Trade Fair Guidelines 2008/2009 :: Download | Register

The trade fair is your opportunity to sell some of those fantastic creations that you have come up with and to show the judges how you got that far.

Your stand has a maximum size of 1metre by 1metre. All that will be provided is a table to display on, just a small student exam table. If you decide on having a table cover or a backdrop then this will need to stick to the same size guidelines, however the backdrop may be taller. If you go over the recommended space, judges will take this into account in their marking scheme.

There are specific guidelines for businesses promoting their wares at the Trade Fair, they are outlined below and will need to be adhered to by all participating mini-companies. Non-adherence will result in exclusion from the trade fair.

•  Please be aware that as a guest in the centre we would expect you to adhere to the goals and objectives of the centre.

•  Our priority is to ensure our customers enjoy a "great shopping experience". As part of this we would ask that your representatives at ALL TIMES conduct themselves in a polite and courteous manner and are presentable at all times.

•  Noise levels must be kept to an acceptable level, as to not disturb retailers or shoppers.

•  No helium balloons or other balloons are to be used in a promotion. Stickers and other adhesive materials cannot be put on any centre surfaces 

•  Casual Tenants can only use areas designated to them by Centre Management.

•  The Centre does not have storage facilities available for promotional equipment.  All setting up, installation and dismantling of stands must be carried out on a daily basis.  Please use the Service Yard entrances to deliver and remove equipment and materials to/ from the centre.

•  Display Stands must not cause obstruction or obscure the visibility of shop fronts. They must be professionally presented and clearly labeled so that the purpose of the promotion is clear.

Staffing and Operation of the Promotion:

•  Promotional stands must be clean and tidy at ALL times.

•  No staff personal possessions will be permitted in view of customers, including clothing & bags.

•  Stands must be staffed at all times.

•  Staff must be smart and courteous whilst working in the Centre.

•  All refuse from the promotion must be kept out of sight of customers and must be removed from the Centre.

•  No material of any kind should be left in back of house corridors.

•  Centre employees cannot be used to supervise promotional displays.

•  Direct sales from stands must have the explicit agreement of Centre Management

Placing in the shopping centre will be issued on registration, you will receive your registration number on arrival on trade fair day and your registration number will also be your table number.

Make sure you are registered for the trade fair by submitting the online trade fair attendance form below. One form per mini-company.

Set-up is allowed to start from 9.30 am onwards, judging will commence at 11am until 14.00. We will have a prize-giving in the centre at 14.30.

Judges will be looking at the following criteria: (each will carry marks out of 20)

• Best trade fair display
• Best sales techniques and product knowledge
• Most innovative product or service
• Team spirit
• Best overall company

There will be a 1st , 2nd and 3rd prize for each of the 5 categories and a medal for all attending teams.

Try to be imaginative with your display! Judges are interested to see samples of your product (or perhaps photographs or vouchers if it is a service). Use props to make your stand look nice (maybe flowers or a nice piece of material draped over the table). Backdrops can work well too with posters containing important information such as use of your product or service. You only have a very small assigned space, so make it work in your favour.

What about including some comments from satisfied customers or some photographs of your product/service in use? If you designed packaging or promotional material, display it on your stand too. Perhaps you could have a demonstration of how you made your product? A little bit of effort with the presentation of your stand makes a big difference.

Only 2-3 students should be at the stand promoting or selling products. A big group of students behind the stand will put people off coming over and checking out your products. Have a rotation system set up, so that different students will be at the stand at different times. In addition the shopping centre managers specifically requested that numbers would be limited to keep noise levels down and to keep the event running in an orderly fashion.

Because the trade fairs take place in public shopping centres, it is important to remember you are not on the playground. If you are near a shop entrance, make sure to thank the shopkeepers nearest to your stand at the end of the trade fair, they will appreciate it and it will help us keep the goodwill that we have from the shopping centres.

It is the role of sales director and human resource director to make sure everyone serving at the stand is trained in your chosen selling techniques. The marketing department should supply any marketing material and backdrops.

Don't forget to bring your good humour and to have fun!

Trade Fair Registration
Confirmation of receipt of registration will be sent within 48 hours of submission and you will be issued your registration number (i.e. table number for the trade fair) upon receipt of the form below.