How do you keep up with the latest trade show display ideas? If you often attend trade shows and industry exhibits, you know how hard it is to stay ahead of the game. Even if you can't afford the latest 30' x 70' pop-up display, it's helpful to see what display system your competitor may be using at the next show.

Trade show display association websites can help you keep up with the latest trends. You'll get an insider's view of the industry and stay abreast of the latest events and inventions in the display industry. Some association websites also offer extensive, searchable listings of trade shows.

In addition to industry news and advertising, you'll find many useful articles, educational opportunities, and forums for the creative exchange of ideas.

Some of the best minds in the business answer questions like: How do you catch the attention of potential customers in an environment loaded with competing lights, color, and sounds? Once you have the customer's attention, what do you say or do to close the sale? Learning from the successes and failures of others is much less expensive than learning on your own, and trade show association websites can give you that competitive edge.

Make sure to visit the following websites:

Trade Show Exhibitors Association

http://www.tsea.org/ - Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA) has a mission to be the industry voice for exhibit and event marketing professionals. This organization has been active for more than 30 years, providing knowledge to marketing and management professionals who use exhibits to promote and sell their products, as well as to those who supply them with products and services.

This association offers education, advocacy, promotion, communication, service, and member-only discounts on a variety of products and services. They have over 1500 members. To decide if you should join, sign up to receive a sample copy of their newsletter and tip of the week email. Memberships cost from $250.00 to $675.00.

ExibitBuilder.net

http://www.exhibitbuilder.net/ - This website gives trade show display buyers an inside look into the business of designing and producing the latest exhibits. Learn about the latest ideas about lighting, structural design, graphics software, and more from the free articles on their website.

Trade Show Week

http://www.tradeshowweek.com/ - This online trade show 'newspaper' will keep you on top of the latest news from the industry. This site also offers an searchable Trade Show directory, which allows you to search by industry, country, state or province, and date. This directory alone is reason enough to put this site in your browser favorites.

Event Design Magazine

http://www.eventdesignmag.com/ - This online magazine caters to the creative people who come up with the latest trade show exhibit and display ideas. Get an inside look at the latest designs, technologies and products. And don't assume that you won't find anything that you can use as an exhibitor - one of the latest articles posted on this site gives great ideas for making the most of a bad trade show location. That's information that most of us could use.

Copyright 2006 Jonni Good

Jonni spent many years attending trade shows and juried art fairs as a creator of unique gift products and artwork. She now devotes her time to writing books and creating websites, including: http://www.find-displays.com