes, and I've hosted trade show webinars and trained booth staff.
Trade shows are like puzzles. The booth, the staff, shipping, marketing and follow-up all have to fit together, and that isn't always easy. When every piece is in place, the show is a success. If one piece is missing, the puzzle isn't finished.
I created TradeShowTips.com to help you fit those pieces together. The tips are free, and they come from my own experience and from other trade show pros.
Latest tips
From the blog
Exhibitor logistics 101: drayage, targeted move-in, advance warehouse and forced freight
How exhibitor logistics work in most U.S. convention center buildings: advance warehouse vs. direct to show, drayage, targeted move-in, forced freight and more.
Your Exhibitor Manual's Money Deadlines: Where Ordering Early Saves the Most in 2027
The deadlines that save the most are the advance-order (discount) dates for show services and venue utilities, the EAC notice, and your freight windows. One 2026 show manual says ordering early "can save you up to 30%."
Pre-Show Emails That Actually Book Booth Meetings (With Templates)
Send three or four short emails over the six weeks before the show: a save-the-date with your booth number, a reason to stop by, a specific meeting request with two time options, and a final reminder.
Topics
Everything you need for a better show
Eight areas every exhibitor has to get right. Pick a topic to find the tips that matter for the show you're working on now.
Planning & Objectives
Set clear goals, pick the right shows and build a timeline that keeps you ahead of every deadline.
Budgeting
Understand where the money goes, cut waste and treat every dollar as an investment in results.
Booth Design & Graphics
Booth design, exhibits, lighting and graphics that stop people in the aisle and tell your story in seconds.
Staffing
Choose, train and coach a booth team that starts conversations and qualifies leads.
Marketing
Pre-show promotion and in-booth engagement that bring the right people to your booth.
Measurement
Set the right goals, track ROI and ROO, and show your executives what every show is worth.
Logistics
Keep shipping, drayage, install & dismantle and show services on schedule and on budget.
Lead Follow-Up
Capture, qualify and follow up fast, so the leads you worked for turn into customers.
Convention center guides
Know the venue before you ship the booth
City-by-city guides to the convention centers where exhibitors spend the most time: floor space, local labor rules and how to get there. Now covering nine cities, including my hometown, St. Louis.
Chicago: McCormick Place & More
McCormick Place, Rosemont and Navy Pier, plus Chicago's labor rules and EACs.
Orlando: OCCC & Resort Hotels
The Orange County Convention Center and Orlando's big resort convention hotels.
Las Vegas: LVCC & the Strip
The LVCC, Venetian Expo, Mandalay Bay and Caesars Forum, plus Vegas labor rules and EACs.
Get in touch
Have a trade show question?
Tell me what you're working on. I'll point you to the right tips, or write a new one.