Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Need Crazy, Edgy Tradeshow Ideas

Posted by lathans on 4/7/2009 at 11:38 AM ET 500 Points
We're going to a trade show at the end of May dealing with Payroll. Our company, though in the market for about 14 years, has very little brand recognition but boasts a superior HRMS/Payroll software product. We are also a "different" kind of company; certainly more fun, young, and edgy than the 800-lb gorillas we share the market with. I'm looking for some trade show ideas that will get the audience talking about us, during and after the show. Here are the particulars:
It's in Long Beach, CA. Pier, port, palms, and payroll.
Our biggest promotion is known as "Get Paid", where we do a mailing to all the attendees ahead of time, have them log in to our payroll system using a given user name and password, and view and print out their paycheck. They can bring that to our booth and turn it in for actual cash...anywhere from $5 to $500. We can also manually enter people's info at the booth with the same outcome.

I'm looking for some ideas to generate looks and traffic. No "wheel of Prizes" or anything like that. Anybody have any wacky, odd, strange, crazy ideas I can toss out at our creative meeting? NO LAME IDEAS; this is a 500-pointer!
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 4/7/2009 at 12:43 PM Accepted
    I think the "get paid" with a visual of a wad of dollars is very atttention getting. Use a consistant visual with your email campaign, and repeat it with a sidewalk graphic outside the major hotels and in front of the convention center. https://www.graphitek.com/floor_sidewalk_graphics.htm. Then maybe have a "Donald" impersonator actually hand out the dollars, or handing out play dollars, in the aisles with your message.
  • Posted by Tracey on 4/7/2009 at 6:20 PM Member
    I like it! How about a theme from something everyone can recognize -- like The Office (TV show), or Office Space (movie)? You could recreate the look in your booth, and have your staff dress and act like the characters. You could also incorporate quotes from the movie/show, and maybe give out some gag prizes (like red Swingline staplers, "flair" etc.)

    I think it would be fun and fit your young/fun/different values. You could use the theme with the campaign ideas presented by others here.
  • Posted on 4/8/2009 at 7:27 AM Member
    Hi....
    if you like try this...
    Collect different currency notes and Use different currency theme... give attendes an option to have certain % of their payslip to get converted into their favourite currency...
    as dollars, pounds, euro, rupees, many currency symbols convert the payrolls in the desired format someone wants... use your people as the currency characters...
    by this it will add on to fun and charm side by side it will give your company a global mark as your payroll software can be used anywhere... anytime... any format...
    people will like this as they will get an opportunity to get something they usually dont like to in return of their own pays.

    Spreading Smiles :)
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 4/8/2009 at 9:52 AM Member
    How about something like: https://www.advancedentertainment.com/Catagories/CashCube.htm ?

    The problem with something wild is that people will be focused on your event, but won't remember who you are or how you can help their business. You don't just want bodies, you want qualified traffic.
  • Posted by Jenni H on 4/8/2009 at 10:45 AM Member
    How about giving away Hawaiian shirts for people to wear with your logo on them. If they are noticed on the trade show floor wearing it, they will also get paid. You could have a beach theme and wear Hawaiian shirts. People like fun shirts like that and by recognizing and encouraging them to wear your bright company shirt, it generates awareness through the show and builds buzz. You could play beach music at your booth and have a limbo contest. Sunscreen is a good giveaway idea as well.
  • Posted by lathans on 4/9/2009 at 2:30 PM Author
    Thank you to all who took the time to read my requirements and think outside the box. I appreciate the feedback and great ideas!
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