Suitcasing

exhibitor q&a

Help!

Suitcasing

What should I do if I spot someone suitcasing at a show while I'm exhibiting?

Suitcasing occurs when a representative from a nonexhibiting company walks the aisles of a trade show or its environs and promotes his or her products or services to attendees (literally or figuratively from a suitcase). In effect, a suitcaser is stealing access to the assemblage of people, which show management has paid to create and exhibitors have paid to gain access to, without contributing a cent to the process. Not surprisingly, then, this unethical, parasitic practice is a thorn in the side of both exhibitors and show management, the latter of which will likely be thrilled to remove the suitcaser as soon as it's made aware of the situation.

So if you spot a suitcaser working the aisles, take note of exactly what he or she is saying and doing and where he or she is located. Then notify show management immediately, and provide these specific details. Or better yet, ask a booth staffer to covertly track this person on the show floor while you search out a show-management rep. That way you can physically connect your staffer, the suitcaser, and show-management reps, catch the offender "red-handed," and have him or her removed from the premises and likely banned from the show.

— EXHIBITOR Staff

Help Wanted
Send your tough questions about exhibiting to Linda Armstrong, larmstrong@exhibitormagazine.com.