Food Fairs: 10 good reasons to choose a shared stand

10 good reasons to choose a shared booth to join international food fairs. This is the best way to optimize resources and results. 

Taking part to an international food fair can be stressful, especially when these fairs are located in other continents. Moreover, in the sector of certificated organic products, you should figure out which are the fairs and the events that are worth to be attended. Yes, you guessed right, we say “Yes” to cooperation – for what concerns fairs, too.

Pictures from Biofach 2019

1. Save money

One square meter in big events such as Biofach, Fancy Food, Thaifex etc, could costs over 300 euro, without considering IVA/VAT, parking, the journey etc. Maybe your PMI produces the best olive oil in the world, but by attending the fair by yourself you could reserve only a few square meters. Instead, if you choose a shared stand, the total amount of the bigger space would be divided into the number of participants. Let’s go with reason number two.

2. Appropriate space

Let’s go to the Fancy Food! “Pasta Piccolina Srl” flies to the States to conquer the US market and meet the importers in its booth of … 8 square meters?!? No doubt you want to invest the minimum possible, but pay attention to the risk of spending money and be invisible. Having a beautiful and cozy booth is essential.

3. Visibility

It depends a lot on the style and on the strategic choices of marketing but generally, we can say that a stand of 30-60 m² is more visible than one of 16 m². At this point, a wise businessman wonders: “what if my company doesn’t have enough space for itself?”. The most important thing is not the exact floor area of “the booth space we own”, but an intelligent management of it (go to point 9).

4. B2B network

When you invest your money to attend an international food fair, you surely aim at the importers and the dealers. What a better way to get in touch by offering them the possibility to know different companies in just one stand? Moreover, it’s very important to welcome your own guests in a cozy stand.

Pictures from Biofach 2019

5. All inclusive = no stress

Maybe it should be the point at n.1, but when you manage a company or an export office, you know that taking part to a fair in another continent – or in Europe,  too – means arranging pallets, deliveries, verifying international certifications and so on… Imagine if a staff manages everything for you with an all inclusive offer? Yes, it’s nice.

6. Institutional contest

Especially if we consider the participation to projects co-supported by the European Community, taking part to a shared stand simply means adding a contribution to fill the co-financing quota of the companies. In this way, a company can attend a contest of institutional value, guaranteed by an institutional framework.

7. Communication

If you’re here there is a reason, but still in 2019 you can hear someone saying “I don’t spend money for a website or advertisement on social media because these actions are not necessary”. There is no need to add any comment to this statement, we would just like to underline that in a shared booth the communication is also managed by a competent staff, capable of developing a specific strategy for your company.

8. More promotions

“I’ve already spent so much money on websites and marketing”. You did well but, as you know, investments never end. If you choose a shared booth, without additional costs, you should find new importers thanks to your stand-referent, share the B2B knowledge of the company next to yours, which perhaps produces that organic-tomato sauce that perfectly matches your gluten-free pasta.

9. Cooperation beats competition

“Could you have a look to my booth? I need to go to the toilette just for one minute!” (yes…also big managers and food dealers need the toilette). In a shared booth you don’t have to ask for this kind of favours because it’s normal to help each other among colleagues. Moreover, usually the booths of the Organicity project are equilibrated and consider the products in order to collect companies with different supplies, thus promoting the visitors’ interest – importers included – and the birth of collaborations.

Pictures from Biofach 2019

10. Good vibes

Last but not least, if food is a source of happiness and wellness, working in the food sector with a positive attitude helps the business, too! In a shared booth there’s always someone to have a word or take a coffee with. Also, closing days run fast and the fair has an additional value: new ideas, professional contacts and high-value human relations.